People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1893-02-24
CORRESPONDENCE.
4 Representative COIOred Man Gives
His Views.
WHIrE PLA1Ns, c.. ZEE. 10.

l want to speak to all men that are
interested in the colored people to
let them know that [ hope to see a
day when we, as race, will receive
some credit for trying to do right.
l was brought up under white man
who tried to teach me to always do
right. My mother joined him in
that doctrine by example and pre-
Cepts.
For twenty years | have conversed
with white men upon the awful
crimes of my race, and have always
condemned immortality wherever |
found it. I was taught that what we
as race needed was to have respect
for ourselves and others. To work
and save our money, and try to be
people, and when the white people
saw that we were trying to do all
these things they would respect us
as people. Believing this to be so,
l used all my opportunities in that
direction. But alas What am [
able to witness? A negro may be
as upright as he can, possessing all OF
the virtues that man in human
flesh can possess, and not being able
to take sides with the Democrats, he
is considered one of the lowest mes
groes in all the land. But, on the
other hand, if he be low negro, with
no good morals at all, stealing, I'm
virtuous in almost everything he
does, and take sides with the Demo
Gratis, he is considered one Of the
best negroes in all the land. What
does this teach me? If [ am to
judge for myself, they don't care
what else we do, so we vote as they
say vote.
I know a man who got so low at
White Plains that he could not get
credit for five cents worth, and why?
He wouldn't even come to see about
q debt after he made it. All he
wanted was to get the goods, and
you couldn't see him any more.
What did the merchants say about
him? "Ie isn't any more than a
dog" But when he accepted their
ticket they said, "He is all right now.
He is the smartest negro you all
have got; hear We him." 81
And there are others that I could
mention, but my space will not allow
me.
/ stand upon right, and that alone.
If my white friends Gf I have any
turn their backs upon me because [
can't stomach their ticket, I can't
help it. I intend to stick to my
principles and stay in the middle Of
the road.
If I can help any one in any way,
/ will not stop to consider who he is
or what his political views are. I
intend to try, by the help Of God, to
do unto all men as I would have
them do unto me-, regardless of their
condition, color or politics, and trust
God for my success in business.
I was talking with a poor negro
the other day who had served the
Democratic party last fall. He said
that he had lost most all he possessed
serving the Republican party, and
he saw a chance to make some of it
back last fall, SO he went to work,
and all he hated, he said, 81 never
charged them enough to get ont of
debt" I thought to myself, if that
is the way am to, make my money
l will die empty-handed. He seems
to be glad of what he made. Poor
fellow, 1 am sorry for him they
would not trust him in their back
yard at night among their cats with
out watching him.
am in for laws by the people for
all the people, and nothing short Of
this viii satisfy me.
There is a distinguished negro
that halls from Sparta, Ca, speaking
upon the negro problem. He is
recommended as good example for
the negro race. This is just what Z
have told you. On last year that
same man am told) was convicted
to the cnain-gang for gambling, but
was bonded out some way or an
other. At any rate he worked and
voted with the Democrats. Now he
is being put up as great and good
man. "Watch as well as pray"
This reminds me of some of those
lmber-legged Baptists who are all
the time in some kind of trouble.
They say, off man has been bap-
tlzed he is all right; don't matter
what he does. But if he has not
been baptized he is all wrong; don't
matter what he does" If you are
a negro Democrat you are all right;
don't matter what you do. But if
you are not negro Democrat you
are all wrong; don't matter what
you do.
Isn't this great encouragement to
a man who is trying to live right in
ell he does? Think about it.
j. F. FITZPATRICK.