Year: 1876




pendence and Vote for Their


Own Interests.


We have a few words to say to
the colored men who have resolved
to assert their real freedom next
Tuesday by voting as their best
Judgment and their consciences die
tate. Although they have been free
men since the adoption of the Thir-
teenth Amendment, and voters since
the adoption of the Fifteenth |
Amenment, they must confess that
they have never yet exercised and !
enjoyed the privilege Of the fran
chise as free citizens should. We
know there are several reasons why
this is not the case, and we have
no fault to find with colored men
on account of it. They were not
intelligent, as a race, when they
were made free, as many of them
are now, They believed that the
Republican party was perfectly dis
interested in setting them free; be-
cause in their great JOY at their de
hverance from bondage, gratitude
was the only feeling that possessed
them. They did not think of ques-
tioning the motives of anybody, but
were satisfied with the result, and
voted solidly with the party
in power when emancipation was
declared. But the fact is, and no.
body can deny it, that the Republi
can party was as much opposed to
negro suffrage as the Democratic
party was until it found that it was
only by the votes of colored men
that it could hope to retain power
Senator Pinchback has explained
this. He says the colored man who
believes the Republicans gave him
his liberty aud made him a voter
out Of .vyc fer him is a fool.


But we do not propose to repeat
arguments why colored men should
divide their vote at the election next
Tuesday. We have made some ef-
forts to ;ncv'cate the idea of perfect
liberty, mentally rs well as physic-
ally, in the minis of the colored
race. Many of them are now intel
ligent enough to feel the degrada-
ton Of being marched up like
herd of cattle, on election day, to
be voted by their white political
masters. Colored men now know
that their votes are valuable. Their
individual support has kept the Re
publicans in power for years. And
what have they got for it? We ask
them to reflect a moment and an
swer the question candidly. What
power have they on their own ac-
count2 What honors or profits have
they gained by the course they have
pursued?


Now, we know there are many col
ored men who are half determined to
take a stand on Tuesday next that
will determine their true standing
in future. They are inclined to
vote the Democratic ticket. Let
them have the independence to vote
as they feel inclined, regardless Of
what their old party friends will
think or say of them. They have
as much interest in good govern
ment, and as much right to vote
their sentiments, as the white peo-
pie. Let them exercise this right,
and all will be well. If, by their
votes, they aid ia continuing the
Republican party in power, they
must make up their minds to 60
through another four years Of dis
tressingly hard times. The Repub-
lican party is not party of the peo-
pie. 1t is party of sleek, well-fed
officeholders, who have grown rich
on the spoils of office, and who
mean to continue in power if they
can. There is no Disgusting the fact
that the Republican party is re
sponsible for the present hard and
pressing times. There never was q
time when a judicious use cf the
ballot was so essential as now. II
men are wise,,they can right their
own wrongs. If they are not, they
must suffer indefinitely.