The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-23
The CoIoredVoter
Some Pointed Ar gumelats
Directed to Him by Mr.. Wilson


within: where we are within a few weeks
of a national election, when imperialism
and expansion, trusts and government by
Injunction, free silver and militarism are
engaging the attention of the people of
this country, let not the negro forget that
his constitutional privileges are menaced
sought TO be nullifed-taken away; that
the preservation of his rights as a citi-
zen and a voter of this republic are pre-
eminentIy his first duty.
Let him not be ignorant of political
conditions, and occurrences which effect
him peculiarly right here at home
While he should, as a good citizen, in
terest himself in all public questions, he
should especially remember that, in parts
of this country, he is Disseminated
against. politically, purely on account Of
his color.
The two great political parties Of this
country, the one lead by Mr.. Mckinley,
the other lead by Mr.. Bryan, are asking
for the suffrages Of the people to place
one OF the other of them in the highest
office in the gift of the American peo-
ole.
While. in the past the negroes of this
country have held to and voted with the
Republican party, there has been an eff
fort on the part Of a few Of them to di-
vide the vote of the colored people be-
tween the Republican and the Democratic
parties; especially has this been so since
the amalganlation of the Democratic,
Populist and Silver Republican parties.
What Inducements have these colored
would be leaders held out to allure the
mass of colored voters out of the Repub-
lican party and into the Democratic
party? Only this, that ii would increase
the chances of a few Of these leaders to
obtain office.
To strive for office of honor and trust
is commendable ambition, no doubt,
but to barter away the rights Of seven
millions Of people that one in hundred
thousand may be appointed minister to
Tamatave or clerk in the pension depart
ment is rather too much sugar for a
penny.
The only argument these gentlemen put
forth is that it would ameIorate the po-
liticaI condition of the negroes in the
former slave states; since if they would
vote the Democratic ticket, in that sec
ton of the country, there would be no
objection to their exercising the election
franchise.
It has been said that if man loves
you for your politics he loves you less
than he does his dinner land if he hate
you for the same reason, he hates You
worse than he does the devil.
But is it not plain TO any thinking mind
that the Democratic negro would be as
ambitious for honor and distinction as the
Republican negro? And would he not
nominate Democratic negro candidates
and probably elect one now and then, and
would not that be as worm wood and gall
to the white Democrats of the south,
who hold that this is a government of
white folks, for white folks, by white
folks? Ask Senator Tillman.
The negro's voting the Republican tick
ct or voting for negroes, even though
they be Democrats, is the cause of all
the wioting, numbering, indmidating and
ballot box stufing in the time of cleo
tons.
Again, the moral effect of stultifying
our judgments and violating our con-
sciences by voting for a party which we
know to be Numerically opposed to our
best interests as citizens, for no better
reason than to appease the wrath and
tame the mad prejudice of unreasonable.
unjust and domneering people. IS bad.
But if there ever was even shadow
Of reason for our voting the Democrat tic
ticket there certainly is none now, when
Senator Tillman of South Carolina, a
chief among the opponents of southern
ideas and sentiments being asked if the
Democratic party desired the negro vote,
says: mo, we do not need the negro for
anything but 10 plant corn and hoe cot
tom
The senator has doubtlessly spoken
truthfully. and certainly with the author
lty Of his constituents. His TRADES
against the negro, or niger" as he de-
lights to pronounce it, on every occasion
when the rights Of the black man have
been mentioned even incidentally, in the
discussions in the senate of the United
States. have been made, apparently, for
the sole purpose of firing the prejudices
OF minds broader and more liberal than
his. and preparing them for the anti
negro legislation recently accomplished in
North Carolina. This late amendment to
the constitution Of North Carolina de-
cls.res that any person. to be eligible to
register as a voter in that state. shall
language. any section of the constitu-
uon-' But no male person who was on
January ]. 1851 or any time prior there
=, entitled to vote. under the laws of
any state IN the United States wherein he
then resided, and no Hneal deseendent OF
any such persons. shall be denied the
risht 10 register and vote by reason OF
his failure 10 possess the educational
qualification herein described
But ii is not an educational nor a
property qualification. bat simply rate
ana color qualification. conceived ana
born Of the Democratic party. the self
assumed special guardian IF the eonsti-
tuition. for the purpose Of r0bbing a par
ttouiar class OF citizens of the highes,
privilege of individuals under a Repuhli-
can form Of government.
The constitution Of the United State,
says; The risht of citizens of the
United States 10 vote shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States or by
any state on account OF race. color. o1
previous condition OF servftude."
II needs no constitutional lawyer TO ses
that the fundamental law of our country
Is IN direct conflict with the law Of North
Carolina
NJ Daniel n. Mclean saws. eve wish
10 eliminate the nesro by. peaceful meth.
DDS II possible hUt If a conflict comes
North Carolina manhood is willing ana
able TO settle il that way" The mean.
Ing Of that sentence Is worth studyine-.
EX-Congressmaa Buck Kitchen ex
claims. dramsticall,-, II We can't get II,
ignorant negro out Of polite. peacefully
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