The Washington bee., 1894-07-07
CALLING GEN. UPSHAW TO
ACCOUNT.
A COLORED DEMOCRAT WANTS HIM TO
FULFIL ALLEGED CAMP AIGN
PLEDGES.
From The Sunday Post.

Arthur st A. Smith, a bright, young
colored Democrat of this city, who is
secretary OF the National Negro Inde-
pendent Political Union and member
of the Negro Democratic League, does
not think that his people are receiving
just treatment at the hands of the ad-
ministration. Although he is a high
protectionist and "a free-slaverite, he
feels sure OF intruSting the solution of
such problems TO the Democratic party,
provided the loyalty of colored Demo-
Gratis receives fitting recognition.
He has addressed the following let
ter to Gen. a. B. Upshaw, who formed
the Negro Democratic League:
Washington, ID. &. June %, 1894.
Gen. A. B. upshaW,
Normandie Hotel, CITY.
Dear sir:
In the campaign of 1892,
after the Presidential nominations were
made, the colOred voter, like the white
voter, began to discuss the merits of re-
Spectlve nominees and to make up his
mind aS to which OF them it would be
to the best interest of the country at
large, the colored race i'll general, and
himself in particular to support for the
exalted position of President of the
United States.
Many remembered Mr.. Cleveland
kindly on account of his friendly atti-
tllde toward the colored people as
class, and also because OF his position
in favor OF the COlored office-Seeker dur
/; ing his previous administration.
Many were disappointed and disgust
cd 4, D.
publican hypocrisy which proftssed one
thing and acted another.
Many did not recognize the real ne
ceSslty for change i'll the admlnisira-
. ton Of the government and We're indif-
terent to the great opportunity to make
friends with the Democratic party.
That party was then promising to
prevent the slaughterlng OF negroes at
The South and also pledging to give the
colored voter VINO supported the Dem
ocratlc ticket fair recognition in the
distribution of government patronage
About that time, Gen. Upshaw, you
appeared as the recognized manager of
the negro vote for the Democrats, and
organized the three classes of negro
voters above mentioned. With your
superior generalship to perfect our or
ganiZation and To show us how to Office
lively WELD our individual influence
w became a powerful auxiliary to the
democratic party, and marched should
| er to shoulder with it to victory. We
voted many thouSan0 Democratic tick
| cts, and you promised to us that we
! should Snare in the rewards of conquest.
/ \ GU led us into battle, and we depend
] upon you to lead us up to the commits
! sary department. You were the mouth
piece OF Democracy, and also of the
| national committee. 1t was through
you they spoke to the negroes and
made SO many promises during the
campaign. ho is going to redeem
those pledges OF the democratic party,
we want to know? We look to you to
| call upon the President, the Cabinet,
/ and the rest Of this Democratic admin
! lstration, and remind them that one
third OF their lease Of power is gone,
and that 1t l.aS been over a year since
the Democratic party got control OF
the government and the distribution OF
patronage. During the time, though
many appointments have been made
some III recognition of the German, the
| lrlShman, the Frenchman, the Italian,
and even the Chlnaman, | am told
yet comparatively nothing has been
done for the negro. Why Is this thus?
DO not our white Democratic broth
eren desire us to make more perfect
our organization and maintain its auto
nOmy SO that next fall we shall be
| ready When the bugle calls Democrats
to arms 20 fall in and help to win
another victory? Or do they desire
you to disband your army of negro
Democrats and allow them to turn to
their first love? 1t seems to me that
from the condition OF the country and
| the behavior of the Democratic Con
greSS the administration needs to ell.
courage all the workers it has i'll sym
pathy with 1t and try to enlist more.
Hoping l may hear something en-
couraging from you to my colored
| Democratic brethren, [ am
ARTHUR ST. SMITH,
40 Massachusetts avenue, northwest.