The colored American., 1902-07-26

INAAiSN Iii lNdNCISlIip COlllpOSCQ Ol IIlcIl Ol |
their own race. They would rather take |
their orders from white men. have
been trying for five months to find out |
what Negro in Pennsylvania is the most
representative of his race in State poll |
tiCs-I mean in the sense that Douglass |
and Langston, and Garnett and Purvis, |
were representative of, and statesmen
for peculiar people in their respective
States There does not seem to be
one of force and character sufficient to
command respectful consideration at the
hands of white party leaders. Mr. John
). Durham IS the nearest approach, but.
he. unfortunately, is a victim of Negro
prejudice and treachery. He is brilliant,
able, cultured and capable of doing great
good with proper backing and encour-
lgement; and if he should declare him
self there are a thousand razors ready
20 cut short his political aspirations
The sum and substance of the whole
matter is that the Negroes, in the North
ern States, where votes are valuable
| commodities, are an aggregation of
| several kinds of fools, and are losing
| heir grip in politics because of their
| log in the manger spirit, their internal
| ealOusies, and their proverbial habit of
backbiting every fellow who tries to do
something in practical way to uplift
he man. There is no denying the fact
| hat if the Negroes of the Seventh
ward of Philadelphia. would repudiate
heir white leader and put in his place
Dne of their own blood. they would
fare better at the crib, and have some
representative in the party councils.
This is not a matter about which
Negro voters anywhere should fee
imid They should boldly demand re-
,Ognition, just as the Irish. German, and
Italian elements do. and not stop unit
They get it. No white man can properly
| -epresent Negroes in these circum
stances. They ALWAYS favor their owl
| ace and Jolly the black brother with
soft words and fair promises, made will
mental reservation. 1t is a sad com
mentary on the intelligence and man
, hood of the Pennsylvania Negroes tha
they have not single Negro il polite
: for whom the white leaders in tha
; State have any respect. such as the.
show to the very ordinary Irish an,
German leaders who control votes an
: appointments because of their influence
Will the Negro ever learn any politica
| sense? Will his ambition never soa
, above a pool room, a bar room and
4 lance hall, to conduct which it
= necessary to have white boss! Shade
= If the mighty Negroes. who. in til
- ante bellum days in Philadelphia mad
70 Rome howl" and commanded at lea
- he respect and consideration of whit
. men because they proved themselvt
% men. The crop who are now playin
- At politics in the Keystone State al
, 0igmies who use great swelling wore
~ 1t the big gate, and lay down like arral
towards when the white bosses say Boz
|; I met Senator Dolliver and Direct
-, Of the Mint Roberts, in the Office
,e General Clarkson, surveyor of the Po
- Of New York. a few weeks ago, al
was introduced to them by the Gener;
~ Mr.. Charles w Anderson was prese
M 1T the time and was also introduced
- these gentlemen. The General paid t
81 lSi1ver-tongued Negro orator a We
pretty compliment by saying that he h
heard his speech at the banquet of t
"A Marquette Club. in Chicago. sever
= years ago. and that it was decidedly t
ae hest speech he had ever listened to.
.t I0oked some fun at me parenthet1cai
~ md gave me an engagement that W
20 Ikeep me here all summer and way
IL INTO the fall and winter. There is or
IL one James S. Clarkson. and his frier
n ship is worth having. | need not S
d,, that am proud to have it for that 0C
-. without saving. He is. and has be
II nv friend for nearly fifteen wears. a
- am his-that's all. The mould in whi
l.. Il rl,aY1