The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-10-21
Bishop Walters Advises the Negroes Of
the South TO Vote With the Democrats.


the South to Vote With the Democrats.
The Washington. ID @. Post says:
bishop Alexander Walters. d ID of
New jersey, who mas just paid visit
to Washington. Is president OF the
National Afro American Council, and
has naturally given much earnest
thought to solution II the nero prob
lem He Is II conservative leader OF
his race. and his views command re-
spect In talk with representative
Of The Post he said
"It is the clncensus OF opinion
among the leaders u the race. who are
not Federal Office holders. that the
time has come when the negro should
divide his vote. am II the opinion
that it is one Of the ways 81 solve the
negro problem. especially In the
South The negro Is here 10 stay, and
sooner or later Will be given his con-
stitutional rights. He Is demon
strating every day that he Is capable 81
assimilating the highest civilization
Of America As the negro advances
In intelligence. wealth, and culture.
the doors that are now closed against
him will be opened The spirit Of
liberty is too strong In this country t.
keep the negro forever out Of his rights,
when he is thoroughly prepared t. re-
ceive them The best white people Of
the South are awakening 70 this fact.
hence few Of them want him sent
out Of the country The large maj Dri-
~ Of them are against this plan, for
they know that it is impracticable
"Since we are to remain here. We
must make friends Of our enemies.
believe we can greatly aid our cause by
allyiug ourselves politically with the
best and most Influential whites of che
South, the ruling classes.
Il am told that ought not - al
vocAte this policy, because 1t was the
Democratic party that had enacted all
the discriminating laws, against us
that they are the ones who oppre,s Us
today.
HELPED BY SOUTHERNERS
While that is. IN a measure, true.
IL is we'll TO consider the facts The
large majority Of the employers of neg
roes in the luth are Democrats. hence
the bulk OF our wealth has come aud i
now coming OF Of Democratic pockets.
They have rendered Us more help In
the South along material lines than
any other party The Democrats have
enabled us TO perp4tuate our public
schools they have loaned Us money q
buy houses and improve our farms, and
they have helped US TO build cur
churches.
One Of the causes Of tho hostility
Of the Southern man toward Us Is that
while be has helped Us, We have
voted solidly against HIM aud his in
terests We are hardly to be blamed
for this, when you take into consider
that it was the Republican party thai
freed us and gave Us our eufrAnchise-
ment. For this great boon we fell
grateful and we have been trying ever
since to repay that party for the inter
est in our welfare We now feel that
the debt is about paid
Again. the Republican purity today
is not the Republican party II the days
Of yOre-the party. in fact, Of liberty
and fair play T. all 1t has changed
its principles and policies 1t Is filled
with what used to be Democrats, and
cannot see any difference in voting
for Democrat in the Republican party
and one in the Democratic party. There
is very little difference today between
the two parties 1t is simply the diff
ference Of the outs and ms We held
as many Federal Offices under a Demo
cratic administration as we do today
under Republican administration.
WISE TO FOLLOW PRESIDENTS EXAM
PIE
IT Republican President thinks it
wise and fitting TO especially cater to
the sentiments OF the Southern people,
1t is wiser and more fitting for the
negro who has suffered 50 much
in that land because of his loyalty to
the Republican party 10 make friends
with the Southern whites
MY advice to the negroes is to
make friends with the ruling classes Of
the South by voting the Democratic
ticket, especially where they are invit-
ed to do So We are doing it in the
North
IL am told that the whites Of the
South don't want the negro's vote
This may be true 1t is their only
way into national power 1t was the
votes OF the negroes that elected Mr.
Cleveland in 1892. and If Democratic
President is elected in 1900, it will be-
by the help Of the negroes.
THE Democratic party has the
agency, a hand which will aid them
politically. that the Republican party
had in 1898, and which has enabled
them to remain in power until now.
will the Democratic party accept this
agency;
1.-The South makes a great political
mistake when it drives the negroes by
persecution to the North, East, and
West. II they would treat them kind
ly every negro leaving the South would