Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-13
ASTWOOD'S POLICY
The Conditions of His Remaining in
the Democratic Party.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD DO
Offices That Ought to Be Given to
Negroes.
"A REM A RK ABLE LETTER

Mr. II. C. c. AstwoCd, chairman of the
executive committee of the Negro Demo-
cratic League. has written the following
letter. under date of yesterday, to Charles
H. j. Taylor, president Of the league, in re-
gard TO the formers resigna ton of the DO
sitiop which he holds:
My dear sir and good friend:
Your letter of even date is before me-
ana have carefully noted it's contents In
reply must say that am sorry, with you,
that i found 1t necessary to tender to you
my resignation as chairman of the execu-
uvs COMMITTEES of the league. But the
question with you and J. as race leaders,
ought to mean more than party slaves III
this be not 50. then our places eternally
ought 10 be in the republican party; but If
We are truthfully looking for the better
ment OF the condition of our people as well
as ourselves. labor should be rewarded with
the fruits of our labor. and our political
condition bettered correspondinsly
WHAT has the democratic party done for
the negro for the spontaneous sacrifice and
support given TO Mr.. Cleveland and the
democratic party? We have asked for
bread: they have given us stones We have
asked for fish; they have given us serpents
10 sting US into deeper humiliation than
ever.
II Is JUST possible that the President
and the party really do not know what il
costs TO be a negro democrat-the social
religious and domestic ostracism we must
brave to meet the storm of abuse in the
attempt to convince our people that IL
would be to their best interest to divide
the vote and become democrats. In princi-
pie IL may be right. but Is IL right in fact?
This can only be proven by facts. i have
staggered many time as i have been
forced TO meet the public opprobium of my
religious and social friends to give satis-
factory proof as a reason for my course.
Bishops of my church have upbraided
me. Minister'S. friends and companions
have demonstrated with me to give some
tar giole proof for such course but in
the face of the actual condition / have
been forced to palliate.
Poor Bishop Brown, whom We all loved
SO well, could not stand It; he suffered and
died under the pressure, and what reward
has been given to his memory? A solitary
ard sentimental place in the model room
OF the Interior Department will tell.
If 1 have the courage to make a con-
trast you will say with others, perhaps.
that this will damn me and keep me out
of office sure. but even If it does i must.
1t is a race fight, not an individual one,
and IL become a martyr to cause that
might benefit others let me be.
Take the columns of the New York
World during the campaign of 1892. You
win see at the head of the list the con-
Walter Q. Gresham. now Secretary of
State; ex-Attorney General Wayne Nc
Veagh, now minister to Russia; Bishop
John NJ. Brown, eceased. daughter soo
Department: II. c. C. Astwood. ex-consul
to San Domingo, nothing, and the race
deprived of every prominent office diplo-
matically and otherwise, and you, rescued
by our republican friends. stand alone as
the official representative OF the race.
I'VE have assumed to leadership, and II
We are to sit quietly down and not make
demand for a better treatment of the race
we represent then we are not worthy of
the places We aspire TO.
mo, 1 think self-respect demands Of us
to say that the party has practically done
nothing for the race. to warrant US In con-
tinuins such a -frutless fight.
II can readily see how you might be found
I'm the front rank and I'm the hottest of the
fight to sustain the party, but can You do
1t with propriety VIXEN your friends are
being starved and your race politically
ostracised?
Il would like to be placed in a position to
do something to vindicate my position IN
asking colored men to follow my example
and come over into the democratic party.
but unless l have some ground to stand
upon how can L?
Il would suggest what III -. be done to
give us some hope and assurance to hold out
to the race, for their announcement:
The appointment OF T. McCant Stewart of
Brooklyn. assistant district attorney for his
district; William z. Gross of New York.
Proruanent place In the New York custom
mouse; George p. Downing of Newport r.
L., post efice position in that locality-
Peter h Clark. a leading position in his
section; Crosswaith OF Tennessee, a place
commensurate with his brilliant ability. and
r. c. Still, the chief of the Afro-American
bureau, good office. and abolish the OBJ
noxious institution he now presides over
FIJI the -nfnistership to Liberia at once
proVide for Mr.. Smythe of Virginia else
where. take back Hayti and give 1t to the
chairman of your executive committee and
MI some OF the places made vacant in the
dlHerent departments by the wholesale re-
cOlOrpd
ored democrats in their places: put back COL
oreu ladies' who have no politics In the places
from which they have been removed with
out cause; then We will be in a position to
say and do something
III this Is done. can and will be with
you TO the end: If it cannot be done i'm the
whole nor In part, 1 can see no reason why
negroes should be democrats Some NOR
alists may call 1t trading II IL is then
what is politics. after all? call 1t the prin-
clpie OF politics When the negro gets upon
such nign ground to serve political parties
purely from pretended principle without
emoldments or recognition, then he reaches
an elevation to which the white man never
has aspired nor attained No nv friend
let US be true to ourselves let the marty be
true to US and give us recognition; without
II, we ought not serve the party.
Il may be called ar office-seeker. Well /
am: and i believe that every politician
white or black. is just the same. and it will
be source of satisfaction to see those of
our race :Tho have given their services to
iLe party receive that Just recognition that
VIII encourage others to % as we have
done, so as to give character and good re-
port 10 the party whose interest we espouse
hope that you will be able to see
through the same spectacles as do and as
our principal leader and representative
make bold demand for a fair and eauita-
cie representation for US, before the 1st of
October. SO as to give a possible "shibo-
leth. fpr the coming campafgr
Witt great Consideration and resnect
your friend. H &C ASTWOOn -