The colored American., 1903-03-21

TrIHer I III person or by representation
WY Wy Ihen should the Negro be denied
representation by men of his own
choosing? Let the convention he held
put let the Negro be a part of the
oouy' SO that he will be in a pcsition
10 oeIend himself against any charge
Chat MS southern neighbors might
make against him, especially as to
MS unhtness and disqualifications
Competency for Office Holding
Among other things, he is charged
with being incompetent to hold offices
anu that to appoint him to office is to
rum him and his race I cannot he
1eVe that the white people of the
country can be serious in this belief
for 1t will not be denied that tbe
greatness CT Presidents Washington
Lincoln, Grant, Cleveland and a host
OF others would never have been
known had 1T not been that they were
elected to office. Their fitness their
abilities would never have been de-
monstrated had they remained in
seclusiOn, or if they were shut ont
from holding public Office If these
men who are members of the Anglo
Saxon race, backed up by centuries of
advantages, must be elevated TO nosi-
tions or office in order to demonstrate
their fitness and abilities, why should
the Negro be said to be untitled, when
he is kept from occupying places
where he can have the opportunity
to prove himself.
The Convention Favored.
Yes, let us have the convention. and
also let us have three or more repre-
Sentat1VeS frCf the colOred race from
the states that send white delegates
to the convention, and let the country
say whether they have been able to
meet every issue brought out by the
most learned men of the world con-
cerning the race.
We have too many trials now in the
South that are like the handle to
the jug, and if we are to be judged
let us be heard before Judgment is
pronounced.
The Negro has been charged with
receiving bribes at conventions and
elections. We deny the charge, and
invite the readers of your paper to
the editorials and reporters locals
published in the Charleston (S. Co.
News and Courier during and i'm
mediately after the democratic pri-
mary election held in that city last
August II "do W IHS
world that money was freely and
openly spent and. that votes were
bought for 81 each. 1t must be re-
membered that at this primary not a
Negro was allowed to vote, hence it
must have been white men who sold
and bought votes.
Favors Reducing Electoral Vote Of
South.
In conclusion, I will add that under
the constitution of South Carolina of
1895 not a white man in the state |
was debarred from registration and |
voting, but the colored vote of 10000 |
was reduced to about 10000 or $4,000 |
under the registration laws, while |
under the administration Of the cleo |
ton laws that number was further |
reduced to about 5000 votes at the |
last general election for President Nc |
Kinley.
Now, I am in favor of cutting down |
the number of representatives of the |
South in Congress, under the COnsu- |
tuition of the United States. By doing |
this. as the rule of the national re- |
DubIican party is that each state shall |
have two representatives in the ma
tionaI convention for every one OF |
her Representatives in Congress, this |
will carry cut the idea of cutting |