The Helena independent., 1892-09-25
Duke Dutriusllle Shakes or the
Trammels That Have Bound
Him for Years
A Representative Colored Man
Comes Out for Democratic
Principles,
For Twenty Years He Has Deen an A Aotlvs
and Prominent Rcpubiicnn-sound
Reasons for the Change

years ago there was in the CITY Of Helena
not more than two colored msA who as-
knowledged allegiance to the dsDocratis
party. Three years ago these two had
grown to score, and At the last city elsc-
ton there we're 100 colored voters In Hell
sns who dropped into the box ballots 70.
the democratic nominees They were aotu-
atsd by two reasons. The first Was that the
republican administration then In power
had violated every promise il had made =
year before, and the second was that they
had determined to shake Of the fstters that
had been about them for years, 80 far 40
their political actions we're concerned.
They had long Thought for themselves. and
they concluded that the time was propi-
tious for them to act for themselves. They
did 80. and they found that whereas they
hhad been treated previously by the repub-
lican bosses as the sole property OF their
political organization. and BY the demo-
Gratis a. men who could not be convinced
OF what was for their best good, they wers.
after they had come out boldly for Curtin
and the rest of tho ticket. no longer re-
garded by the republicans rs chattels, nor
by the democrats as men 10 obtuss ~ not
TO realize that to be recognized ~ other
men they must at least show some inds-
pendence in .heir politics. I.
There 10 no GLASS Of people in Helena, in
proportion to numbers. that reads more or
IL studying more closely those questions
that bear upon their futurs, then the oolored
men and women. And the moro they read
and the moro they study the more they
realize that they have retarded their ad-
vanoement in every walk of life at lenst ten
years by their blind obedience to the bosses
of the republican party. They have been
independents in everything but this.
the most vital issue. They realize
that a protective tariff does
not benefit the oolored race In any way.
Colored men and colored women are barfed
on account OF their color rom employment
in protected industries in tho north and
east, and tho result of the tariff to thom ia
simply the added cost of what they wea
All these questions and hundreds of others
are being considered by the oolored people
with the result that a very large proportion
of them this year will not only cast their
ballots for the nominees OF the democratic
party, national, state and county, but will
actively work for the success of those nom
inees. This assertion is not made unad-
visedly. Duke Dutriueille. than whom no
colored man is better known in Montana.
and who has stood by the republican party
for years, working for its nominees aud
voting the straight ticket at every election.
has studied the question of what is best for
his race. and as a result he has come out
squarely and unequivocally on the side OF
democracy. To those who know Mr..
Dutriueille best it is not necessary to say
his race in Helena. man OF mature years
and considerable education. who would not
take the step he has only that he feels it IL
not only for his own best interest. but also
best for the future of his children and his
race, The following letter from Mr..
Dutriueille fully exolains his position:
10 The INDEPENDENT: Ever since have
reached mans estate. and especially during
the past twenty years, l have looked Tor
and tried to hnd some solution Of ths
problem how can the oo!ored man attain
that position whore no will have an equal
chance, both aa business man and citi-
zen, with the white man. We were told
twenty years ago, that when our children
grew mp they would have had school advan-
tages that had been denied their fathers,
and would be fitted TO- compete, with all
corners. Thev have had these advantages.
especially in Montana, ane to-day there are
colored mon and women in Helena who. 40
fur "a fitness goes. are as capable OF filling
positions OF trust and RESP onsibility ~ any
one, but neither their ability nor their edu-
tieut waiting and depending wholly. may
say. on the promises of that marty that
claims wo owe what We are to-day to ito
members, firmly believe that tho only
solution OF the great race problem lies in
the disintegeration or division OF the
class are solid there ia naught to be gained
unless they possess nm overwhelming
majority.
Ihavs for tho past twenty four years sup-
ported tho republican party and have no
apologies TO make for MY change OF base:
Ahsk knA ,,oa I hnv
to note anything that might in any way bs
called recognition or reward for the faith
full sei eivices rendered by the colorsd voters
Of the state of Montana.
Republics are said to be unsrateful, states
more 90, and was pleasantly surprised
whom tho wires flashed The inform asion that
the Hon. 4. Il. Collins was tho nominee Of
his party for governor.
Ithappens to be my good fortune to be
pretty we'll acquainted with the Hon. y. E.
Collins, and l do not think that my iudg-
msnt er,s n pa rticle when say he il a true
man, and as l gaze backward TO tho year
that the citizens of this then territory of
Montana voted for a change of the capital.
l remember that the returns of Meagher
county were stolen from the express ofios
at Virginia City and the Agnres doctored so
as to keep tho capital at Virginia. | re-
member how II was nosed through the
ct Gets of this city that Mr.. Collins would
be made ricb man IL he but kept still.
Did he do it? No. and everybody was
happy that an honest man was found.
remember few years ago when the out
rage Of denying a few colored children any
chance for an education waa Rttem pied at
Fort Benton that Hon. T. Z. Collins was 4
member of the school board. and we'll re-
member the true and staunch stand that
he took against great odds, and won a
victory for the poor, despised and oppressed
children whose misfortune it was to carry q
certain amount of African blood.
remember that when thanked him I
told him that perohanos it might be my
good fortune to do him a good turn. and I
thank God that now have an opportunity
to vote for n man l believe to be
good and true man, and to ask my brothers
in black to do the same. Notwithstanding
the hue and cry to tho contrary.
When Z white man changes his political
faith he is never questioned. nor is his
right to do 80 over challenged. But let tho
neg o dare to speak one word in favor of
tho democratic party. the prohibition party.
or the young but vigorous peoples party,
and he ia at once waited upon by some OF
the leading lights OF tho q. o. =. and
shown the enormity of his proposed crime.
"What on earth do you meanp Do you not
know that We fought for you, for your lib
erty" Well, now, what docs that liberty
mean? 1t means tho right TO vote without
let or hindranoe the republican ticket at
state, county or municipal elections. and
at general elections particularly. II means
that We rescued you from slavery of the
I..A A.