Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-10-03
A CALM APPEAL TO OUR FELLOW
CITIZENS OF THE UNITED
STATES, BY YOUR OOUK-
TRYMEN OF THE
METROPOLITAN CITY OF NEW
YORK.

We your brethren in this great city
living in the very center of com
merciRl enterprise, and in the very 4
gateway of the nation, where it will be |
admitted that we have an opportunity /
to study the perplexing economic |
questions, which constitute the pre- |
dominant issues in our present politi- |
cal struggle, feel it a duty and a privi- |
lege to make this personal appeal to
you in behalf OF our country that we
love so well, and for which our fathers
were willing to pour out their life
blood upon the affairs of war and of
sacrifice.
Not since the days Of the Immortal
Lincoln" and the "lnvincible Grant,
has this nation been in such perilous
condition, as at the present time. Not
only is our National integrity at stake,
and our standing among the nations of
the earth is about 20 be undermined,
but the prosperity of our country,
which has been the boast OF thirty
years. and the happiness of our homes.
which has been the JOY of every Amer
lean citizen, are about to be swept
away from US by the enthusiasm OF
misguided patriots We have always
prided ourselves in keeping filth with
all nations, in the observance of our
treaties with the powers of the earth
and with all peoples in the soundness
and honesty of our national currency
But misguided political enthusiasts
have come to the front, who seem to
have no respect for treaties, nor for
financial honor, and whose plans #
they obtain will not only impair our
standing abroad, but will bring panic
and disaster TO our homes and TO our
Government. The Afro Americans
cannot take refuge in the thought
that, such a condition if il obtains,
would affect only our white brethren
in the land. AS cit zens of one COM
mon country. any condition of disas-
ter which affect all If panic comes,
which will be the inevitable result if
the Free Silver Party predominates,
the poor is more likely TO be affected
by it than the rich. And since we IN
stitute very largely the former class.
our suffering would be indie cribable.
We therefore appeal to you to support
in this present campaign the Republi-
can Party, that stood by us not only
for our liberty during the war, but al
throughout its subsequent history in
this country, and vote for Mckinley
and Hobart, honest and christian men
wise statesmen and true republicans
or whom the whole nation should bt
proud.
The issues in this campaign are no
confined to race or party but they are
ISSUES which concern every citizen il
the land irrespective of party or o
race. Let us, therefore, rejoice a
American Citizens, that there ha
come a period in American politics
and in the discussion of grave econom
ic questions when no appeals to tn
= Negro as a race, against whom all tn
ND 10. ~
ETY. have been directed for tn
past decade, can succeed in infiuenc
ing the will OF the voter but when w
can all meet upon common ground il
the discussion and in the settlement O
these vital questions affecting the wea
or woe of the Republic The Demo
Gratis cannot as they have in previou
campaigns raise the cry of "Negr
Domination" or NEGRO Supremacy.
The issues will not admit OF any sue
false alarm, and circumsta noes wi
force our enemies as we'll as on
friends to take high ground IN the cor
duct of this campaign.
The present disturbed condition of q
fairs in the settlement of our moneter
policy; the perils which threaten on
National honor abroad and the disas
ter which the victory or the Popocrs
tic Party anticipates, gives US again a
opportunity to cast our influence upo
the side of right, and vote for ths
party whose platform and policy en-
body the salvetion of our Nation,
honor. AS we have shown exceller
courage in the days of Colonial disai
ter, when British tyrants sought I
suppress American manhood, and I
bring the infant repub lean under til
despotism of King George as we hav
demonstrated our herOism and patr
otism during the Civil War by til
blood and sacrifice of more than 20C
600 Afro-American soldiers, who pei
ished upon more than 200 battle field
in this land to save the Union, whe
it's salvation trembled in a balance
and as the public record in every stat
of the Union in which we live, WI
furnish evidence that we were neve
wanting in courage when called upo
TO stand by the right and by homes
reform in government and sOciet,
Therefore, there can be no just reaso
now, to believe that Afro-AmericaT
will be found to falter in this the Ma
TONS greatest crisis since the da
when the Immortal Lincoln" signe
the Emancipation Proclamation, an
gave freedom to our enslaved ance.
tors. Let us show to the America
people as we'll as to the christia
world at large by our conduct in tn
campaign, that the Negro can be re
lied upon; not only in the hour
peril which threatens the destructio
of the Nation and the reputation
her international honor but that h
is indeed among the safest and mos
reliable racial element which const
tutes the body polite in this repu bile
SO that when the impartial historic
shall write the life of the republic, !
shall stand prominently out among I'll
number of the republics truest FRIEND
and fearless defenders.
The issues which form the basis
the present political contention al
mainly, Protection against Free Trad
and Sound Money against a Debase
and Repudiated Currency. To tt
poor man it reduces itself to a que
tion of Meat and Bread. 1t is a que
tion as to whether he shall have
chance to live and to provide for h
home and his little ones, by protectiT
him against the introd uction of 70
eign products. the result of slave ar
cheap labor 1t is a question as
whether he shall vote for maMtail
ance of a government that promises
allow the man in Europe who cult
Yates his wheat at fifty cents per bus
Ell to bring to this country free of Gu
TOMS duties, and to put it in Amer
can markets IN competition with h
wheat which costs him one dollar %
bushel for its cultivation, because
has had to employ honest and dignifiC
labor. 1t is question as to wheth
he will cast out his vote for the mai
tainance OF party that proposes
put cheap and slave labor in comPet
ton with honest and dignified Amer
can labor. The record of the presel
Administration for the past thr,
years has demonstrated to the con
mon sense Of the American voter tn
Free Trade can never be the policy fl
the American people. The pan