The Lexington standard. [volume] (Lexington, Ky.) 1892-1912, 1911-10-28
WHY SHOULD
THE NEGRO VOTE
AT ALL NOW
Editorial Of Issue Oct. RI,
RePrOduced BY Request

''This is a white mans ceun-
try; it has always been ruled by
white men, and will always be
so ruled" Regard as an enemy
to your race any white man who
endeavors to procure your vote
by promise of offices to colored
men," Realize that the hope
Of the colored race lies in the
Sc pei of industry, honestly
;. aached by Booker Washing
scn, and not along political
INES" (Applause.)
The above declaration was
made by Mr.. John H. Flood, one
cf the Fusion Republican speak
crs in his speech Thursday night
il the grand Fusion rally at the
opera house, which formally
opened the Republican cam
paign here for municipal offices
to be voted for November 9TH.
This is a clear outline and an
unmistakable exposition of the
true attitude of the Fusion
movement respecting Negro
support in the coming election.
It shows that the ticket repre-
scented by Mr.. Flood is so high
" confident of success that it is
utterly Indifferent as to whether
it shall receive the support of
the Negro or not. This is a true
specimen, evincing a covert
adoption here, too, of the Lily
White" plan, which has proved
so disastrous to the race polit-
ically elsewhere. At the time
Mr.. Flood spoke, the balcony
and gallery were well filed with
colored voters, usually referred
to as the better element" of
Negroes, which means, of
course, loyal subjects to the par
ty, who do not know how to
scratch q ticket, and. further
more, do not care to learn
those who can stomach the most
neauSeating mess and smack
their lips and say, Gimme
some mo-, boss, it's good" How
-er, Mr.. Floods utterances
were received with a silence
profound: his radical frankness
threw a chill and danpness on
the leading shouters that lin
gered long and far into the fur
Their proceedings of the evening.
"Slow to learn carries with it !
slow to forget" This is the one !
basis Of hope concerning our
people. Hence it behooves the
mesmerists to hold the spell on |
them and never allow them to
wake UP. Mr.. Flood being a new
convert to the Republican fold,
as he did, from the Dem
Dcrats, has evidently failed to
mbibe the spirit Of his new en-
7ironment and adopt the meth
DDS of his new cohorts. The po-.
sition of the old line Republi- t
cans, touching this very identi-
,al point, official recognition, is
patent to all. 1t is elusive, eva
i've, yet sufficient, as, for forty
fears, the Negro vote has been
ured along by shrewd manip-
llation of this strategy, trust !
ngIy, hopefully, awaiting the de-
7elopment of time, when their
patience should be rewarded and !
heir fond hopes realized in Of
icial recognition at the hands of
he Grand Old Party.
1t is a significant fact that
he Republicans received with
pen arms and gladly welcomed
few hundred Democratic sup
,lanters and readily divided
lonors with them upon a ratio
,etter than six to four, while the
Negro, who is admitted to be the
,ackbone Of the party locally,
las been dealt with with utter t
Indifference. (This article will !
'e read by intelligent Negroes
II over the country.) Now,
an the intelligence among the s
Negroes here afford to go on {
ecord as countenancing the idea {
hat the Negro here make any /,
andidate or ticket present of $
is two thousand votes without
ONE assurance that the gift will !
e at least thankfully received y
nd due recognition given in re- 5
Urn, properly based upon the t