Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-28
Frederick Douglass Thinks It is in
the Republican Ranks.
HB RELATES some EXPERIENCES
Would Be Glad if Taylor Followed
Astwood's Lead.
ALL WILL FINALLY RETURN

Mr.. Frederick Douglass views in regard
to the political afiiiation of the coiored
race were recently expressed in the pres
ence of a representative of The Star. The
conversation turned to the action Of Mr..
AstwoOd in leaving the democratic party
and returning to the ranks Of the republi-
can party. Mr.. Douglass said:
Mr.. AstwoOd states his case with great
ability. The grounds upon which he puts
his departure from the democratic party
and his grounds for returning to the repub
lican party are sound. Republicans should
be quite satisfied with his homecoming.
have no criticism to make of him; let those
criticise him whom he has offended. If he
Is satisfied that he has done the right thing
no one should deprecate his change of
political faith. l quite agree with him that
the republican party is the place for the
colOred man. 1 should be glad to see my
friend Taylor follow his example. We want
every colored man in the party who has
any influence"
When asked If Mr.. Astwood's attitude
would influence others to leave the ranks
of democracy. he said: THE influence of
his attitude is in that direction. The other
leading colored men of the democratic party
have been equally as badly treated as Mr..
Astwood. My friend, Peter II. Clark, has
been badly treated he made the greatest
sacrifice of all the colored democrats. He
has been despised and ostracised.
Ihe democratic party has made no ad-
vances toward the negro The only men
who have gotten anything out of the ad-
ministratioh are the mugwumps, who deny
that they are democrats. w. II. Still of
Philadelphia, one of the great factors in
the underground railroad movement, left
the republican party and went over to the
democracy, and his son followed his eX-
ample. but neither of them has received
any recognition.
Some Other Cases.
George T. Downing, who had stand
ing in the republican party, and whose
brother had charge of the United States
custcm house. turned his back on the re-
publican party, and has been wanderer
ever since. but he has gotten nothing. T.
Thomas Fortune left us also, but he was
shrewd enough to see how things were GO
ing. and he jumped back. McCants Stew
art Is one of the most brilliant of the
younger men who belong to the democracy,
but he. too. has been ignored.
IF Mr.. Astwood makes himself useful in
the republican party he certainly will not
fail of party recognition. He is a good
politician, an attractive man physically
and intellectually he is far above the aver
age. He has taken a step which fools may
laugh at, but wise men will consider with
respect. Only fools can gainsay the right
or a man to Change his attitude politically
at any time that he is convinced that he Is
wrong. Gladstone and all great men have
done it, and Mr.. Astwood has the same
right.
"In regard to politics. the time may come
when 1t will be necessary for the negro to
declare his independence of the republican
party, as Mr.. Astwood has of the demo-
cratic party. But yet there is no other
party in the field to which the negro can
go. Some men, with the aid of the demo-
Gratis, have been able to defeat the prin-
cipfes of the republican party. Any party
may have traitors, such the western
Senators have been to the republican party
but the principles of the party still 1--we
1t was said that the democratic party was
betrayed by the late Samuel j. Randall.
The time will come when Mr. Astwood
will be justified by public opinion, as he
is row Justified by his own conscience and
judgment. The time will come when every
Self-reSpecting cOlored man will feel as
Mr.. Astwood felt and will denounce the
democratic party and return to the repL1li-
can party"
GarfeId's Intended Policy.
The conversation turned upon Mr.. Cleve-
lands appointment of Astwood to the con-
sulship of Calais. France. Mr.. Douglass said
that President Garfield intended appointing
negroes as ministers and consuls to white
nations. He said: Mr. Garfield sent for me
and told me of his Intentions He asked
me what l thought of the idea. readily
concurred with him. and told him that the
South American and European nations
would not object to 1t, for the higher you
go up in the gradations of intelligence you
will find less race hatred. | called upon
Mr.. Blaine relative to the matter and he
said to me. L suppose you Will give me
credit for being equally as willing to do the
same l left him and was to submit some
names to the President for these positions
when Just day or two afterward the bull
let OF Guteau put an end to it all