The colored American., 1903-03-28
THE LOHE STAR STATE.
The Political { auldren Boiling and
the Leaders are actiye-Tributes to
the Leadership of the late N. W.
Cuney-General News Notes

this time, is a viritable mud hole If
has been raining here for two months
or more, and March finds it still rain
Ing. Old residents in Texas say that
they have never seen it rain so con-
tlnuously as it has for the last two or
three months. Farming is behind at
thls time. There has been no plowing
by FARMERS preparatory to planting
crops. indeed, the farmers cannot
even enter their fields, nor come to
town In wagons. Taking into account
the fact that Texas farmers prepare
thelr lands In January, plant corn in
FeDruary and cotton in March, the
present condition is somewhat alarm
ing.
Miss Halle 0. Brandon of Ohio has
been touring the Lone Star State since
November and is expected in the city
next week for the second time to give
concert. Miss Brandon is a great
favorite in Texas
The concert given at the c. M E.
Church Friday evening, the 18th in
slant, and participated in by all the
public school teachers, was quite a
success. The solos rendered by Mrs.
N. L. Perry and Miss L. G. Haynes
were especially well received. Miss
Haynes has a national reputation and
always pleases. Rev. ]. L. Williams,
pastor of the church, needs to be con-
graduated at his success in bringing
out the talent of the city in a concert
for the church. We wish, in this short
article, to give some notice to the pres
ant status of the political outlook in
Texas, as applied 10 the Negro.
Texas is the home of the lamented
n. w. Quincy, who was the leader of
his race in the State, and indeed of
his party as well. While he lived, the
party had a fearless champion and the
race a peerless leader. There was no
battle too hazardous for him to engage
n, no enemy too strongly fortified for
lim TO aSSail.
But Cuney is dead and there is no
one to take up his mantle. Since his
leath many have tried to wear his
mantle, but to no avail. 1t does not
it but one man and that MANN w.
Cuney.
The race in Texas, therefore, is
without a recognized political leader.
Bill Mcdonald, c. M. Ferguson, r.
=. Smith and others have eSsayed to
10 the bidding of the people, but fac
tiOns and brawls and splits and con-
sequent failure have come to all of
them, and no one is recognized as
leader. Indeed, the Negro politicians
have divided among themselves and
stand.
The political situation in Texas aside
from the lack of leadership is some
what similar to that in ether Southern
States, as applied to the Negro. There
is not the lily White movement of Ala
bama-at least it is not on the house
top, where you can see it, but there
is a quiet, sullen and determined sit
uatiOn, which to all intents and pur-
poses is the Lilly White all the same
There was at one time the real Lilly
White organization in Texas, but the
administration at Washington sat
1own upon it, and hence it's disorgani-
zation. But while there is no organiza-
ton there is the SmoulderiRg embers
which are waiting only to be famed
into flame.
The Negro politician sees this and
Ne feels it. He is allowed 20 go to the
State convention with his white
brother and is whooped up for tenn
| HOrary chairman and put On credential
committees etc, but when it comes to
permanent Offices he only acts as the
cats paw to pull out the chestnuts for
his white brother who carries off every
'e@tige of Office from the permanent
Hartman down to the doorkeeper This
IS not. however. literally true in the
State convention, but it is true in