The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-26
THE FREE PARLIAMENT.


To the Editors OF the Ne,cs,
Your manly editorial deprecating the
hypocritical role assumed by Iexas
White Republicans In their movement
to exclude colored Republicans from the
management Of the party and warning
them against the ''very dangerous game
they are attempting to play, is IN mar
heartily endorsed by the colored Republi-
cans OF Rhode Island. The characterlza-
tion OF the movement as the oldest,
most foolish and most inexcusaDle OF re-
cent political movements" Is not unJust.
Opposition to such actions as tneirs 10
edge OF the relative Importance OF these
two factions to the Republican party,
than it is upon Republican principles,
which IRE sufficiently broad anu compre-
hensive TO have Republican voters OF
every condition ard nationality TO stand
shoulder TO shoulder on the broad consti,
tutional platform of civil ana pohticai
equality. -.
Apparently Southern white Republi-
cans have yet to learn the creed they pro,
fess; have yet to learn that worth ana
character are not tinsurmountable barriers
to preferment; that prejudices OF race ana
taste are not infallible standards OF merit.
Living as they do in a section OF TINS
country where ''simple truth for deadly
treason stands" their action Is predicted
upon error, and, they persist -n=thelr
appeals to passion and race prejudice IN
stead OF waging an aggressive ngnt
against the common enemy, their amDit-
ions for permanent abiding places IL the
official Caanan flowing with milk and
honey, will not be gratded.
Now TO few facts pertinent 70 TINS
question of negro Republicanism in the
South. The negro voting population
solidiy Republican in every Southern
State-outnumbers the voters OF all par
ties combined in Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware,
South Dakota, Utah, Idano and Okla
homa. IL forms actual voting maJorities
in South Carolina, Mississippi and
louisiana OF 10000. IL is needless to say
that the negro vote South is the element
party constituting in no State less
than so per cent. of the Republican vote,
and in Texas, 95 per cent. In South
Carolina where a similar attempt to
organize a white mans" Republican
party was made some months ago, ~ per
cent. of The Republicans are negroes, and
in Virginia 81 per cent.
withstanding this vast numerical
superiority to their fellow Republicans,
the negros are modest In their demands for
recognition and bes ow upon them 95 per
cent. of the offices to the exclusion of
talented and capable men of their o wn race.
Not since 1880 mas the Republican repre-
sentation In any Southern legislature con-
tanned u majority of colored men even
from legislative districts Overwhelmingly
Republican,. Thirty one OF l0l counties in
Virginia have actual negro majorities
These were represented in 1889 by four
negro delegates and one negro senator
The Others were represented by twenty
white Republicans In 1892 not single
y-prYru
1900 negro voLers. In several OF the
Northern States he has obtained u repre-
sentative of color for less than 1900 negro
voters.
There are $4,000 more negro voices in
Virginia, and 10000 more ia Texas than
the Total voting strength Of Rhode Island.
Yet, the Southern negro willingly retires
In favor OF his white fellow Republican
when an Office Is ut stake. But wnen this
same beneficiary OF negro generosity
manifests disposition to shut out the
negro altogether. is it at all Incompatible
with manhood that the negro snail assist
and exercise his right to an untrammeled
voice in Republican councils? The white
Republicans of South Carolina defeated
Thomas K. Miller. colored representative
OF the Congressional District by running
an independent ticket in 1890. The same
tactics were adopted by the fourth Vir-
ginia Republicans against Prof. John
NJ. Langston who was fortunately sue
cessful, securing his seat only after a Bit
ter and costly contest. There is no doubt
of the Republicanism of the negro, North
and South, aud the blacklist negro the
race has produced is winter thau any of
his prej1iiced detractors.
i am pleased to find Northern Republi-
cans recognizing their humble and zeal
Gus ally of the South aud frowning down
that element which disgraces those with
whom it associates.
In the carpet bag white Republicans"
the Southern negro hugged to his breast
the frozen viper which, when thawed by
the warmth Of Office, smtes the hand that
feeds it. JOHN G. MINKINs.