The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-10-20
FOR CLEVELAND.

Bishop John NJ. Brown, of the African
Methodist Church Declares Him.
self for the Democratic Candidate.
One of the most prominent, intelli-
gent and influential colored men of
the country is Bishop John M. Brown,
of the African Methodist church. A
special dispatch from Nashville, Tenn,
dated October 18th, says he has
declared himself for Cleveland and
writes an open letter to the members
of his church, in which he discusses
the question of which candidate the
negro should support. He says Mr..
Cleveland has shown himself the firm
friend of the colored man and is
entitled to the fullest confidence and
support of the colored voters. The
dispatch says:
Bishop Brown has been a strong
factor in the Republican party's work
among the negroes heretofore, and he
has changed his politics because of the
settled conviction that his race has
nothing to hope from the Republican
party. In conversation to-day he said
he did not believe it was to the in
terest of the negro to ally himself
solidly to any one political party.
Such course destroyed his influence.
So long as he did a party would have
no respect for the negro or the negro's
wishes. The negro must begin to
vote for that party from which he has
most to expect. Bishop Brown says
he has talked with many intelligent
negroes and finds much feeling in the
matter, all taking his views.
In his open letter Bishop Brown says
this among other things:
"For nearly thirty years we have
done all we could to make the Repub-
lican party successful. We have voted
and some of our people have died for
its progress. But now the question is
being asked by large number of US,
How are we being benefited by our
adherence to it? The chalice is put
to our lips, but it is made to vanish
before one conf fort comes to US.
sour men are sometimes nominated
for office, their names sent to the Sen
ate, but before the Senate has time to
act the name is withdrawn
He then contrasts this with Mr..
Cleyeland's course in nominating
Mr.. Matthews Register Of Deeds in
Washington and his insistence on the
nomination until he was shown that
the Republican Senate would not con-
firm him OF Mr.. Cleveland he says:
"Not long ago he spoke most kindly
of our people and urged kind treat
ment toward colored citizens | was
told by gentleman in New York-at
one time chief of the Indian bureau, a
man of wealth and social position, a
Democrat, Southerner by birth and
education and an exslave holder
that he had been assured by Mr.. Cleve-
land that if elected President he would
prove himself as true to the interests
of colored men as any man who
might be elected.
"The question comes to US, What is
our duty in casting our ballot, if We
vote at all? For Mr.. Cleveland or
for the person who has no pronounced
opinion for the colored man only on
election day? 1t is not social equality
we ask for, but we do ask that we be
treated fairly.
81 now appeal to you, dear brethren,
to think before you act so as to engulf
US in other and more severe difficult
ties. If you cannot consistently vote
for Mr.. Cleveland, then stay away
from the voting precinct. The time
has come for US to act, and act
decidedly.