Communication

To the Editor of The Registee: Aker the glorious Eepublican victory laat fait, the question tbat bas been oocupying the attention of Afro-Americaos is, will the Republican party, whose success was in no small degree due to the negro eleotors, recognize them, not simply by tbanking them for their services, but by dealing out to them a reapectable share of the public offices ? It is a well-known fact that the negro con8titutes the balance of power. Without the support of their votes Benjamin Harrison would not to-day be occupying the presidential chair. With their support Grover Cleveland would now be our president It needs no figures to convince a reading mind of this fact. Ia New York, New Jersey and Indiana we have enough votes to elect or defeat any Republican presidential candidate. Is it wise then, is it in conformity with our good sense, with this vaat power in our hands, to remain in our present lethargy, to walk blindly to the polls like so many sheep every time an opportunity is aSbrded us and the only consideration we receive for such service is a pat on the shoulder and " you are a good fellow ? " It is a good thing to be called a good fellow even once in four years, but we are ot the opinión it is about time, if we render good service to a party, to be good fellows all the tiine. But when we ask for recognition they teil us, "you are too hasty, the time has not come as yet when you should aek for favors of the government." When are they going to reward us for service rendered ? Do they mean to wait until every one of our race iseducated? There is, I'm sorry to say, a vast amount of ignorante in our race, why should there not be? That 9 also crue of the Caucasian race. Look at that great demoralizing flood of Germans, Irish, Scandiuavian, Swedish and Italian people continually pouring into our country. Some of ihem do not have half the intelligenoe of the negro just emerged from slavery. But hehardly lands on our shores before he is intrusted with the ballot. We find 8ome oí them office holders before they can write their name legibly. Nor are the Americans exempt from criticism. They too, in vast numbers, are in a deplorable state of ignorance. Ia the existence of ignorance in the Caucasian race a cause of non-representation? Certainly not. While there is ignorance among them, theie are however plenty of men tbat have the ability to trars&ct the people's business. So it is with U8. Why then Bhould our race be unlike others in this respect? There is not a State in the Union but that has coloreó men capable of holding state offices. This is also true of our oounty and city governments. It is a fact that in our own state of Michigan we have men who would grace some state offioep. Are they sought aftei? Most assnredly not. Many counties, cities and towns have colored men capable of filling their different offices. Are we represented in any of them? Seldom, if ever. Our services are desired ooly before election. This condition of affairs cannot always exist. Though you may charge us with ignorance, we have 6ufBcient intelligence to know when we are wronged. We do not ask that incompetent colored men should be appointed to office; for no one would be more bitterly opposed to that than we; but we do ask and demand that the candidacy of a colored man of good character and intelligence tor a position, should receive the same consideration as any other man's. For twenty years and over we have been content in being hewers of wood and drawers of water, but that will no longer satisfy us. We have come to desire pecuniary encouragement. We Bee stronger than ever that it is money that talks. If others fail to do their duty, let the IRepublicani of Ann Arbor show their color8. Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamaoo have colored government and city officials. Experience has proven them lo be good, competent, and trustworthy men. It would be well for the successor of our present postmaster to try to find efficiënt clerks in the persons of colored men. We have men ainong us that would make good mail-carriers who are dfsirous of acting in that capacity. Will the next postmaster, whoever he may be, reward the colored electors of the city for their party fealty, by giving them a clerkship in the post-office ? I may be criticized for writing this article, but I think it is my duty as a Republican, repicing in the past victories of my party and wishing for its future success, to eay lo them that the colored people are expectiDg more recognition in the future than they have had in the past. Though we have always been Republicans and deeire to be in future as long as we are shown due respect, I can safely say, knowing whereof I speak, that forbearance ceases to be a virtue with us as well as other nationalities. Our displeasure can be incurred. While we are thankful to the Bepublican party for past favors, and while it may feel gratetul to us for our united support, there is a strong sentiment in our race for a more wholesome diet than graditude pudding. When we voted almost solidly for the Republican candidates last fall, we did it, not gimply that we might have the opportunity of engaging in the rati&cation of their election, but that we might share in the ffuits of the victory.