The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-27
RASH PROMISES OF OFFICES
Cleveland's Friends Said to Be
Engineering the Movement.
The Scheme Denounced by an Intelli.
gent COlOred Man-McKinley's Ma.
jOrity May Exceed 10000.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

silver question, and since it has become
plain that in the campaign of 1896 a large
portion of that party will refuse to sup
port the national candidate, even though
the platform on which he Isl nominated
"straddles'' the silver problem, extraordn-
ary efforts have been made to organize the
colored voters against the Republican or
canization. Promises Of patronage have
been made by representatives of President
Cleveland's administration, and visions of
fat offices under an Independent administra-
ton four years hence have led some of the
dark-skinned Democratic shouters to call
conferences and flood the country with
circulars from the national capital There
have been held In Washington since Con-
gress convened no less than three conven-
tons or conferences by the negro organ
izers. All Of these meetings have been for
the express purpose of algning negro vot-
ers against the Republican party. 1t made
no difference whether they supported the
Democratic ticket or the free silver or
anti monopoly ticket; If they withdrew
from the Republican organization the Dem
ocratic scheme was successful.
This organization Of negro Republicans
into various parties in opposition to the one
which secured them tn tir freedom and bal
lot is as directly Democratic movement
as was the Prohibition movement Of years
ago in Republican States. The Prohibition
movement succeeded in breaking up Repub-
hcan organizations in some localities and
turning over State control to the Demo-
Gratis. All of the munitions of war in this
negro movement are being supplied by
Democrats. The organizers have their ex-
penses paid out of Democratic campaign
tions of the country have frequently had
their expenses paid here Nearly all of the
men who have been organizing the colored
voters against the Republican party 1t
,and office-seekers-" wxlking delegates''-
who are willing to hire out for almost any
political purpose if a compensation is FORTH
coming.
Those negroes In Washington who are not
professional office seekers, ard who do not
vote and work for principles only when
compensation is in sight do not look upon
this movement with great seriousness. To-
day the Journal correspondent had a talk
formed and brightest of the ninety thousand
colored persons in Washington, a man who
works for principle alone. and who works
intelligently and with effect. Mr. Bruce
does not believe the movement to disinte,
CRATE the colored Republican column VIII
avail much in the long run, although he
formidable that has been made In that d.
rection. -.
Il confess that i am unaDle 10 see WHdI
effect the colored Democrat organizations
are going to have on legislation or politics
at the polls" said Mr.. Bruce. The party
now in power is on record as being opposed
to negro domination and dictation.' This
so-called Negro Democratic League Is, be-
lieve, composed of black and g1nger-coiored
gentlemen, who think they are thinkers.
and who evince a remarkable degree OF
interest in the proper solution or the perplex-
ing poblems which are are ssast agsgavatng ann
and most erudite scholars IN the Democrdtlc
party / am amused at the vocal gym
nastics Of the colored democrats VINO VINO par par.
learned and cannot give a cogent reason
for the faith which they say is in them, or
sherman law will affect the diversified in
dustries of this country IL they are not re-
pealed. The colored Democrat THINKS py
brevet, and his thinkings are sometimes the
result of yearning desire to snatch some,
thing in the way of public patronage ana
appropriate it to his own use. Macauley
has a character in his history of England,
George Temple who always managed TO
be with the party In power. whetner II was
headed, sagacious, scheming, artful, polit-
ical adventurer, and had no more use
for that element called principle thdn a
Temple was always in clover; he seemed 10
have a penchant for that kind OF diet. Inc
colored Democrats In the asgIesaee az me re
Lord Temple they are shouting WIN the
crowd. :,
.But in their case however, the crowd is
immemorial, and against every negro VINO
has dared to assert his manhood rights
whenever it had the power TO aprldge thenl,
either by force or legislation. Ii is the same
crowd which placed upon the statute BOOKS
of the several States OF the Union the odl-
Gus Black Laws, that opposed tne three
amendments to the Constitution, which gave
manhood and citizenship to the negro, which
assented to the Incorporation IN the late
platform of the Democratic party PLANK
pledging the present administration TO re-
peal of the federal election laws. 1t has
kept the pledge, and 1T promises, IL given
rope enough, to wipe out every other law
on the statute books of the Nation which
offers any protection to the negro as a man
and citizen. 1t is the crowd which re-
ligiously believes and avows that TINS Is 81,
sentiment of Taney that a negro has no
rights which a white man is bound to re-
spect. In face of these insults to the man
hood of the negro race, am surprised 20
find any considerable number OF intelligent
and thoughtful black men so lost to shame
the Democratic party as to be foolish
enough TO lend their aid and their num-
bers to the accomplishment of its diabolical
ends in furthering the policy of notification
of power, it has begun by the repeal or the
federal election laws.
Don't you believe that the negroes will
see that they are being used as the tools of
Democrats, and will refuse to enter into
this organization against their parent
Yes" replied Mr.. Bruce. THE negro
who does not see that the Democratic party
is inimical to his interests is indeed blind,
deaf and dumb. Democracy, as preached
to-day, North ald South, means discord,
sectional hate, The restriction of constitu-
tional rights, the rejection of those adj
vanced ideas which to-day characterize hu-
manity and citizenship, and the restoration
of the fatal doctrine of State rights. 1t
means the rule OF the minority, and it's
champions in the national Legislature have
made its position clear on this point IL
the Democratic party is the correct one,
and If the people of this country shall sus-
tain its position at the polls I'm coming
elections. State and national. the negro
Democrats of the country will be swallowed
up in the maelstrom Of its contempt, and
their memory despised by the white men in
that party, upon whom they are now trust
ing themselves In the hope of obtaining a
few offices. / have no fear, however, of the
influence OF these black converts TO the
Democratic faith. The negro Republicans
of the country still have faith In the future
of the Republican party. and they cannot
be swerved by specious promises from the
line which they have marked out for them
selves. The great mass of the colored peo-
pie of this country are in favor of a free
ballot and a fair count. They are opposed
TO lynch law and the Jim Crow car laws
which are in operation I'm the Southern