The San Francisco call., 1896-07-27
CALL to their Republican brethren. The
vital part reads as follows:


vital part reads as follows:
We hereby publicly challenge the Republi-
cans of this City to find two men 1--WE draw no
color line) who will meet us in joint debate on
issues OF the present campaign and their rela-
ton 10 the interests of the colored men of the
country, the debate to take place at Metropol-
itan Temple at an early date and under the
auspices of the State central committees OF the
Republican and Democratic parties.
Charles Felix T. Lafon of this city, a
well-informed Republican leader of his
race. is highly indignant over the remarks
of the colored Democrats of San Francisco
Mr.. Lafon, who is a member Of the State
committee at large, makes the following
reply:
am ashamed and very much surprised to
read in Fridays paDer the ch allenge from the
Uoiored democratic Club. | did not know that
there was existing such a body as the Colored
Democratic Club, for / do not believe that
those young and intelligent men would sup
port party that has been an enemy to our
race and trodden them under foot for so many
years, party that has opposed every act in
the Congress OF the United States and in the
House that would benefit our race. / do not
Deneye they meant 1t as challenge, and do
not believe that there is true coIored Demo-
crat at heart living to-day in the United
States.
member OF the State Committee at large 1
would accept the challenge for the interest of
my party But am called away to Los An
geles as delegate to the Colored Congress
from the Afro-American League.
will give the Colored Democratic Club
this nut to crack and reflect upon. First for a
colored man 10 be Democrat he must be a
traitor to true principle, an enemy to Justice
and tyrant TO his lawful friend and party
which is the original Republican party OF Abe
Lincoln. Mckinney the present leader of this
signing while fighting for the freedom OF our
race and the union OF our country, willing to
saerifce has lie for our cause, crying aloud:
ooh, God, let me see these people free from
this bondage. Soldiers, follow me to the front,
for this is the battle Of freedom to the negro
and our country"
that would go back on such man as this?
We say No! mol On the opposite side can
provewhere Mr.. Bryan and many other Demo-
cratic Congressman and Senator'S cast their
votes, both in the House CT Congress and in
the Senate of the United States, to shin ms
away as dogs from our country 10 the wilds of
Africa, country we know nothing about
This is what the Democrats would do for us
Everything that was ever done In favor of
our race, for its elevation, enlightenment and
protection, has been done by the grand old
Republican party from the time the good and
brave soldiers of the Union army entered into
the battlefield to sacrifice their life for the
freedom OF our people and the union of the
great republic. Take history for IL. Won wiz VII
iind two.thlrds OF the army were stanch Repub-
licans. The Republican party so loved onr
people Pc snat tney kept an army OF soldiers all
through the South 10 protect our people until
sucn time as they were able to protect them
selves This was done at great expense to the
Nation. ~ VIZ
As sit looking st the picture of one of the
greatest Republicans OF the world who has
taken away the shackles OF slavery from the
poor slave, feel that / could sacrifice INV
very life and soul for this great patriot. and
especially for the great general. McKiniey
who is the friend of my race and our conntrv
1t was a Republican, James A. Garfield. who
once stood in the House of Congress and said
gentlemen, we must protect our black hrothars
In the South from all these outra9es nract,cad
upon them. So let US make law and have tbe
law enforced. Gentlemen. let ms have frsa.
dom, with all its ennobling ins.itutions ens-
tained by free speech, q free puloit and q free
press, with universal education and ia bor bon.
ored, and equality OF rights for the black and
white citizen OF our countrv-for rSch and
poor" In 1870 the Republican party ratified
the fifteenth amendment to the constifntion
OF the United States. This gives TO or,r race
the right TO vote. The Democratic marty
fought very hard against this This proved
that they were our bitter enemy polificallv
From 1850 10 1866 the Democratic Marty
fought hard on the battlefield, at sea and II,
the House OF Congress against cur race. II
was our friend, the Republican party. that
proclaimed the emancipation proclamation.
II was the Republican party that passed the
thirteenth amendment, which was ratified in
Decem Der, 1863. This act forbade slavery i,
all parts OF the United States Of America. now
and forever. ~"
This must be my last word: i'Let no colored
man ever trust Democrat as his friend DO.