Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-20

alike on anything else? In benevo-
lent society life they are Pythians, Odd
Fellows, Masons, Reformers, Shriners
and what not? In religion they are
Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians,
Congregationalists and Catholics. TO
say that they all think alike politi-
cally is to say that they do not think
at all. Intelligent men have gotten
tired of this living lie and have made
a break for something better. In the
second place, they will gain recog-
milton. The Republican party has for
these many years felt that it had a
dead open and shut on the negro, and
so they have failed to keep faith with
him. They promise him everything
they ask before the election, but re-
fuse nearly everything afterward. l
have seen them il legislative halls vote
together yea, vote with the Democrats
to defeat a promise made to the ne
groes. They have gotten so they lie
to US with impunity, and yet the ne
gro has lined up year after year and
vaulted them back into power. Just
so long as the negro can be lined UP
without recognition does any one sup
pose he will get it? But if the negro
will show that he is not going to be
hoodwinked year after year they will
not promise so much, but will do
more
Again, the negro will gain the good
will and respect of a very large and
helpful class OF persons throughout the
South, who have arrayed themselves
against him because he has arrayed
himself against them. The opposition
of the Southerner to the negro is pure
ly political. The politician who in
auences the negro with spirit OF
opposition to the Southerner does the
negro rank injustice. The negro
needs friends. He can make friends
by dividing his vote between the two
great parties. 1t will take a cam
paign of education to teach the negro
this, but he will learn it,
Has the Republican party, as pres
ent constituted, any special interest in
the negro further than to secure his
vote?"
Il think / can safely say no. The
National Government under the control
of the Republican party has not for
years taken any steps to secure for the
negro the rights guaranteed to him
by the constitutional amendments. for
a month or two before the election
the Republicans are the most suave
lot that ever walked the earth, but
after the election the negro cannot
find them, but if he finds them they
have no time to see him. l have In
mind one fellow whom ! helped to
elect twice to the House of Dele
gates. Before election he was much in
evidence. | could not get through
town but he would nail me, and at
one time, without my asking him,
volunteered subscription for my
church. Four years have passed and
yet it is only subscription. Now he
does not see me when | meet him.
1t is the trick of the Republicans to
say: Well, just vote with us this
time and if we do not do something
for you I'll never ask you to vote this
way again They never get ashamed
to come back year after year with the
same old request: Help us Just this
time So the negro has been duped
and fooled for years. His vote is all
the Republicans want, and he is walk
ing up slowly but surely, and a fine
spirit of independence is growing
among us"
why do the Republicans raise such
a kick when the negro does not vote
with them?"
We'll, sir, for the life Of me can
not tell The negro has as much