Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
BIG REVOLT THREATENED
Against the Republican Party if a
White Man Is Sent There.
HARRISON MUST ACT SPEEDILY.
Secretary Foster Says That the Gold Re-
serve Is in No Danger.
SIX HUNDRED CENSUS CLERKS ADRIFT

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-Will President
Harrison dare TO appoint white man as
Minister to Haiti TO succeed Fred Doug
lass? If he does so there is every indication
of war in the Republican camp, and defec-
ton of colored voters from the Republican
ranks in Ohio that may prove disastrous in
November.
The rumor, which remains uncontradicted,
that the purpose of the administration is to
ignore the claims of the negroes and send
q white man TO Port au Prince, has
thoroughly aroused the colored leaders in
this city. They demand that their race be
given recognition in this appointment, and
if their demand is refused they threaten to
leave the Republican party in the lurch
in Ohio this year and Indiana and Illinois
in 1892.
It has been stated on good authority that
President Harrison purposes pestponlng
settlement of the matter until after the No
vember elections. This has increased the
indignation of the colored people, who now
insist that the vacancy be filled before the
next election. They are in earnest and will
consider any dallying on the part of the ad-
minisrration as an insult that can only be
wiped out by the defeat of Mckinley in
Ohio in which State the negro vote is abso-
lutely necessary TO Republican success.
A CoLoRED MAN WANTED.
Mr. C. A. johnson, a colored clerk in the
Surgeon Generals office, is one of the lead
ing spirits in the movement to send another
negro as the United States representative to
Haiti. He, with J. f. Bruce and A. G.
Davis, are conducting a new syndicate here
in the interest of the colored race Mr.
johnson is a man of more than ordinary
ability and is resolved that his race shall re-
ceive the recognition at the hands of the
Republican party that its long allegiance
and service demands. He said to-day:
Il am determined that so far as my iniu-
ence and that OF nv friends is concerned it
shall be used to bring to the negro the rights
he has earned. With many others who are
deeply interested in the proper treatment of
the race l have sent letter TO the President
at Cape May, urging the appointment of
Thomas T. Fortune. of New York, as Minis
ter to Haiti. The letter states in modest
WAY the qualifications of Mr.. Fortune for
the Office, and the right the colored people
have that one of their race should receive
the appointment Our allegiance to the
Republican party has been constant, and we
do not propose to be ignored. The promises
of the Republican party in their platform Of
1888 have not been kept.
"The elections bill was allowed to be
defeated and the Blair educational bill
which held out great hopes TO the Southern
negro, was scarcely heard of Now that an
Office which has been filled, and very ac-
ceptahly, too, by negroes since Grants ad-
ministration, is vacant, we demand that the
proper appreciation of our services TO the
party he shown, and that colored man be
made Mr.. Douglass successor.
HARRISON MUST ACT.
I'VE propose that this vacancy be filled
before the November election, so that there
may be no chance for political juggling. If
President Harrison listens TO the arguments
of the personal enemies of Mr.. Douglass
and enemies of the colored race and ap-
points a white man to the Haitian Minis
try we propose to withdraw our support
from the Republican ticket in Ohio, where
il is so much needed. l do not saw that the
Colored people will vote the Democratic
ticket. They will merely stay at home,
which means Republican defeat.
4 expect to leave Saturday for Ohio and
will see Major Mckinley and Secretary
Foster | shall impress upon them the ex-
act state of affairs, and if they do not use
their influence with the administration to
prevent the appointment of white man,
then let them take the consequences. There
are in Ohio 81, 900 negro voters and they all
vote the Republican ticket. That surely is
an element that the party cannot afford to
ignore. have advices from that state from
the leaders among our people and they are
all alive TO the import of the situation. They
demand that the race be recognized when a
man Of ability can be found to fill the posi-
ton
while we are backing Mr.. Fortune at
present, if he should not be acceptable on
any other grounds than his color, we have
many others to urge who are in every way
competent to represent this Government
The colored people of Ohio are united in
this matter. | shall make it nv business to
see all their leaders and make our position
even stronger than it is"
PERRY CARsoN's VIEWS.
Perry H. Carson, or Colonel Perry" as
he is familiarlv called-he who controls the |
cOlored conventions that annually meet in
Washington, and who is also member of |
the National Republican Committee-said: |
GAS a political stroke l do not think it |
would be wise to substitute a white man in |
the place of Frederick Douglass.
''I believe it would be disastrous to the |
Republican party TO inaugurate such a |
policy at this time and at the same time |
would he a direct insult to those negroes |
who have heretofore filled the Office
Tunn TUE nrrrer -rr-n~