The colored American., 1902-08-30

NV OuTlu2 tie WdE VI lu6 Ib6U0lllOn.
1t is also emphatically and specific
ally political organization and in this
regard differs widely and intention
ally from the Grand Army of the Re
public.
1t is not essentially a Republican
organization nor is it a Democratic one
as those terms are employed in current
politics. AS General DyrenfOrth ters-
ly puts it-''it is not partisan, nor is it
the tail to any party's kite, but it is in
politics for good government, for the
logical results of the cause for which
it's members fought, for proper and ad-
euuate recognition of the men who Of
fered their lives that the nation might
live, and for equal political rights to
all our citizens.
One of its chief cares is the political
welfare of the Negro, whether as a I'm
ion veteran or merely a member of the
body polite
Read the terrific Columbiad of Gen
eral Dyrenforth which will be found
in another column of this issue and
which is there published in it's unexpur
gated form, just as it came from his
lips and not as it appeared in mutilated
shape in the Post of Monday.
Has it not the ring Of the true met
al. 1t is not absolutely sincere? Does
it not typify the true American con-
science to whose right impulses we are
confident we shall not much longer ap-
peal in vain?
1t is true that there is one command
of colored veterans in the District of
Columbia and that the order fiourishes
in greater or less degree in the States
of South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi,
Louisiana and Arkansas, but is it not
remarkable and almost inexplicable
that the cOlOred veterans whose brav-
cry and love of country are conceded
even where their dearest political
rights are withheld do not more gener-
ally ally themselves with this organi-
ZatiOn and support with their members
and their enthusiasm a body one of
| whose cardinal principles is that their
rights to untrammeled political action
and to decent chance to enter the
| business activities OF the great and
growing country shall be secured and
maintained?
The more one looks into the career Of
| such men as General DyrenfOrth and
learns what bravery and sterling force
of character it requires to take the
stand enunciated by him in the face of
the pronounced adverse sentiment
against our elevation. the more deeply
must he admire and revere such charac-
ters.
Ballot box stuffing, murder and in
timidatiOn have indeed given place to
more ingenious but less unlawful meth
Ods. The elimination of the Negro
from our politics is the present euphe-
mism and this is sought to be accom-
plished by peaceful methOds-such as
the grandfather clause, ability to read
and express selected parts of State con-
stitutions and other subterfuges. all
designed to confuse, let us say obfus-
cate, the black mans mind and thus de-
prive him of his rights as a freeman
and a citizen.
The Union Veterans Union is pledged
to correct all this by agitation, by ap-
peals to the higher law of the land and
to the better instincts of this great
Christian country and by thus creating
a sentiment of justice of which the Ne
gro will be the chief beneficiary
VIII the colored veterans of the coun-
try awake to a proper and abiding
sense of their own interests?
VIII they not properly appreciate the
objects and aspirations of this grant
organization and the substantial char
acter and standing of General Dyren-
forth and the other noble men who
direct its energies?
General DyrenfOrth is a most accessi- |
bic man. Genial. with a ready SYM
pathy and a profound desire that this |
great cOuntrV shall D11rcDo s+e doc+i,,x,