Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-10-23
SPIRIT or JEFF ERSON.
TUESDAY MoRNING. OCTOBER IS. 1900.
NReRo,s VIEW OF rHR PoE1IIz
CAL SITUATION.
For which Party shan He vote7
HARPER's FERRY, Oct. 10, 1900.

6ARREh $ Ehh13 OCb. 1O3 45UOs
Mr.. EDITOR. White men may 2,
from one political party to anothe
without starting ripple on the pc
iitical sea. The abolitionist, Horac,
! Greeley; the Statesman, Chas Sum
ner, aud the diplomatic, Henry Ware
Beecher, all turned with disgust from
the grand old party without being
called monstority or migrate. But
let negro go to the Democratic
party and he commits an unpardon
able sin, suiii ;iently bad toturn him
out of church, or make his wife leave
him. 1 belong to no political party
1t any ownership exists, parties be
long to men, rot men To parties, and
they are not required to ask permits
aon of lenders to change their party
For 80 years or more | have voted
and worked for the Republican par
ty, but the conditions aud present
relations between my people and the
white race North and South, lead me
to believe it is no longer my best in
lterest to do so, and were / guided
ny personal considerations alone l
should not hesitate a moment to
vote the Democratic ticket. Re
Gently was offered position by the
Grand Union Tea Co, but was re
quire to give bond of $500 /
vent naturally to three leading Re
publicans, whom had in the past
,een voting with and materially as
sisted in obtaining government pc
ltions but none could assist me. l
iespaired of getting the position
@hen as my last resort turned. to
those they call our enemies, Demo
Gratis, and they responded without
hesitation-they acre my friends.
1 had a house and three lots, which
cost me So, 700, and in way there
is no parallel this side the days OF
| Nadab, Mr.. Bracket, prominent
Republican here, secured a mortgage
on them, forced their sale and he and
mis- brother in law, Mr.. Scot Light
aer, a prominent Republican, bought
Them for less than one half and set
me and a wife and nine small child
rem out of doors till we sTere given
cover ny Democratic friend. Who
were these, were they my friendsi
| An besides discharged me from a pc
silion of teacher in Storer Institute
(which had held for over 20 years
and here by the way of parenthesis,
The Republicans make great to dc
yer the Jim Grow car law in Vir
ginia, is there any greater discrlmi
nation, I ask than is MADDEN the house
OF our supposed friends, when this
same Institute, endowed by the phil
anthropists for educational, elevat
ing purposes for the negro is nearly
i half the year turned into boarding
house for ,chiteS OILY and no negro
need come around except as menial
to serve the whites, in spite too Of
the additional fact of an endowment
bv the State of ST. 900 year for edu
cational purposes for the negro
The Northern trustees and those al
home of which Mr.. George Childs is
one. all acquiesce in this joboery
Are these our friends? And yet We
are told on election day to vote fol
these people and confirm their con
duct as against the Democrat anG
Suutherner,w who are our true friends
as demonstrated in many instances
To return to my subject wonIc
say that with some 40 negroes whom
Mr.. Bracket ct. al, have had bust
ness similar to my own not over
heve been able to hold their proper
ty. Besides the education of tb,
negro at Storer Institute is sorel,
, deficient, for it has a carpenter shop
printing office, cooking and sew
Ding department and to all my knowl
edge 1 have never known one t,
work at one of the trades after leav
ing school.
The Republicans have taken grea
care to pass high tariff and q gol'
standard bill for the protection O
business they say, bnt has las
been passed for the protection of tn
negro. There have been mora ne
groes shot, hanged. burned and dis
frauchised under Mckinley than al
the Presidents since the days of Lin
coin. With these facts before tn
negro is it best for him to confirm
to vote the Republican tictei? L.
not better to vote the Democrat
ticket and he allowed to Joy SON
of the blessings Of this iife,than vot
The Republican ticket and he killed
Is dead Republican better than
live Democrat. Il seems to me il i
to the negroes interest since he i
living among the Democrats, VIII
J have the wealth, intelligence an,
! power, to court his favor and friend
! ship, not to excite his prejudice an,
in doing so he will not be going a
t far as Mckinley went. when on hi
Southern trip recently he received
rebel badge and said it was time t
j care for the rebel dead.
/ The negro works for and anon
!; the Democrats. many of whom al
= kind and friendly to him, willing t
e kelp the trusty and industrious t
. get home, and in other bushes
/ enterprises; will keep him out til
4 penitentiary when some cunning r.
|. publican has trumped up a cas-
oca;n.4 h;,y, IT, TOo,,, r,,,te Il.