The colored American., 1902-08-23

the remarks are NISS, anu SOAAO -
unwise. The situation is eXasperat- +
ing and has been 50 for long time. |
Inst where the remedy lies is diff |
cult to discover, but the fact remains
that something must be done, and
speedily. too. or "Our name IS Den
MIS- in the only section OF the country
where we. by virtue of our numbers
and experience, can hope to MAINTAIN
a positive influence within the party.
The evidence must be gone over care
fully. in a temeprate vein, for no prob
lem can be solved Alright amid pas
sion and undue excitement. Let II
be granted that the Democrats OF the
South may be expected to dlstran-
chise in every possible manner Vol-
ing element almost sOndly arrayed
against them. and who represent
bone of contention that has brought
politIcal and financial disaster TO
their section-let us admit tnat the
Democrats are doing no more than
might be expected of a party that mas
always sustained itself by swashbuck-
ling and appealing to the most sordla
aspirations of the popular mind. But,
what of the white Republicans?
,yhen has any o. them ever, in try
ing crisis when the Negro citizenship
was in the balance, when his suffrage
as trailed in the mile OF an unreas-
oning prejudice, when his he was be-
ing unlawfully taken by bowling
mObs-when has a Republican leader
stood in the open and denounced as
he should, such unholy assaults upon
the most sacred of human privileges?
If there are any such cases, they are
few and far between. Even where
sporadic attempts has been made to
parade the wrongs of the Negro ana
a bluff at an investigation has been
heralded to the contrary, 1t has been
so thoroughly permeated with the
odor of the grand stand that 1t has
been discredited by the common sense
OF the plain people that it has carried
little weight. There has been no
sincere effort on the part of South
ern Republican leaders to protect the
prerOgatives that logically side in the
colOred citizenry of their section, but
permit the Democratic minority to ride
over the State Governments with I'M
punity. contenting themselves with the
control of the federal patronage when
the North elects a president, and ever
like Oliver Twist, holding up their
plates for more They feel person
ally aggrieved If a worthy Negro Sc
cures a marshalship or collectors office,
and as soon as it is feasible the lat
of one of their lily-white friends-or
Democrat. They come to Washington
and tell the administration not to ap-
point Negroes to federal offices, not
wlthstanding the fact that all there is
of real Republicanism in the South is
held together by the cO!Ored contln-
gent They work up local dissen-
sionS among Negroes, and then profit
by the artificial "Schism." These
facts are well-knOwn, and it is a mys-
terry to US why such conditions are
endured with patience when heroic
treatment would bring some measure
of RELIEF. If the Republicans are salts
fed 10 allow the voting strength Of
the party to be frittered away with
out protest, then the Negro should set
up his own political dynasty, and in
sist upon its recognition as regular
and defeat the false prophets who pose
as bosses. and parcel out to the race
such mOrsels as can be spared The
situation may be made better; il can
scarcely be made worse.
To Illustrate the danger arising
from an indifferent attitude upon these
questions. comes now a report from
alabama. that on September 10th a
convention will be held in Birmingham
and the Republicans will place a full
state ticket n the field. The most
important action of the committee was
the adoption of the following resolu-
ton:
"ReSOIUed, That only those shall be
recognized or permitted TO participate