The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-27
COLORED MEN FOR BRYAN
Enthusiastic Meeting of the Ma
tional Democratic League.
Address by w. c. Payne. n Convert
From RepubIIcnnisin- of
Hnnnn's Pnrty-AlleEcd Devotion
to the Black Man-The Race Should
Turn Away From False Friends.

There was large and enthusiastic at
tendance of colored Democrats at the
| meeting of the Colored National Demo-
cratic League held last night at So Defrees
Street northwest. The meeting was ad
dressed by W. C. Payne, who four years
ago stumped the State of Virginia in the
interests of Mckinley. but who in the
present campaign is an ardent supporter
of Mr.. Bryan. MIR. Payne said in part:
''It is an unusual thing for colored men
to change their faith in politics; but, ac
cording to Shakespeare. Wise men some-
times change their opinions. fools never
l am glad there is no exception to this
rule when applied to our race. If We are
ever to succeed along political lines, we
must divide our vote inteiligently upon
questions Of the hour. vote for issues in
stead of the name of a party. Colorsd
people have been voting for party for
thirty-five years; it is now high time for
them to vote for what a party pledges
itself to do if elected to power.
Il infer that the aim and intent of your
organization is to promote the interest
and welfare of our oppressed race;
help them TO secure needed leSisla-
ticn and an equality of citizenship be-
fore the law of the land. This being your
purpose. the next thought is how you may
best accomplish it.
Il would advise you first to select
name for newly organized Democracy
So many evils. which emanate from race
prejudice. irrespective of political parties,
which work hardships upon our cc'ored
citizens are charged to the Democratic
party tina: colored man at once becomes
unpopular when he calls himself Demo-
crat.
Your position colored Democrats is
hard one for you to defend before the
uninfo-med colored population, who are
so strictly partisan. so ignorantly Joined
to their idol, that they would not believe
colored Democrat though one rose from
the dead.
My idea of colored Democracy would
take the shape CT an Independent political
organization. steering clear of all parties,
but standing firm on principles The rea-
son We find so many colcred men leaning
toward Democracy today is because they
are opposed to trusts, which they SHOULD
be; and knowing how i,nperfectly justice
is meted out to cur already acquired col
ored citizens. We feel deep sympathy for
the Filipincs. who are about to meet the
same fate as ours. The average colored
man viii say he is opposed to trusts and
that he favors Filipino Independence but |
he will not say he is Democrat Why |
not catch these flies with sugar? Let us !
turn politics to some account or get out
of it.
THE civil and economical problems of a |
country should always constitute the is
sues between conteuding political parties |
Yet one of the gravest problems which |
mas ever confronted the American y.eopIe |
has been ignored repea tedly by each par
ty On account of its enormous proportions. |
l refer to the race problem. which the |
Democrats meet so bold and bluntly. and |
settle in an unconstitutional way. and !
which the Republicans SO Willingly eyade |
and settle in no way at ali. But the hy- |
pocricy of the Republican party toward |
its colGred allies can no longer hide it |
self from our view. What shall we do |
when the party which poses as the guar |
dian of cOlored American citizenship fails |
to speak out, when our rights as citizens |
are being contested step by step by other |
parties? There Is but one answer. We |
must speak out for ourselves; we must |
raise flag OF truce and treat with our
powerful enemy; this is an era of diplo-
macy; let us court the favor of all par
ties and make enemies of none.
Il will contend from now on that the |
paramount issue with colored men is a |
strict enforcement of the fourteenth and |
fifteenth amendments to the Constitution |
OF the United States, guaranteeing to |
every citizen equality before the law. and |
the assurance of those inaienable rights |
which are spoken Of in the preamble OF |
the Constitution Colored citizenship and |
manhood rights IL the issue with US; let |
us stand by our issues
Patrick Henry immortalized himself |
with the words of patriotism, Give me lib
erty or give me death and half century
ago the Republican orator said slaves
should not be satisfied with full stomachs
and their masters old clothes. Today they
are saying poor workingmen should be con-
tent with full dinner pail and let well
enough alone. But the trouble is what's
well enough for some is not enough for
others. and some OF us would go to our
graves starving, preferring death, like Pat
rick Henry, before we would compromise
one single right of ours for a full bucket
of grub.
THE colored people of this country sent
a delegation to the Republican National
Convention which convened at Philadel-
phia. praying that some notice of their
status as citizens be put in the platform
there adopted. That committee was
treated with less than contempt by the
Convention.
Let us contend for such laws as will
protect the life. liberty, and pursuit OF
happiness of al! people alike in this glo-
rious Republic
A meeting under the auspices OF the
league will be held in Alexandria to-
night and Oliver F. Gray. John L. Park
inson U. S. Brown, S. l.. Bush, and Prof.
John II. Frye will discuss the issues now
before the people.