The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-07
MIR. CLEVELAND AND THE NEGRO.

the yicksburg Herald aimed at proving that
Mr.. Cleveland was in sympathy with tie
movement Of Yankee fanatics TO bring about
social eouality in the South between the
whites and the negroes. aud we expressed our
qualification at the fact that no richmond
newspaper had done anything TO give cur
reucy 10 the letter here. weekly paper
published at Richmond. however, called the
Labor News. publshessnow the letter IN full.
with elaborate and very prominent headlines
like tho following: Grover OieVe-
land Favors Social Equality" and
others 20 the same erect
This paper is designed. and IS supposed. to
circulate chiefly amongst the laborng people
In its issue of the preceding week 1t adyeF-
tisei that it would put out a very large
special edition OF the issue containing Nj.
Washingtons letter. and when all these facts
are added to the further fact that the same
issue contains another elaborate article pun
ing Senator Hill as the special friend OK the
laboring man. the case looks very lie one IN
which some Hill money has been used IN an
attempt to SANDER Mr. Cleveland for Mr.
Hills benefit in the coming primary election
of delegates TO the convention.
IL is hardly worth while for Mr.. CleYolands
friends IL the South to take any notice Of
these petty attempts to injure him with our
people. They know that while he was PresI-
dent that element in our midst which asso-
GATES on terms of social equality with tie
negro received no sort of recognition from
him. They know that he set bis face as
steadily and as resolutey against them as any
man from ne south could have done. They
know that he cleared them out Of oil Federal
Offices in the South, aud appointed no one
10 Office in the South who was not
identified in every and the most
intimate way with the white people
here With this record for the four
years of his Presidency behind aim. 1t Is vain
for Mr.. Washington. or any one else. t. at
tempt 10 convince our people that Mr.. Clev-
land If President again. would seek 10 inter
NEEDLE with our affairs IN an attempt al
coercing US into recognizing the negro as our
social equal. 1t is simple twaddle, which our
people know full well to be twaddle. aud Will
treat as such.
l. ;
upon the two facts that Fred Douglass and
his wife attended Mr. Cleyeland's public
receptions while be was President, and that
he appointed negro to one Of the Offices
OF the District of Columbia SO
far as the receptions are concerned
this is TO lie said. Mr. Cleveland was fresi-
dent OF the United States. The Constitution
"a
gro in all respects a citizen. the equal before
the laws Of the white man. The Presidents
receptions are open to all the people OF the
United States. white as well as black, and
there Is no more proprety IN holding Mr..
Cleveland responsible for Douglass being
there than there Is in holding him responsible
for the presence Of any back-leg or other bad
character who might nave been present.
So far as the appointment Of Democratic
negro to an Office in the District Of Columbia
is concerned this is to DO said Mr.. Cleye-
land was not appointing negro TO office IN
community where the race sentiment Is what
it is here. a large portion of Washington
city's population is composed Of negro
philists. The appointment was one most ac-
ceptable to a large part of the people directly
concerned with it. Farther there were mo-
tiyes of public policy concerned with II.
which had a very strong bearing. The negro
vote of New ork and Indiana, if cast with
the Democratic party. would make both
those States safely Democratic. Many per-
sons thought at the time the appointment
was a wise stroke of policy as tending 70 bring
tho negro voters of New York and Indiana
over 10 the Democrats. Wewere notam0ngst
those who thought this. We believe and have
always believed that the negro everywhere is
bound by iron bands TO the Republican party
and that it IS useless for the Democrats to
endeavor to break those bands Wise men,
however. differed with US and the appOins-
ment was made. 1t Is easy now with hind
sight" TO censure what was then their fore
sight but it does not very well be-
come us in Virginia 10 be very
hard upon Mr. Cleveland for making the
experiment. In ls70-7l our Democratic
Legislature elected Abram Hall. negro. as
sistant doorkeeper of the House Of Delegates
aud IN the same year the sergeant-at-arms OF
the House appointed John Cooley, another
negro. assistant sergeant-at-arms Of the
House. both acts receiving the entire APP
proval Of all the white people of the State
We did not divide the negroes wortha cent,
but il shows that even We ourselves got mis-
led.
On the whole after what Mr.. Cleveland did
for the people Of the South during the four
years he was President in suppressing the he
gro-eQuality people, they will never be induced
TO believe that be can be made TO take any
stock in an attempt TO force negro equality
upon us. and he is welcome to force It upon
our Yankee friends who profess to love the
negro so as long as they want II.
The nm dwelling.
The following invitation 10 the unwilling
ceremonies has Just been issued
The invitation committee Of the A. 7. Hill
Monument Association hereby extend "a
cordial invitation 70 all military and Confed-
crate veteran organizations. also 10 every
81. q