San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-31
AN ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE.


and the election is so near at hand, IL Is
my desire to address few words to the
deliberate Judgment as well as to the gen.
erous and patriotic feelings of the citizens
of San Antonio and Bexar county, and,
especially, to my colored brethren, who
are voters.
Though African blood courses in our
veins. we are, more exclusively than thede-
scendents of any other race or nationality,
native born Americans, whether English,
Irish, Scotch, Teutonic, scandinavian,
the branches of the Latin race, the people
of the Indies, or the inhabitants of any
other part of this globe, civilized or saw
age. The Caucasian race achieved indie
pendence from the mother country, eS-
fahlished our government, and have so
far preserved it. but we have been partic
ipants of its benefits and enjoyed its
blessings, and as our interests are In
common, we have the same de-
sire for its perpetuation and i'm
proyement, where at all practicable.
We can not afford to be, and will not in
tentionally be obstructionist, and 1T is
our duty to support those candidates for
Office only, whether of one political party
or another. who advocate doctrine, that
will secure the greatest benefit to US and
to our common country. provided always
that they are honorable men and capable
of filling the position sought by them,
creditably to themselvs and with lasting
benefit to the public.
In the connection, it is deemed proper
TO state that one of my principal object
in advising you TO commend to your favor
and support John III. james, native
San Antonian, born and reared in your
midst. who stands at the head of the
Citizens or Peoples ticket, as candidate
for Judge of the 45th judicial district. He
is young man ofexcellent natural
abilities, well educated, studiouS, indus
trius of unexceptionable habits, and has
already attained most enviable position
at the bar. No blot or blemish stains his
escutcheon, and he is so far beyond the
reach of SANDER, scandal and detractiOn
that the perfect confidence that all should
have in the Judge on the bench, who ad:
Indicates their right, and interests, could
never be lesSened or affected.
best known and highly hOnored among
us. his father being one OF our most cap
able, enterprsing, successful and reliable
man of business, and he has proven him
self to be the worthy son of worthy sire.
Few will fail to accord him full credit
for preserving himself unscathed and
untarnished amid environments that have
stranded and wrecked so many OF the
brightest and most promising. He is slight
ly constructed of the choicest material
You will not fail to understand from the
preceding that regard John ii. James as
intellectually the ablest man and lawyer,
and as the best qualified of the candi-
dates before you to fill the Judgeship
His honor is unsullied of which his friends
are justly proud, and we can hardly re-
strain an expression of sympathy for an
opponent whose character is so badly
besmirched in charges made against him
by some of our ableSt and most honorable
men, that his usefulness would be entirely
destroyed if elected. But there is no
danger of the defeat of John II. James, if
we do our duty on the fourth day Of
November. Let us go 10 the polls, vote.
see that every one else who wants TO, does
likewise, and / doubt not that we shall
elect him by large majority, and accom-
plish a work of such supreme Importance
to the good of the community that we
shall ever afterward look back upon it as
the grandest days work of our lives.
If | have expressed anything herein
deemed of any value or Importance by
any white friends, trust they will give
it the consideration it may desire, and
that we may be able to cooperate and
elect the best men to office. But my par
ticular desire Is to appeal 10 my own race
Especially. for think | know something
.of their characteristic deficiency and how
easily they yield to the wishes, and how
susceptible they are are to the flattery of
~ies,gning people, particularly those for
,vi1om they work or who, in some way.
can influence their employment, and who
can and do, for some independent, but
disappearing opinion or action, discharge
81, Il. To- fln,,
by giving them bad name, prevent them
from obtaining other employment, thus
taking the bread from the mouths OF
themselves and their dear, dependent
families, and reducing them to the most
abject slavery of both mind and body,
and after tasting sweets OF liberty, ten
fold more CALLING and tyrannical than
the chattel bondage from which they
have been so recently liberated, and that,
too, while endeavoring to enbitter their
feelings towards those among whom they
were raised, perhaps to whom they once
belonged and on whom, otherwise they
might confidently rely for friendship and
assistance, as in by-gone days they cared
for them. So rampant has this exercise
of power become that it is common re-
mark that no, independent, longtime
resident, however efficient, worthy and in
want need apply for employment, particu-
larly at public or corporation, and that
only the ignorant, inefficient newcomer
who readily submits to the shackels, whose
work is dear at any price, or for no con-
sideration, can secure it. By slight di-
erosion NAV here state that the whites
and the blacks, who have been raised to.
gether and know each other, would sooI
resume their natural and amicable rela
tions. as of yore, but for the informed
ding of strangers, who, from intereste,
motives, stir up, and try to embitter anC
perpetuate race prejudice; going so ia
even as to disrupt political parties on on
refusal to Weld to their behests. i, TO
one. protest against such abus