The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-27
Vote With Democrats.

1repcrsd by E. c. Dewitt AGO. c6ieoso
Vote With Democrats.
Washington Post, 1Sth.D
Bishop Alexander Walters. n. d. of
New Jersey, who has JUS paid a visit
to Washington. is president OF the Ma
tional Afro-American Council. and has
naturally given much earnest thought
10 a solution Of the negro problem. He
is a conservative leader Il his race.
and his views command respect. In a
talk with a representative Of The Post
he said:
1T is the consensus Of opinion among
the t-cde-s Of the race. who are not
FedeU4l 0~fficeholders. that the time has
come whsn the negro should divide his
vo.e. ! am of the ouiniOn has ID is one
OF the ways to solve the negro problem.
especially in the south. The negro IS
here ,ostay. and oon or later will be
given his constitutional rights. He is
demonstrating every cay that he is ca
pabie Of a~ssimulating the highest civ
il Zation &C America As the negro ad-
vances in Intelligence. wealth. and cul-
tuTe, the doors that are now closed
against him will be opened. The spirit
OF liberty is TOO strong in his country
TO keep the negro forever out Of his
rights. when ne is thoroughly prepared
to receive them The hes. white people
Of the south are aWaking 20 this fact,
hence a few of them want him sent out
of the country The large majority Of
them are against this plan. for they
know that it is impracticable.
"Since we are TO remain here. We
mus make friends of our enemies. |
believe We can greatly aid our cause
by allying ourselves politically with the
best and most influential whites OF the
south, the ruling classes.
Il am told that | ought not to advo-
cate this policy. because il was. the
democratic party that has enacted all
the discriminating laws against us;
that they have ever been our oppres-
sors. and that they are the ones who
Cypress US today.
HELPED BY SOUTHERNERS.
while that is, in a measure, true. is
is well to consider the facts. The large
majority Of the employers of negroes
in the south are deroocrats, hence the
bulk OF our wealth. has come and is now
coming out of democratic pockets. They
have rendered US more help in the
south along material lines than any
other party. The democrats have en-
abled US TO perpetuate our public
schools; they have loaned us money to
buy houses and improve our farms,
n they have helped us to build our
churches.
"One of the causes of the hostility of
the southern man toward us is that
while he has helped us, we have voted
Solidly against him and his interests
We are hardly to be blamed for this
when you take into consideration tha
it was the republican party that freed
US and gave US our Acknowledgement
For this great boon we felt grateful
ap1 Hxra bo-a hnnr win n,y1 r;~n1 =
repay that party for the interest in our
welfare. We now feel that the debt is
about paid.
Again, the republican party today i:
not the republican party of days of yors
the party, in fact, of liberty and fail
play to 81. 1t has changed its princi.
pies and policies. 1T is filled with wha'
used to be democrats, and / cannot Sc,
n difference in voting for a democra}
in the republican party and one in thu
democratic party. There is very littl,
difference today between the two par
ties. 1t is simply the difference of tn,
outs and ms. We held as many fedora
offices under a democratic admins
tration as We do today under a republi
can administration.
WISE TO FOLLOW PRESIDENTS
EXAMPLE.
IF a republican president thinks /
wise and fitting to especially cater Z
the sentiments of the southern people
it is wiser and more fitting for the ne
gro who has suffered so much in tina
land because of his loyalty to the re
publican party to make friends witt
the southern whites.
My advice to the negroes is ito max
friends with the ruling classes of tn
south by voting the democratic ticke'
especially where they are invited TO d
SO. We are doing it in the north.
Il am told that the whites of tn
south don't want the negro's vote. Thi
may be true. 1t is their only way u ma
tional power 1t was the voice Of III
negroes that elected Mr.. Cleveland
1892, and if a democratic president /
elected in 1900, it will be by the hef
of the negroes
THE democratic party has the ager
cy, a hand which will aid them politl
cally, that the republican party had 1
1898, and which has enabled them I
remain in power until now. Will tn
democratic party accept this agency?
THE south makes a great politics
mistake when 1T drives the negroes b
persecution to the north, east and ives
If they should treat them kindly ever
negro leaving the south would help I'll
democratic party by Strengthening
in the doubtful states. They hav
heretofore strengthened the republica
party.
w r surely at the parting Of III
ways. There is great restlessness o
the part of Afro-American republican
The large majority of them in Ne
York state will vote the democrat
ticket at the mex election"
During the summer season, cramI
come upon us suddenly and RENAL