Mr. Cleveland and his Negro Appointees
January 27, 1894
Summary
The Negro Democratic League of America pushes for President Cleveland to appoint a “Negro” to an office.
Transcription
The Richmond, Va., Daily Times in its issue of the 20th inst. After quoting from the address the delegation of colored men, styling themselves the Negro Democratic League of America who visited Mr. Cleveland, asking him to again nominate colored men to three or more permanent position, with the office of Recordership of Deeds inclusive says:
“Prior to Mr. Cleveland’s first administration, the scoundrels who cursed the Southern States kept the Negroes constantly agitated with the fear that Democratic ascendancy in the nation meant a re enslavement of them. It was one of Mahone’s chief methods of holding the Negroes in a solid mass in the presidential election of 1884. Mr. Cleveland’s course in that administration showed the Negro that this sort of talk was the baldest nonsense, and it was the first event since the war that started the disintegration of the Negro party in the South.”
It further says:
“The President listened attentively and in reply said that he had in no measure changed his policy in relation to the proper recognition of the Negro race for the selection of men for office. He said he had not been disconcerted or turned away from his purpose by the rejection of Astwood's nomination to be [unitelligent] to Calais, or by the failure of the [unintelligent’ to take action on the appointment [unitelligent] as minister to Bolivia [unintelligent] had asked him to appoint [unitelligent] recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia, and, while not implying directly to that request, his general remarks were taken as being indicative of a favorable leaving in that direction.”
But, sir, the bourbon Negro-hating Democratic whites did more to emphasize these assertions than ever did the “scoundrels” or Gen. Mahone ever did. They abused, maltreated and threatened us. The Daily Times does not think a colored man should be appointed Recorder of Deeds, although ex-Senator B. k. Bruce, a colored man occupies that position now. We however agree with the following:
“But Mr. Cleveland is rendering the South as immense service in his general policy towards the Negro, for as the Negro comes to understand who his real friends are, the solid Negro party will be dissolved and become a thing of the past if it is not already so.”
But, sir, the position you endorse is giving the Negro-haters the gripes and the Dispatch, the epizooty:- How could you all be so cruel?
“Prior to Mr. Cleveland’s first administration, the scoundrels who cursed the Southern States kept the Negroes constantly agitated with the fear that Democratic ascendancy in the nation meant a re enslavement of them. It was one of Mahone’s chief methods of holding the Negroes in a solid mass in the presidential election of 1884. Mr. Cleveland’s course in that administration showed the Negro that this sort of talk was the baldest nonsense, and it was the first event since the war that started the disintegration of the Negro party in the South.”
It further says:
“The President listened attentively and in reply said that he had in no measure changed his policy in relation to the proper recognition of the Negro race for the selection of men for office. He said he had not been disconcerted or turned away from his purpose by the rejection of Astwood's nomination to be [unitelligent] to Calais, or by the failure of the [unintelligent’ to take action on the appointment [unitelligent] as minister to Bolivia [unintelligent] had asked him to appoint [unitelligent] recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia, and, while not implying directly to that request, his general remarks were taken as being indicative of a favorable leaving in that direction.”
But, sir, the bourbon Negro-hating Democratic whites did more to emphasize these assertions than ever did the “scoundrels” or Gen. Mahone ever did. They abused, maltreated and threatened us. The Daily Times does not think a colored man should be appointed Recorder of Deeds, although ex-Senator B. k. Bruce, a colored man occupies that position now. We however agree with the following:
“But Mr. Cleveland is rendering the South as immense service in his general policy towards the Negro, for as the Negro comes to understand who his real friends are, the solid Negro party will be dissolved and become a thing of the past if it is not already so.”
But, sir, the position you endorse is giving the Negro-haters the gripes and the Dispatch, the epizooty:- How could you all be so cruel?
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Carlos Serrano
Citation
“Mr. Cleveland and his Negro Appointees,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed April 24, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/72.