The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-13
WRIGHT CUNEY OF X
CHIEF OF THE MACK FLhSGER OF
THE LONE STAR STATE.

OrEnptzers the A~rro-AmrrIcan Race rEns
Observation-Disclosures tn Horsevhip Gen.
Gro'vsn"r Mt tho ~. Louis Convention.
JAcKsoNviLLE. Fla, March 1o.-ono OF the
most fercely contested delegations at tho 81.
Louis Convention was that Of Texas, Norris
Wright Quincy OF Galveston, the acknowledged
leader Of the Republican party in Texas, stand
ing for tho Black FlaRRers as the leader of the
combination against William Mckinley, with
William Boyd Allison as his choice for tho NOM
~ination, against DIR. John Grant OF Sherman,
who had been created as q political force by Mr..
Cnney, standing for the Lily Whites, with vii.
liam Mckinley as his choice for the Presidential
nomination. The fight at st. Louis was only n
transfer OF the fight for delegates which had
been waged in every Congress district in Texas
during tho previous six months. Quincy had
won the fight in Texas all along tho line, and
appeared ct st. Louis firmly convinced that his
delegation would be seated. But he had not
been in the convention city many hours before
he discovered that he had q moro stubborn and
doubtful fight on his hands than he had in the
Lone Star State. At st. Louis he had to reck.
on with Marcus q. Hanna, the most cxtraor.
binary pol teal manager who has appeared in
American politics since tho palmy days OF Ros-
coc Conkling. The National Committee was to
decide the eligibility of delegates to tho conven-
ton. and 1t was controlled by Mr.. Hanna.
Quincy made a gallant fight for his political pre-
miership, but he was borne down by the. Han
ma forces, as many another gallant veteran was,
but only by the casting vote OF OF o man, and
strangely enough he was an Afro-American,
James Hill of Mississippi, whom Afro-American
opinion has gibbcted as high as Haman for his
course in this matter.
To add to the bitterness OF his defeat. Con-
gresham Charles II. Grosvenor of Ohio, 'the
official calculator OF the Mckinley campaign"
| tnaIp n public arrniOpmapt NJ Cupay occuainu
him OF all the crimes in the catalogue of politi-
cal infamy, mono of which was true, because
Quincy was always tho soul OF political honor,
which for twelve hours was the talk OF st.
Louis among the ass embed Republican hosts.
Congressman Grosvenor Is an old man, with
long gray hair ana flowing beard. Ho may
not know II, but he owes it to me that he was
not publicly horscwhipped in the streets OF st.
Louis. Soon after he had made his terrific ar
raignment Of Quincy l met the latter in the
Planters Hotel, and we adjourned to the bar.
The Black Flaggcr was trembling with sup
pressed rage and indignation, and his steel
gray eyes fairly blazed in his head. Cuney's
eyes were the most expressive thing about
him. In repose they were insistently nervous
and restless; under any sort Of excitement they
ia irly danced. The Indian. African. and Anglo
Saxon blood in him made q combination Of
shrcwdncss, suspicion, and decision which
made hun almost lnvinciblc i'll "A fair fight OF
whatever sort. Indeed, he was = man Of lcrce
courage. and those who knew him and loved
him would not have been surprised II he had
died with his boots on.
After seating himself at one OF the small
tables and getting his order, Quincy declared in
his cold, deliberate way, and without amy evil
dence OF excitement except III his eyes, that
Ten. Grosvcnor had attacked him in "A public
way when he knew he could not be answered in
the same place and way. and had done him a
mortal injustice, and that he proposed to horse.
whip him before he left st. Louis. We talked
the matter over in all OF It's phases. After lis
a. min nv 2 n IA sol NJ thn tnnttnr md hia da-
termination. ! presented. the other side and
showed Mr.. Quincy the folly of attacking a.
equal in prestige, as he was only the leader of
u Congress district, whi!c Cunoy WAS leader OF
ana Cuncy finally decided TO accept my view
OF 1t. although with very great reluctance, as
the injustice ranked in his soul.
Norris fright Quincy uied at Snn Antonio OF
consumption III the oath year OF his age, March
T.. In many. respects he was the greatest po-
can race las produced: assurtdIy, he was ono
of the most generous and courageous, and at
tho time OF his death no man OF his race was
known and trusted and loved by more of tue
national leaders OF the Republican party than
of the National Committee. ana in that ca
pacity his Intelligence. shrcwdness. and hon
csty had commended lin TO tho good esteem
dcstinics OF the republic, since the war. Fo" q
long series of years he had been the intimate
friend and associate OF zen. James ;. Clark
son, the Iowa member of the National Com.
lnittec,. VINO has served the party long and
"t'hiAi- 't inv S"phN'N o'A hobhS ~ ~
executive work OF the committee. and who is
a man of;the most generous impulses and abld-
ing friendships. IL was due TO his friendship
that MIR. Quincy osoouscd the cause OF senator
William Boyd Aiiison and undertook to line
up the Texas delegation for him. If the dis
ttnguished lowan had won the doubtful issue
OF the day" at 1t. Louis, the gallant Black
throng OF power and might have been living TO-
day., for there can be no doubt that the long
strain ira 81 Of d me t;sn ut for deG! nHns is and the tb bitter fr.
vclop!ncnt OF tho disease from which he died
in the primo Of his powers.
Mr.. Quincy occupied a unique place in the
life of Texas. In the winter OF 1896 ! spent
a few months.in IoNas and was his guest at Gal
weston ana saw much of him. In II ). ate where
race prejudice is almost ns strong rs it is IN
Georgia, he was treated almost everywhere in
places ol public amusement and accommodation
as white men are treated. On QUO occasion we
rode out TO the surf House. a very aristoCratic
resort. and spent a half our there. His advent
in the cafe attracted the attention OF all tho pco.
pie there. people prominent In the varied life OF
Galveston. who accostcd him with the Hearth
ness and courtesy OF true and tried conIade-
ship. licasnntrics were exchanged on all sides
and invitations to ''toin MS icli thick and fast.
surprised. asked his companions:
wv no is that yellow fcIiuwf'
indeed! | have heard lois OF him., fie looks
ike u Mexican and as fierce as one.
"Oh, Wright Quincy can take care of himself
ali go oy ne i GS a. Gs. ana shS' T TS9 the gffnSrt, 9 Wr3R1n
Quincy" was sufficient 10 give him d right OF
way where other men of his race would have
been thrust out without ceremony or mobhed.
not because he rcscInnicl "a Mexican and had u
fierce look, but because he mad brains and cour'
age and had won me leadership of II great party
by lard KNOCKS and steady blows and was IA
gentleman OF the true southern typo. generous,
inpulsive and c%onvivlal to II fault all the time,
go that all Texans OF all races and colors ,and
they have IA WONDERFUL assortment of race types
and COlors in Texas were proud of him and
respected him.
When n campaign of whatever sort was on
Mr.. Quincy would rig up In Il flannel suit. with
shirt to mhtcn, and II Mexican sOInbrcro on his
head unI ~ VIrgp Tho Sfntn from end ia end
going in and out among the mixed and often
IcrCc population, rs | have personal reason 10
know, without ioar or hesitation, and he was
rarely inOlc5tcd. Sometimes his way would he
blocked by somebody who did not know him.
I'm Wright Quincy, . he would say in n long.
sharp drawl, with his eyes dancing. "a merry
measure and in most instances tho obstruction
would vanish.
The devotion of the Afro. American race of
TEXAS to Mr.. Quincy WAS one of the strongest
ind strangcst in our politics and was such as no
other man OF his race has ever enjoyed in this
country. In the main the Afro. AmericNn has