Omaha daily bee., 1892-04-02
WAITER RALEIGH VAUGHAN


And now it is announced that Colonel
Walter Raleigh Vaughan (ex-mayor OF
Council Bluffs), late OF Omaha and at
present of Chicago, has decided to or
ganize u new party.
Ho can advertise himself more ex-
tensively and carry forward his game oil
catching suckers more successfully by
organizing a political party to make n
speciality of his idea of pensioniug the
eX-slaves. The dispatches announce that
he has offered Frederick Douglass the
nomination for tho presidency and that
several hundred negroes are urging the
organization of tho new party without
delay.
Mr.. Vaughan's deep scheme for roping
in the crodulous and transferring money
TO his own purse has been carried far
enough. 1t is time self-respecting
journals exposed the fraud and the press
of the country took him in hand. Ex-
Congressman Connell, Mt the urgent re-
quest of Vaughan, introduced the bill
for pensioning the ex-slaves in the
lower house Of congress. He did noteX-
pect to urge its enactment into law
and had no thought that it would ever
be passed, buthe introduced it as cour-
tesy to the Trainer of the bill and in
accordance with the custom that pre-
walls among members in the house. 1t
will never be seriously discussed, and
Vaughan knows this fully as we'll
as anybody else. He is simply
making the bill, and book advocating
il, the basis of his peripatetic lecturing
tours about the country where he has
the assurance to pose as philanthro-
pist Of wealth and influence who is de-
voting his entire time gratuitously to
furthering the cause of the poor ne
groes.
People in Omaha and Council Bluffs
need not be told anything about this so -
called philanthropst. They have known
him in his various roles of adventurer,
pot-house politician and all-round
schemcr. Some of them have known
him to their financial disadvantage.
They understand that this enterprise in
which he is now engaged is merely II
clever scheme out Of which its author
hopes primarily to wiring money from
the pockets of poor, ,credulous negroes and
good people interested in their welfare.
but finally to organize, if possible "a mass
ofignorant voters into "A political combin-
alton which can be sold out to one Or
other of the political parties. People of
the country at large are not so we'll in
formed, however, as his infinite ussur-
ance has actually procured for HIM the
enthusiastic support OF many OF the most
noted clergymen and philanthropists in
America. With these endorsements and
his own glib tongue, he goes before as
semblies OF negroes and convinces them
that he is their friend and will secure
them large sums Of money through his
famous pension bill.
Walter Raleigh Vaughan is Vir-
ginia democrat. His antecedents were
all pro-slavery men. He has no real
sympathy with the blacks. He has said
he expects to make a million out of this
agitation ana he has undoubtedly
pretends to be worth $780, 900, but the
commercial agencies Will not support
his statement. The fact is that he is
simply worn-out ward politician and
unsuccessful speculator. The letters of
recommendation he shows have been
procured by importantly and misrepre-
sentation and should have no weight
whatever against the record he has left
behind him here where he is so we'll
known. Frederick Douglass is old and
no doubt credulous, but he probably has
too much hard sense and patriotism to
be made the plant tool of plausible
adventurer. We have faith to believe
that tho clergymen and philanthropists
who have swallowed Vaughan's story
whole will soon discover that they have
simply been duped and will cease to act
as bait for his sucker catching hook.