People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-16

| once appear PLAINLY that 1t Is to the
interest of colored man to vote
with the white man and he will do
it. Let it plainly appear that it is to
the interest of the white man that
the vote of the negro should supple
ment his own, and the question of
having that ballot freely cast and
fairly counted, becomes vital to the
white man. He will see that it is
done.
Now let us illustrate: Suppose
two tenants on my farm; one of
them white, the other black. They
cultivate their crops under precisely
the same conditions. Their labors,
discouragements, burdens, grievan-
ces, are the same.
The white tenant is driven by
cruel necessity to examine into the
cause of his continued restitution.
He reaches certain conclusions which
are not complimentary to either of
the old parties. He leaves the de-
mocracy in angry disgust. He joins
the Peoples party. Why? Simply
because its platform recognizes that
he is badly treated and proposes to
fight his battle. Necessity drives
him from the old party, and hope
leads him into the new. In plain
English, he joins the organization
whose declaration Of principles is in
accord with his conception of what
he needs and justly deserves.
Now go back to the colored tenant.
His surroundings being the same and
his interests the same, why is it i'm.
possible for him to reach the same
conclusions? Why is it unnatural
for him to 60 into the new party at
the same time and with the same
motives?
Cannot these two men act together
in peace when the ballot of the one
is vital benefit to the other? Will
not political friendship be born of
the necessity and the hope which is
common to both =? Will not race
bitterness disappear before this COM
mon suffering and this mutual de-
sire'to escape it? Will not each OF
these citizens feel more kindly for
the other, when the vote Of each de-
tends the home Of both? If the
white man becomes convinced that
the Democratic party has played
upon his prejudices, and has used his
quiescence to the benefit Of interests
adverse to his own, will he not de-
spise the leaders who seek to perpet-
uate the system?
V.
The Peoples party will settle the
race question. First, by enacting
the Australian ballot system. Sec.
ond, by offering TO white and black
a rallying point which is free from
the odium of former discords and
strifes. Third, by presenting plat
form immensely beneficial to both
races and injurious to neither
Fourth, by making it to the interest
of the both races to act together fol-
the success of the platform. Fifth.
by making it to the interest Of the
colored man to have the same pa1ri-
otto zeal for the welfare of the South
that the whites possess.
Now to illustrate. Take two
planks of the Peoples party plat
form that pledging free ballot
under the Australian system and
that which demands distribution OF
currency 10 the people upon pledges
of land, cotton, etc.
The guaranty as to the vote will
suit the back man better than the
Republican platform because the lat
ter contemplates Federal interior
ence, which will lead to collisions
and bloodshed. The Democratic
platform contains no comfort to the
negro, because, while 10 denounces
the Republican programme, as usual,
it promises nothing which can be
specified. It is 3 generality which
does not even possess the virtue of
being 'glittering."
The Peoples party, however, not
only condemns Federal interference
with elections, but also distinctly
commits itself to the method by
which evnry citizen shall have bis
constitutional right to the free exer-
else of his electoral choice. We
pledge ourselves to isolate the voter
from all coercive influences and give
him the free and fair exercise Of his
franchise under State laws.
Now couple this with the financial
plank which promises equality in the
distribution of national currency, at
low rates of interest. The white
tenant lives adjoining the colored
tenant. Their houses are almost
equally destitute of comfort. Their
living is confined to bare necessities.
They are equally burdened with
heavy taxes. They pay the same
high rent for quilted and impoverish-
ed land.
They pay the same enormous
prices for farm supplies. Christmas
finds them both without any salts,
factory return for a years toll. Dull,
and heavy, and unhappy, they both
"a