The Afro-American., 1895-08-31
THE COLORED COMBINATION
IN THE ELEVENTH WARD.

ness ii a political campaign are every
where discerned, it is just then that
a mighty temptation presents itself
to not few who like to look upon
themselves as prominent and leading
men of the race. The coming togeth
er Of just such circumstances usually
resnIt in thoroughly testing the char
acter and motives of such men. max
ing unmistakably manifest their vir-
tues and excellercies or throwing
open to public gaze and rldicule their
evil and cov' tOus intentions:
There are man3 men of the race
who on account of moderate success
and apparent 1sefulness and the pos
session Of a fair degree st business
and political experiences, are natural
ly regarded as potent factors of racial
elevation, and the American
masses, intuitively, seem to take it
for granted that such men, will of ne
cessity, cooperate with and assist in
whatever is for the advancement and
welfare of the race. But it is a tact
that these men being human are no
stronger than their weakest point.
The election of an Afro-Americau to
the City Council from the Eleventh
Ward is a matter which concerns the
whole "ace population of this city.
Lit would be but waste of time upon
our part to enter into discussion Of
the matter in order to demonstrate
the wisdom of such course, and the
splendid opportunities opened up to
the race thereby. If Afro Americans
know anything at all they certainly
know that it is to their interest to
elect an Afro-American councilman
from the Eleventh Ward.
DIR. J. Marcus Cargill, an enterpris-
ing and aggressive Afro-American,
with H.Attoring success, has hot only
announced himself a candidate, but
has been actively at wolk in that di-
rection and has secured the nomina-
ton. And yet it was reserved for our
contemporary whose business it is to
assist in making a STANDARD" for
che race to announce in irs last issue
that DR.. CargiIl is to be "knifed.' We
doubt not that the editor of our es-
teemed contemporary is in such close
touch with the colored ring whose
delight manifests Itself along the line
Of '.scalping" thos who would aspire
to emancipate the race from such pol
itical domination, as to speak from
knowledge and with authority. But
is 1t indeed consonant with the real
mission of the Afro American press
to aid and abet such ugly efforts
as would portray to the dominant
race our senseless and unreasonable
iealousies? We had hoped, and get
hope, that our worthy contemporary
in company with The AFRO -AMERI-
CAN would use it's best efforts and
coLsecrated zeal n the interest of Sc
curing an Afro American representa-
tive from the Eleventh Ward DR..
Cargill may or may not be the man
The question i higher and greater
than the success or failure Of Dr. Car
giIl. The question is shall we not
have well-qualified Afro-American
from The 11th Ward? This is the
question and all our so called leaders
must face the music. If the colored
coordination and the countless mum
ber of Afro American leaders in that
ward who take much pleasure and
delight, while on dress parade, in pos
ing as great exemplars of race pride,
really desire a suitable and we'll
qualified Afro American to represent
the Ward in the City Council we
shall have such representative.
But in politics there is a great temp
tation. There is always some white
man who wants the place and is able
to furnish the tboodle." In the past
it has been a peculiar weakness with
some Of our great and leading race
men, that the reaoy cash or the prom
ise of some good fat position, proved
sufficiently potential to produce >
sudden convers1on, change o. heart
or a seeming neutr sy equivalent
to open opposiki0n.
How long are the honest fosling
and sincere Afro. s "a eriean citizens
to remain victimsoE such audaeioug
conspiracy. Now is tie time Tor
them to show their colors. IT.
they are for the true interest Of the
race it will be evident, and if they
are simply on the political market to
command price this also viii be
made manifest. Ia the meantime the
eye. .of the people are Upon them and
SOD aer or later will all such hucks-
Ies it'd human rights and beiNayers OF
confidence of the people eceive
I wrathfnl indignation Of sut-
ragged people.
i sysse Y1ta