The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-06
A Black Politician.

II NDL - - I1 A01@( I'll NAC
banks Of Lake P-etaquamscut, In old Nara
gansett. C~uddymonk was a negro; but a
Narragansett negro was, at that date, of
almost another race than a Southern negro.
he was free. he was usually respected and
self-respecting: he might, and often did
own a house and farm OF his own; and he
had a certain independent social position
which was far from being a despised one,
FOR he enjoyed with his rich white neigh
bors who had been slave owners. a friendly
intimacy that was denied to a poor white
man. He was. however. somewhat lazy.
occasionally untruthful and even dishonest
like his Southern colored brother. Cuddy-
monk was a typicai Narragansett negro
sharp, shrewd and in the main thrifty. He
was deeply and consistently superstitious.
and knew a thousand tales OF ghosts, and
spirits. and witches, and manitous, old
traditions Of African voOdooism and Indian
He was profoundly learned in
the meanings OF dreams, and omens, and
predictions, and he did not hesitate to prac-
uce-oT attempt TO practice-an kinds of
witch charms. and ''conjures,'' and prof
ects." though he was a member in good
standing, as he proudly stated. of de
Pistikle Church"
He was a good cobbler. a fair tinker. a
poor mason. a worse carpenter, a frst-class
fisherman. He worked at any and all of
these trades with cheerful and indOlent i'm
partiality. just IS he fddled. and sheared
sheep. and plowed, and sowed, and raked,
and harvested for his rich white neighbors;
but when any one asked him his real trade
he proudly answered, Use er pollertishun."
He was indeed a politician. for he had
held the highest political position that his
State and race afforded; he had thrice been
elected BLACK Gov'nOr' of Narragansett
on Niger Lection Day'-not on account
OF his masters great wealth and high POI
EitiOn, as was in slavery times "GOy'nor''
Aaron Potter; not for his military prowess,
as was 'GovnOr' Guy Watson, who had
served bravely at T1conderoga under Gen.
Greene; not. as was "Gov'nor'' Prince Rob
insOn, for his handsome person and state
" appearance; for poor Cuddy possessed
neither. He had been elected just as white
Governors frequently are elected nowadays
because he was a politician. His office,
however. bore no salary and but few enol-
uments; but it conferred great honor and
dignity, and through it he received many
small favors. He was consulted as 10 the
settlement Of many small disputes among
his black brothers. and his decision was
law. His Office thus had also a certain
power; ana commanded some respect among
the white people. who through him could
obtain small settlements and adjustments.
md arrange many matters in their rela-
lions with the negroes. without the trouble
OF personal effort. Cuddy had the honor of
having many of his legal decisions and Do
Iitical aphOrisms and his abstruse financial
opinions quoted at the white Governors
table. where they had been received with
much laughter, and some praise, also, for
their shrewdneSs.
his election had been a scene of great
f~estivity. on the third Saturday in June
Con which Niger Lection was always
held there gathered in the great oak grove
on Rose Mill the black inhabitants, riding
on saddles and billions, in chaiseS and
farm wagons in oxcarts even-men, wom-
en- and children, all in their gayest and
finest attire. from all the towns around.
At 10 o'clock the canvass commenced.
Weeks of "'lectureneerin' and parmen-
teerin'" had reused great interest in the
event, and at last the two rows of the male
friends of the respective candidates We're
arranged in lines under the trees in the
charge OF two pompous marshals, while
the women stood admiringly around. Cud-
dymOnk. mounted on Colonel GARDENERS
gray horse, and wearing a fine coat and
knee breeches that had been given him by
the Colonel, with a great borrowed gold
laced cooked hat balanced on the back OF
his head, rode up and down the line hour
fishing . long sword that had been lent him
Tor the occasion. And he kept quiet and
order, that no one might change ranks
after the counting began, or step from one
frauduIentIy Increase the number of votes.
When the counting was done the number
OF votes and successful candidate was an
nOunced- Cuddymonk's election was re-
ceived with tumultuous cheers and congrat-
only one event occurred to mar the dig
nifty Of this first election. As he was aDout
20 end his inauguration address win a glori.
GUS flourish and climax OF ornate rheIoILc
his defeated opponent called out IN q nlgn,
malicious voice; "Cqddy. yer calls mas got
his legs with apprenticeship mortIhcaton.
Alas! II was too true. Colonel Gardner
had given with the knee breecheS a pair
OF his fine long stockings; but as ne was as
sturdy and muscular as Cuddy was thin,
tive calf and convex shin; Cas said Ran
dolDh Of virginia. than have most or his
race. the ColoneFs stockings hung IN IN
ramedied by thrusting into each stocking
heat OF .parmenteerin'." and through con-
slant friction against MS morse Sues,
9 rgaGy'S in Mo9lenn fniv vain n ala he aeu try. AMID hid
the jeers Of his opponents TO replace the
unsightly wads in a dignifed and proper
POSITION: they refused to stay placed. and
for the rest of the day, at the dinner. and
at the dance, the false calves hung in front
and under his sharp old knees: looking for
all the world, in the gray, wrtnkled stock
ings, like a pair Of hornets nests under the
It may plainly be seen that by the virtue
Of his position old Cuddymonk was OF the
aristocracy Of Narrangansett black society.
He was also an aristOcrat by birth. The
blood OF African kings ran in his veins.
and a strong cross OF Indian blood, that of
old King Ninigret. showed in his high
cheek bones and coarse, BLACK hair; His
skin, too. was far from black. As he sat
in the clear sunlight on this May morn
ing. his bare feet and hands and face were
Of a uniform glowing g0lden-brown color,
as rich and cheerful. though not as orange
tinted as a ripe, pumpkin. The appear
ance OF his head was, also, most unlike
the wool-covered, low browed. heavy
jawed Uranium OF a negro; for his half
curly, coarse hair grew on the back part
Of his head only. and stuck out in a great
stiff. surrounding halo. The top and sides
of his head being thus left bare gave to
him the appearance of having an extraOr-
dinarily high and brain-developed fore
head; and altogether these peculiarities
caused him to bear a comical cranial re-
semblance both to the noble Shakespeare
and "A blue-haired, ring-crowed baboon.
His teeth and eyeball showed the brilliant.
glittering white OF the negro, not at all
like the dingy black snags and reddish.
fnflamed eyeballs seen in the Indian. He
wore a collarless and rather ragged white
shirt, an ancient and much worn long
tailed blue coat with brass buttons. the
very coat which had been given TO him By
Colonel Gardiner to fifty and gloriously
attire him upon his election as "Gov'nor."
But the garment having served through
three terms of office (o say nothing of the
many years il had faithfully covered the
Coloners back. was now degraded, TO
everyday wear. Cuddy was also clad in
a shapeless pair of loose yellowish tow
trousers called .tongs," that bore strong
evidence not only OF home spinning and
weaving. but of home tailoring as well. If