The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-10
THE COLORED MANS BALLOT.
Why II Should Be Cast for Republican Candi.
dates-It Is Question of Human Rights.

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
The writer. having lived several years in
the Southern States since the rebellion.
knows whereof he speaks concerning the
relations of the negro of that section 10
the Republican party. and why he cannot
be Democrat and keep any part of his
manhood. A recent editorial in the Indian
apolis News states that lone of the argu-
ments for his the negro'sl enfranchise-
ment was that the ballot would be his pro-
lection, causing him to be respected and
sought after for his vote.n Whatever may
have been said in support of the above ar
gument. no Democrat. North. South. East
OF West. was ever heard advocating
il. The Democratic party as unit raised
it's voice against the enfranchisement of
the negro on the sole argument of inferior
ity and Incapacity. The logical conclusion
would be that the ballot given the negro
would have had the effect of commanding
respect for him and protecting him. but the
conditions were adverse TO this civlllZlng
method, and the Democratic party was re-
sponsible for it, as will be shown fur
Their on.
The News then says. referring to the
above quotation: This the colOred man
proceeded to nuilfy from the start by be-
ing counted for the Republican party with
out rhyme or reason" Now, desire to
show that the negro acted lntelllgently
and with the very best reason in accepting
the Republican party as the party which
would be the most likely to do him justice.
Years of servitude had taught him to dis
trust the white man in the South Nat
urally the negrOes reasoned that they could
century treated them as beasts of the
field. When they were clothed with tie
ballot they knew little of it's use il 10
true. but tncy knew that there WAS great
party which opposed their enfranchlse..
ment. and that their late masters belon ged
to that party, and that there was another
great party composed largely of Union
soldiers, and which bore at the head of It's
column the portraits of the immortal
Lincoln and Grant, and they chose this
party with which to begin their new
citizenship. What was there TO have In
duced them to have done otherwisef
But let us sec if they did not have other
reasons for beginning and continuing with
the Republican party. What ever may be
said pro OF con about the "carpet-b8ggers,"
as they pleased to call all white men who
who went from the North TO live in the
South after the war. there is one thing. at
say was good thing. although at that
time it was one of the many mean things
charged against the Republicans. and that
was the establishment of free-school sys-
advoca ted the equal advantages of q COM
moD-schoOl system among whites and
blacks alike. This was unanimously op-
posed by the Democratic party. and SO
in the South that they began
the most damnable and aecursed
outrages upon teachers and others who at
tempted to carry out this plan of educating
burned the scbool.houses By the hundreds
and organized their "Ku-klux Klansp to rid
their country of the hated Yankees" with
their Northern ideas Not night passed
but the morning sun looked down upon the
mangled bodies of those whose only crime
| was that they were trying TO teach and
protect the down-troddeD. OstraciZed
| given TO the lash. and killed in almost ev-
Try inhuman way known to the savages.
were the teachers and advocates of the
| free-schOol system in the South. During
| all this time not q single Democratic news
paper nor one member OF that party
was heard to condemn these out
RACES Yet the News thinks the negroes
should have divided upon the great ques-
| ton of human liberty and progress. and
part of them. at least. should have voted
| the Democratic ticket. subsequently the
| high-handed outrages perpetrated by the
| the suffrage of the blacks was supple
mented by the forming OF Rifle Clubs" in
| almost every county, and declaring. as
| they did in their platform in Mississippi in
/
"peaceably if we can. forcibly If we must"
With this began the enactment of munic-
Ipai and local laws. the aim of which was
| TO prevent the negro from advancing So
| cially, morally or intellectually: In other
| words, to make hlm all but a slave In e:ne.
| There is q kindred feeling among all per-
sons of the same nationality or blood.
| and 1t Is not to be wondered nj
/ are unit against q party that has lived
| upon its hatred and prejudices against the
| cOlored race. The only wonder is that
there should be any who would vote for
the Democratic rather than the Repub-
| lican party. The one has opposed the ad-
vsncement of the colored man in every W ay
possb BILE; the other has treated him as a free
American citizen. and has sought to elevate
him as such. The numerous outrages com.
mitted upon them In the South are by
publican mobs have boarded trains
and excluded colored ministers be-
cause they were riding in tirst-clasi
cars, having paid first-class fare
burg Red river. Coushatta and dozen
other places where they were shot do WI
like dogs. were planned and executed by
Democrats.
Tell me. then. who made the negro
hater of the Democratic partyf Should he
like . cur. lick the hand that smites him
or would 1t not be the more reasonable Il
suppose he wonld forever curse the nam,
of a party that had been the enemy Of hi
race from its formationi There is on
question with the colored man paramount
TO all others. and that IS political equality
and an equal chance with tn
whites to live and enjoy the fruits
rights are deuled him. economic ques
ti0ns will be of little attraction to him
| The question of human rights ought to b.
first in the hearts of all true Americans
The Republican party places it above nj
others, and for this. if nothing more. tn
colored man will continue to be connecte
with that party until Justice has BEEF
melted out to HIM and the Democratic par
ty has ceased to be. j. A. ROBERTSON.
| ISDIANAPOIIs Nav T.