Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-30
NOT on YOUR LIFE
The Afrc-Americans Of the Val
ley City
ARE NOT FOR OLD DEMOCRACY
A Vigofous Rspiy to she Address Mads
Pubhe By the Rev. MIR. WaIisma
Thsy RsPud.ats Him

uhASb hArips, Oct -, lsJZ.O
EDWoE HEEALD. The coiOTed men OF
Grznd Rapids wish 10 answer the letter
Of the Rev. p III. Williams. addressed
g. them through the Democrat. Octo-
Der IS.
As am personally acquainted with
the reverend divine several leading
cOl0red men wIsned me 10 explain
some Of the causes of Mr.. Williams
nes conversion 20 the democratic faith
and doctrine. tie tells Us DC has care
fully, pfayerfally and consclentiously
studied the subject and situation and
"a result . las caused him 10 re-
nOunce ali afiihation with the republic
eaa party. tie advises Us TO do ike
WISE and DC strsight-oat democrats.
Nov, before accepting Mr.. Williams
invitation - 30 baptized IA the demo-
erauc faith, ue wish 10 ask him If he
prayed win his eyes open or shut AMI
II be cOnscientiousiy believes that tho
democratic doctrine . right.
what7 Really Means
Col0red men aud vOtsrs-it means
great 81 al Tor negro 10 be al cut and
Ogt democrat.
Fust, II means 10 believe that slavery
sas right and that secession Was right.
-ccOnd, g means believe that AOra-
ham Lincoln was a despCt.
tn ri. 70 j. 10 believe mat the eman-
cipatlon or the cOl0red race MAS wrong.
Fourth, il Is 90 believe that confer
ring citizenship upon the freedmen Was
wrong.
ElItn, 10 D % believe that all lsgisla-
ton 10 secure freeme u IN their rights 10
unconstitutional.
Skin. &c IS 10 believe that political
builtoAng 5 right and that the sup
pFessI0n OF the ballot Is night.
seventh, e s. 10 believe mat protec-
ton 90 American homes and industries
Is wrong ana that free trade IS right.
EgntB, 10 TO sanction ali the crimes
committed IA the south against the
life, liberty and property OF our race.
Devoid of Race Principles
How utterly devoid OF race principles
must be tie Afro American that can
call himself a democrat. Ii Is To con
TESS that all the primer sles that have
entered into his American lie and
made man OF him are false. for the
democrats OF today are Just as antago-
n.stlc To liberty As II was when II
formed the chief bulwork OF slavery.
am a native born southerner. |
WAS born IN the same county that Mr..
Williams was, Halifax county, North
Carolina. This enables rae positively
o. contradict his statement that the
democratic party IN the south is the
friend of the negro. IL Plero III. Viii
liams can prove that 10 me | will
pledge myself to do as ne advised me
10 10.
In 1890 there were registered in Hall
fax county, North Carolina, 1859
negro voters and 1882 white voters.
The white democrats IN this county
never saw negro democrat. yet IN
that year they carried Halifax county,
elecung a state senator, ten members
of the legislature and the entire coun-
~ ticket la one voting precinct more
votes were counted Tor Hill, the demo
cratic cand date Tor state senator, than
there were dead and alive men IN the
precinct. In one box were found SO ,sy9
democratic votes
vin stay by Republication.
IL this u the kind Of friends ne ad-
vises Us 10 follow, We shall continue To
vote for Harrison aud Reid. John Il.
Rich, ara the whole stats ticket. Mr..
WIlhEms tells Us that President Hsrri-
son ignores our race; but the collector
Of the portal NllitamstOwu "a a colored
. man. John G. Daucy. Many similar
apo ailments have been made by him.
II recommended the passage of the
so-callet Force Bill" and to- protect
the c0lored race 10 ia use OF the fran
Chlse. We all regret the course Of Mr..
Williams. but we chiefly regret that hs
letter ma cost Us 81 much more than
10 8 a the democratic committee. # the
democratic statements that all the
negro votes IN existence could be
bought for g or s. piece IS TO be
taS~u =. the TRUTH
JOuS III. WILSON. Chairman Of Kent
County Equsl Rights ASSOCIATION.