The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-19
CALL TO COLoRED VOTERS.
The Rev. RE. GiIchrist Denounce'
Republican Hypocrisy.

In circular entitled Food for
Thought" addressed to the colored race of
the United States in general, tee Rev. r.
E. Gilchrist, a well-known colored min
lister OF Washington, sets forth a numbe,
of reasons why colored voters should en-
dorse the Democratic nominees in the COM
ing national election The circular reada
as follows
ITO my colored fellow citizens through
out these United States:
"A fellow citizen of your race, whose
interests and affections bind him strongly
to you, whose past sufferings have been as
great. and whose fortunes may be as des-
perate as yours, would beg leave to address
you.
Age has its claims, and rank is not
without its pretensions to advice, but
though unsupported by both, / hope that
the plain language of sincerity and expert
ence will neither be unheard nor unre-
garded.
"First-i hold these truths, that | shall
state to be self-evident, that the Repub-
lican party never freed US for our good, but
only as a military or war necessity, that
! the drafting and forcing Of us slaves in the
late rebellion to crush the insurrection.
and then at its close. knowing that we
had no homes, no money, or protection,
and very few friends, made no provision
TO settle us on homesteads ard aid us un-
til we recovered from the preearious and
Strengthened circumstances in which we
had been placed by reason OF slavery,
shows that they had no real friendship for
us. nor never Intended to have freed us.
We were turned out like oxen. after being
worked all day, into a plowed field where
there was no grass. We had no education
to combat with the subtle and crafty ras-
Gals and carpetbagsers of the Republican
party OF that day and time, who pretended
to be our friends therefore We were robbed
with impunity in the house OF our sup
posed friends. The Freedmen's Bank proved
this.
"Second-We had nothing but that
which was our masters. and when the
war closed, that which had been left from
| the sword fire, and theft was the mas
| ters'. not ours. and when this cid master
class returned home from the conflict,
not vanquished, but overpowered by
force of which we were a part, to find
everything. except in few cases. gone.
Nothing left behind but our children,
and old decrepit folks with the old mis-
tress. The old masters class returning
from the war had to start life anew, and
many of us after helping to overpower
them in the war, returned to them again
empty handed for succor. They never
turned their backs on US. but readily
found employment and gave us such aid
as laid in their power with the scanty
means in their possession and in many
cases the master helped our old mothers,
wives, and children until we returned for
them. Now the question OF the Good
Samaritan comes in. who are our friends,
the ones who used us in war 60 their in
terest and afterward passed US by or
those who took us in when homeless and
gave Us shelter and food? Let conscience
a bot @tzn fhnr 1av h~l
ders have done more for us since our
forced emancipation than the Northern
ers, considering .he condition in which
the Southern States were left after the
war.
"The second question is: Since the Re-
publican party never freed US for the sake
of justice, but from necessity or some
thing to their interest. why should we as
a distinct race continue to vote for men
of its party In preference to good men in
the Democratic party? And why should
we continue to sail longer in the old chip
of state with them while they are running
the ship in the interest of Eastern and
European bondholders, trusts, and monop
olies? Ought not 400 years be long enough
to serve the European lords and American
aristocracy? Who perpetuated human
slavery in this country as long as 1t was
but the money power, which is now rails
ing its monster head through the Repub-
lican party, with its monopolies, trusts.
and Imperialism, to crush out the life
blood of the Republic, and to drive every
roor man who is not in these trusts into
poverty, and we, the negroes. will be the
first to feel the burden. for very few of
us have anything to fall back upon OF this
worlds goods.
"Third-Brethren, I believe that II we
had changed our course in politics fifteen
years ago, and had voted for and with the
Democratic ex-slaye holders. and showed
our political friendship for them instead
of voting for Republican carpetbaggers
and renegade Democrats, who come into
our party for loayes and fishes. there
would not be today any DISTINGUISHING Of
us in any Southern State in the Union
and lynchings would be unknown.
'Fourth-We say the Democrats are
our enemies. Now. IL SO. why not do as
the scripture says: Agree with thine
adversary quickly while thou art in the
way with him.? Why not make our ene-
mics our friends? Should we believe any
race of people of wealth or culture would
let another race of ignorance destroy their
interests? Why no! Self-preservation
is the first law of nature. Let US confess
that II is our ignorance that is causing
our disfranchisement in many of the old
ex-slave States.
''Fifth-Brethren, now let us turn and
try the Democratic party and see if they
will help us out of our present condition
where politics has placed us. for the Re-
publican party has forsaken us as a race.
Let us vote this year for the great cham
pion of the peoples cause, William Jen-
nings Bryan, and the entire Democratic
ticket in every State, city, town. and ham
let. and on the 9Th of November when the
sun goes down behind the western horizon
the news may be flashed over every line of
telegraph wire that the negro's vote has
heiped save the Republic again. this time
from the grip of Republican carpetbag
gers. Democratic renegades. trust-greed.
and Imperialism. The whole world will
then realize that the negroes can't always
be fooled. Do this and l guarantee you
that the political freedom Of the negro
will be accomplished.
Yours for right
REV. R. E. GILCHRIST."