The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-08-11
THE NEGRO VOTE.
More Independence is Openly Threat
 ened.

l More Independence is Openly Threat ! The Meriden Journal says that J. P. Peaker, state president of the Sumner League, was in Meriden last week to confer with the local colored people in regard to the matter of Governor | Lounsbury's attitude toward the col ored people Of the state as displayed | especially by his disbandng of the col
 ored military companies. Mr. Peaker is
 travelling all over the state conferrng with his people,
 James w. Higgins, prominent in local colored circles, said to Journal repor-
 ter:
 Governor Lounsbury took wrong step in abolishing the colored troops.
 We feel that he should have given
 them the same chance as the other
 troops. If they were not up to the
 standard, it was the business of the
 military officials to bring them up to the standard irrespective of color or na-
 tionality. We ask nothing but the equal rights of man,
 The proceedings of Governor Louns- bury will be made known at the annu- al meeting of the Sumner League at Savin Rock August "A, and action taken upon it, We propose to make it a feature at the polls"
 We don't propose to uphold man or party where our rights in the rank and file of the American people are not recognized, The rights of the colored people should be respected and not trampled upon. Now they feel the time has come when changes must be made to remedy this state of affairs,
 "A man that is deadly opposed to our interests is deadly opposed to us. We believe that we hold the balance of power in an election and that our vote would decide it, whatever way it was cast, seeing that there are a thousand colored voters in New Haven alone. If our vote is worth anything to the re- publican party it is worth something to us.
 "If they will not give us representa- ton. they ought at least to give us those rights and privileges to which we are entitled. To take away right which has been given by predecessor, and that predecessor man on the oth- CT side of the fence is the height of fol- ly.
 q feel as one of the leaders of the colored party in Merden, that we should cease to be partisan in our pol- tics, and cast our ballots in that direc- ton which is for our best interest We feel that we should cease to draw party lines and work for our individual inter- ests. Then, and not till then, will it be- come of sufficient importance to the party to treat us as we should be treat ed It would be of no interest to us to place officials in the town of Meriden, or in the state legislature, republicans or democrats, who would oppose our interests. Legislation without repre- sentation is worth nothing; when we are represented we have a defender; when not represented We are all at sea, drifting here and there at the caprice of this man or that one.
 If the colored men are useful to the United States in times of war. they ought to have the advantages and priv ileges accorded to other soldiers in | times of peace. If they are not capable | of going into camp with the white | troops they are not capable of going on the battlefield, and no one can say that the colored men did not show themselves as men, and the bravest of | the brave, in the war with Spain and in our civil war;