The Forrest City times., 1890-04-12
For the Convention.

EDIroRs TINES:
 As taxpayer asd an old citizen Of s,. Fran cis county, I would likc to express my sane ton of the convention to unify the controlling element, proper of the county It is doing no wrong to the negro to withhold from him as far as may be possible the management of affairs, of which he himsclf Is perfectly aware that he is incapable. The greatest wrong that vas evcr done him by this government was the beetow wnent upon him of the elective fran chisc ever sinoc which time hc has been tho subject of bribes, tho dupe of selfseekinG trickatsrs. and made to suspect those who have given surcr tokens of friendship for him than his oieaginons and blatant profcssiouai admirers. The wisdom of the negro would be to disclaim tho elective franchise. and apply himself diligently to those pursuits for which he is % cminentiy fitted. By this course he would lose nothing but needless humiliations and deceptive bolstcrings of hypocirtiea friends, and gain for himself universal respect and surer livihood. If he has the hope of establishing himself as a governing factor in this country, he has only to travel through the northern statcs, from whence came his free- dom. to find out his mistake. Hc ought to know by this time, that the republicans rave him voting privilege simply that he might vote for them; and he ought to know, furthernors, that to northern democratic soldiers, more than to republicans. he owes his freedom.
 By all means. hold your convention. Let 1t bs characterized by the spirit of mutual con cession and conciliation among tho genuine ycomenry of your noble county. 90 strangely disunitcd. but insist that those alone should rulo in your aYairs who are competent to rule. Tho "brothcr in black" win like you all the better. and respect you the more for putting yourselves in your normal attitude towards thcm ss dominant factors in govsruental affairs. can see that there were provocatons which culminated in what. I believe. was only intended to be temporary fusion with the negroes. while. at the same time. 1t was most astonishing and anomalous expedieut, viewed from my standpoint. As an "od-llne- wbig". have myself pcen atsimes very much provoked with democratic methods and dogmas, but could never soc how coalition with the negro, nor afniation with republicans. could improve matters. For ono so turn the back of hts hand to his own people, and sever some of his fond est tes. in order that he may give full sxhibi- tioa of his contempt Of objectionable methods and measures, is . startling solution of prob lsms of any kind. The typical republican hates the South as he docs viper. and would do all he could to degrade and demolish every true man here; tho party itself ia pertetnated by never ending recurrence to the strife of the past; how then can . man in the South. whether native born or not. turn in with such a people to accomplish personal aggrandise- msntf How . good man in any part Of our country can bc a republican cannot divine.
 Away with fratriccdsl strife, and tho party which nourishss il, Away with abnormal coalitions. disturbing tho peace of commusi- tics. and begcttipg unw wholcsome and danger ous sentiment. in order to accomplish the ulte- rior designs Of personal spite and ambition.
 4. T. GoopLos. West Harpsth, Tenn. April 3rd. ls2o.