The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-10-14
Th G Colored Voters.
LARGE NUMBERS IN TIE NORTH
WILL SUPPORT MR. CLEVELAND.
A Prominent Negro's Viowo.

of the New York State Democratic
campaign committee.
Mr.. Gross is one of the solid Africo-
American citizens of Brooklyn, whose
strict attention to business has made
for himself both wealth and good
reputation among his neighbors. In
1876, disgusted with Republican pre-.
lenses, he shook the dust OF that party
from his feet and gave hearty support
to Mr.. 1'iden's election, and has ever
since supported Democratic principles
and candidates. Being well off in
worlds goods he contributes largely to
the party of his choice, and in every
campaign his voice and pen is waged
IN Democracy's behalf. He says that
at least one-third Of the colored vot-
ers in New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut will cast their suffrages
for the Democratic candidates.
THE LIGHT TURNED ON.
"To what do you attribute this
sudden revolution p he was asked.
well, in the first place, ] do not
consider it revolution; but solely
and simply gradual evolution. The
colored voters of to day are fast learn.
ing political economy and as they be
come educated they gradually turn
from the ideal to the real. They know
that their citizenship means more to
them than the right to support any
one political party, and they are begin
ming to understand the meaning Of
'ariff reform and honest money as be-
ing the themes that touch the very
heart of the labor problem The ne
gro knows that protection. SO far as it
pertains to him, is fraud, as the kind
of labor he performs is not protected; /;
but, on the other hand, he is effectu
ally protected from entering the Nc
kinley favored manufactures. TaVe
for instance, the State Of Pennsylvania,
whose 10000 black voters give their
support to Republican protection. Yet
how many Of those favored industries
give black men fair opportunity in
the struggle for bread? What is true
Of Pennsylvania is also true Of other
Northern States.
"There is not ohe Of them where
black mechanics and tradesmen are
treated with even decency or fairness.
Mr.. Henry Cabot Lodge, who lives in
Massachusetts, is making considerable
noise about the condition of the black
men in the South, but seems to over
look the black mote which darkens
the light in the eye of the average
manufacturing industry of his native
State. In Mississippi, Alabama, and
in fact, in all the Southern States, the
negro has fair chance of labor, but
the same is not true of the free North.
The average wages received under a
protective tariff by black laboring men
IN the North is less than the average
white laborers receive who work under
an opposite tariff policy. Therefore,
so far as the Iegro is concerned Re
publican protection is fraud pure
and simple"
THE FORCE BILL.
"Mr. Gross, what is the attitude OF
your people toward the Federal cleo
ton bill :"
$50 far as l have discerned, they do
not want it. Their attitude is the
same as the Republican candidate for
Vice President, Mr.. Reid, was in
1873. 1T is party measure said
Mr.. Reid. 1t is really bill to give
the president provided he be a Re.
lpublican) power to transfer the ma
chinery of elections from local juris
diction to the hands of United States
Marshals, who shall be appointed BY
the President MIR. Reid denounced
the measure as being contradictory to
our Constitution, but he was not a
candidate for Office then; but this
does not make any material difference
as the negro knows that.such a meas
ure would do the race more harm thar
lgood, and Republican black men ir
the South, as well as those of Demo
cratic tendencies in the North, are
united in their opposition to it."
l;9"How do you regard Mr. Harrison2'
"As failure" was a quick reply
'In 1888 the Republican party, true
to its instincts, promised everythin:
to black men if they would again vote
them in power. What is the result
Not twelve months had elapsed be
fore the colored people all over the
country were up in arms against tn,
administration, To delegation af,e
delegation Mr.. Harrison expressed
himself as being friendly toward us
but his record has failed to support
the theory The way in which h,
snubbed Mrs, Roberts, widow of Ex
! President Roberts of the Liberiqr
Republic the failure to give recogni
tionto the race on the Worlds Fail
l I...t i II