Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-07-10
Thar is THE QUESTION.
A COIOred Wan Wants 10 Know why
Re ShOuld be n Republican.

rae ShOuid De n HepuDiichus
Editor 9dsette % Journal. Why are you q
Republican, Is question whioh confronts
the negro; q question, Ra q rational being,
he has ever been bound to put to HIM
self. He becomes perpiexed, and is com-
PEELED to acknowledge, that II is ques-
ton hard to be answered. But he did
not give up in despair. AS the questions
were asked, he hRa ever sought refuge to
his Republican friends, and found o way
Of escape by the ingenuity OF his friends.
They have originated three plausible
reasons for him, each of which was
destined 90 stand as u bulwArk against
tho oontsnding forces, for st least de-
oade, st the end OF which the Democrats
have convinced the negro that these
reasona would not stand the test of
logic, and therefore he has been
compelled to consult his Re-
publican friends three successive
times. But all of these reasons have
been proven to be fAllscious, either by o
pure logical process or by experience.
30 the negro instinctively asks the ques-
ton, Why am q Republican? The Be-
publican party seems to look upon this
eyer-reourring question as q piece of im-
pc ition on the part of the negro and
consequently his sympathy has turned
into apathy, and he assures the negro
that hereafter ne must originate an
answer for himself. So the negro, as q
rational being, il forced to put the ques-
ton to himself. 1t being an equation
which he fnds himself unable to solve,
be drifts upon O boundless sea, and the
effect Of It all is that he is rs likely to be
found in one party as the other.
Can you blame him? But the great
national party that first rose to power, and
for quarter century held governmental
control by its esponsal and maintenance
of the negro cause, still declares that
cause living issue in the national in
terests. The great Democratic party, with
one or more disafected wings from the
opposition, though it doea not propose to
do anything as 10 the negro, at least con-
ssnts not to uudo anything that has been
done. Yet we see year after year im-
poTtNnt political issues pushed to the
front by both pDrties, and the negro has
not stimulus in the platform OF either
and why? Because be represents the
ninty and nine gafs ones TO the Republi-
can side, and tue Democratic side cannot
hope 70 win him at any price. The Re
publioans think 1t not wise to search for
that which they have, and the Democra' 5
think equally go, in references to putting
sword ia an enemy's hands. Surely
this must account for the oolured peoples
school syatem in the Stats of Della
ware. At the correspondents home,
Summit Bridge, they are erecting nov
new school house by means OF mort
Raging their homes. The time has come
when we can aud must urge the question
of recognition in she Stats political plat
forms, and having made our vote truly
honorable aud valuable 10 both parties,
can bestow it where there il largest pros
peote of such recognition being
carried into legislation, aud such legisla-
tion being carried into effect. Let US,
without venslity or ssrvility, hold our
yotes up for the honorable competitive
bid of political parties; voting, not as
enc party or another, but as American
freedmen, equally concerned with the
various interests of our State.
j. u. ID.