The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-16
xrouo VOTERS AT THE NORTH.

For some time, number Of communications
have been appearing in the New York Sun
from intelligent coiored men advising indi-
viduals Of their race who reside in the North
ern States TO divide their voting strength be-
tween the two great parties instead or az
hitherto. adhering in practically compac'
body to the Republican organization.
In the issue of the Sun for Sunday there
will be found letter over the signature Of "A
Democrat" protesting against the suggestion
advanced by the Suns colored correspondents
aud very earnestly deprecating any addition 70
Democratic ranks by large accession OF ne
groes from the Republican party. The reason
given by the writer of this letter is curious
one in thehght Of the constant asseveratlons OF
so many Republican journals that no preJu-
dice exists against the negro in the Northern
States. and that such prejudice is only 10 Do
observed among the provincial and reaction
airy people Of the South.
The writer, while strongly disclaiming any
prejudice against the negro on his own part
nevertheless declares that any considerable
accession of negroes 10 the Democratic party
Of the North would inevitably have the enecI
Of preventing its receiving large number Oh
nermanent recruits from that body OF voters
who adhere steadily 10 neither party, but sup
port the party which under the special cir
crmstances of each election seems 10 them 10
he best adapted to carry out the policy OF
which they approve. This body OF voters
have been disposed to cast their IN
euence permanently on the side of the Demo-
cratic organization, and if the Suns cores
oondent is 10 be believed not little on ac-
count Of the fact that the Democratic party Of
the North as well as Of the South is the party
of white men, and not in large measure the
party of negroes, as is the case with the Re-
publican party when the voters who support
il in every section of tho Union are considered
as q whole
The significance of this assertion OF the
Suns correspondent, which is undoubtedly
well founded in fact. is very remarkable. He
is writing more especially of the sentiment of
the people of New York, tho Empire State
the State Of the most enlightened and cosmo-
politan complexion. And yet if his assertion
is to be accepted. and there is no reason why
it should not be, the public sentiment OF this
great Commonwealth IS far more prejudiced
against the negro than the public sentiment
Of any of our Southern communities.
The negro is not wanted there as a voter.
His adherence to the Republican party has
driven thousands Of voters from its ranks and
prevented other thousands from uniting their
fortunes TO It's destinies His secession to the
Democratic party, so far from increasing its
numerical strength would immediately
weaken that organization by driving away
many Of its present supporters and repelling
many others who might. under other circum-
stances. act with it consistently and unin-
terruptedly.
The words of the Suns correspondent are
most explicit:
For every vote which the Democrats might
gain from colored men they would be sure to
lose ten from white men, and there is no
surer way Of breaking the force of a strong,
popular movement in a Democratic ward of
this city than by having a parade within its
limits of colored citizens claiming to be in
favor of the otherwise popular Democratic
candidate"
This is a sober expression of opinion found
ed. as the Suns correspondent declares, on
years of careful observation. This DISPOSE
ton Of the public mind is not confined TO
New York city and State. but extends to every
Northern community where there is to be
found r. efficient number of negro voters to
give them prominence when they act in
concert