The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-10-27
BISH 0P HOOD ON ISSUES.
DEMOCRATS STILL OPPOSE THE
AFRO-AMERICANS PROGRESS:
Aud are Responsible for all Enactmeuts for
the Oppression Of Afro Americans From
the Fugitive Slave Law to the North
Carolina Disfranchist ment.


When I was set apart to the office of
bishop, the, then Senior Bishop j. j..
Clinton took me aside and told me
that it would not be well for me to
continue to take an active part in
politics.
l have tried to follow his advice, but
have had sometimes the experience of
which Bishop Moore once complained.
Some one said that he as a bishop
ought not to NEEDLE with politics.
The bishop said the trouble was
that politics would not let him alone.
When politics quit bothering him he
would quit bothering with politics.
In this year of grace politics seems
to have much to do with the bishops.
Several have found it necessary to
deny the statement that they have
become democrats.
So far as I know, no public state
ment to that effect has been made re-
specting myself. But as I have trav-
eled attending to my Episcopal du-
ties have learned that a report has
been circulated that Bishop Hood has
turned democrat. And 1 have found
my people much excited over it. And
do not blame them for the feeling
manifested. ...
For the Afro-American who forsakes
the interest of his people at this time
deserves their contempt.
They are not ignorant, respecting
political conditions, as some profess to
think. They understand the situation
and know how to vote. Neither are
they Indifferent, as some would make
believe.
It is true that large numbers in
some sections failed to vote, but it
was not the result of indifference, but
because they were not permitted to
register.
There never has been a time in
which they were more anxious to
vote, and if they had been permitted
to do so ninety-nine out of every hun
dred would have voted against the
amendment.
The multitudes which are now leav-
ing North Carolina, many of them at
a great sacrifice of property, is an
indisputable evidence of the wide
spread discomfort.
The democratic party is responsible
for every enactment for the oppres-
sion of the Afro-American, from the
passage of the fugitive slave law, the
sum of all villainies enacted about so
years ago, down to the latest act of
disfranchisement in North Carolina.
It has also opposed in the national
congress every measure proposed in
the interest OF the Atro-American
race.
With this record in view, how any
self-respecting Afro-American can be
an honest democrat is a mystery be-
You'd comprehension. ~ .-...
No democrat in North Carolina who
knows me would believe me sincere if
pretended it. I should lose their
respect as well as my own Besides
this, I do my own thinking, and there
is not an important plank in the dem
ocratic platform to which I could hon
estly subscribe. I believe in protec-
ton to American industry. The tend
ency of the democratic doctrine is to-
ward free trade, to which I am I'M
alterably opposed.
believe in dollar worth 100 cents.
The tendency of the democratic policy
10 toward dollar worth only about
Al cents. I know they claim that by
legislation they can make Al cents
worth of silver equal to 100 cents; but
do not care for a metal dollar which
needs that kind Of help to make it go.
I want the standard of value to rest
upon dollar which stands upon it's
own merit. The gold dollar is such,
and therefore IL the universal stand
ard of values.
I believe in expansion, which was
once democratic doctrine when an
outlet for the extension of slavery was
desired; but even in that . falling
/, from grace 10 now witnessed.
I might mention other points of diff
ference, but think this sufficient to
show that could not be an honest
democrat, even if I had grievance
against the opposite partywhich I
have not.
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