A Window On The Past:
African-American Life in Howard County from the Civil War to 1890

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African-American Community from the Civil War to 1890

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The Democratic Mass Meeting. [...] After dinner town folks came out and substantial Republicans from all parts of the county had come in and were present. At this time we took a look over the crowd and made the following estimates of numbers: [among others] Colored 3 [HT- 22 Sep 1864/p6/c3] Politics / Democratic Meetings Colored Citizen's Celebration. On Tuesday of this week, the Colored Citizens of Indianapolis celebrated the anniversary of the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation in an appropriate manner.

A procession numbering about one thousand, proceeded by a brass band, and carrying numerous banners inscribed with mottos indicative of the patriotism of the color [tcbr] marched through the principal streets and finally brought up at the Masonic Hall, where speeches were made by M. DeLancey of Oberum, and other colored orators. The proceedings were very orderly, yet brimming over with enthusiam, and the speeches were full of point and often really eloquent. [HT-05 Jan 1865/p3/c1] Politics / Emancipation Proclamation / Colored Celebrations / Social Activities

The Kokomo Herald says the Tribune is a Democratic paper. The Herald lies. The same paper speaks of Miner Nichols as a nigger. The Tribune never used that word in its editorials, and it has had a good deal to say about negroes during the past fifteen years. We call things, as well as men, by their right names. Nichols is a negro. John Owl is a fool. Montgomery is a granny. That is correct language and very truthful. [HT- 06-Dec 1866/p1/c4] Miner NICHOLS / Politics

The Colored Vote. There seems to be differences of opinion about the colored vote-that is, as to whether the colored Republicans should vote at the Primary elections in March. Hamilton and one or two other counties, at their conventions, invited the colored folks to participate. Our own convention invited all those who shall become enfranchised before the time to participate. But the colored people will not have the right to vote until the official announcement shall be made of the ratifications of the XVth Amendment. We hold, then, that the proper understanding should be this: If the official announcement shall be made before March 19th, then the colored people should vote; if it shall not be made, it will be better for them , and all concerned to wait with patience. The time of their deliverance is at hand; the salvation of the Lord is about to be seen, but there is not use now to be in a hurry. [HT-17 Feb 1870/p2/c3]

Politics / 15th Amendment (Negro Suffrage) / Howard County Republican Convention / Primary Election of 1870 The Colored Vote. Mr. S. Woody moved that the colored men 21 years old of this county be invited to participate in the Primary election. Mr. Woody, at the suggestion of T. C. Phillips, included in his motion young colored men who will become of age before the October election. The motions provided, the vote being unanimous. [HT-10 Mar 1870/p2/c3] Politics / Primary Election of 1870 / 15th Amendment / Elections Center Township. For the nomination of officers for Center township, the following vote was polled on Monday: [among others] Frank Lang, for Constable, 111 votes H. C. Hance, colored, for Constable, 106 votes O. Warren, for Constable, 71 votes [HT-24 Mar 1870/p2/c5] Politics / Hance, H. C. / Center Township Elections

Now comes an African, David Rush, declaring himself as candidate and thinking for legislative honors. [...] before the silence of the Radical [...] of this city? Going back on friend, eh? [Dem- 15 Jun 1870/p3/c1] David RUSH / Politics The Colored Vote. The vote of the colored men in two western settlements were all right. But some of the leading men acted badly. They talked confidentially to too many persons and made too many promises. If they want to be men, let them always keep their own secrets or else when they do talk, vote as they agree and not agree with persons of both parties to vote straight tickets. In this city a goodly number of the colored men voted for some of the Independents. [KTW-20 Oct 1870/p2/c3]

Politics / Voting Letter from Clay Township.   Through the columns of your valuable paper, I desire to let the good people of Howard county know, the proceedings of the Republican Convention of Clay township.   This motley throng was convened Saturday, March 30th, to elect delegates to the county convention. There were ten or eleven white men and twelve negroes. Right nobly did these sable sons of Africa fight. J.P. Harris was chosen chairman. Two white Republicans and one black one were appointed to select delegates. David Rush (colored) was among the elect. Capt. Kirkpatrick's course, while in the Legislature, was fully endorsed. The Capt. Was very much disgusted at the meager attendance of his white brethren. He moved that a new convention be called and that every white Republican be fined five dollars for non-attendance. [Great laughter among the negroes.] At this, the noble captain grew wrathy, but the dusky, gentry smiled on. The delegates were instructed to vote for Kirkpatrick, but as to the rest of the ticket, they were to vote as they chose. Thus ended the convention, much to the disgust of the white Rads, leaving the negroes masters of the situation. More again. [KDem- 04 Apr 1872/p2/c3] Politics / Clay Township / Republican Convention / David RUSH THE COLORED MAN AND BROTHER IN COUNCIL MINER NICHOLS ON THE WARPATH   Animated Mahoganies Sent Two Delegates to the Radical County Convention in Two Days - The Poor White Trials of the Republican Party in Convention - 17 for Garvison.   Our special reporter attended the "mokes" convention, held in the 4th ward on Friday night last. He has "gin" us a synopsis of the proceedings, including Dr. Minor Nichols' speech, which was the principal feature of the meeting. Seventeen of these Radicals, for whom so many lost their lives, met in the 4th ward colored school house, to select delegates to attend the Radical sore head convention, to be held in this city on Saturday next.   They did not intend to admit any of the "white trash," but finally came to the conclusion that our reporter could stay and take notes. According, an intelligent, mahogany arose, and "made a motion to move" that Mr. Hans "take de chur," which was carried by acclamation; upon which a second "moke" rose and "made a motion to make a move" that Miner Nichols be made "secretary ob de committee." Just at this point Miner got on his "ear." He said: "Now, men, I isn't gwine to take no second place in dis 'sciety; 'cause why? "Cause ise bin here longer nor any ob you 'uns, an' if I doesn't git de fust place, I taike nun. No sah! I jus' bus' up dis meetin'; afore God I will, for a fac."   At this stage of the proceedings, a vote to rescind the vote and change the officers was had, and Hans was made Secretary and Miner put in the Chair. When business was resumed again the chairman rose and said:

"Ise not mad, but I jis' wants you fokes to kno dat ize gwine to run dis masheen; I iz for a fac. Who is you 'uns, and who is me? Mose ob you lib round in little tenement houses - you has to rent - and some ob you don't eben do dat well, you jis' boords, and I lives in my own house. I'se got a house an' a lot an' a nudder lot." Here Mr. Hans called the chairman to order, saying that it was not according to "parlament" rule for the chairman to vacate his seat to make a speech. Whereat Miner's wool began to straighten out. He grabbed a big brother by the neck, sitting him in the chair, saying: "Now sah, jis' sit dar til I speaks, for ise gettin' mad now for a fac. Parlament, who's Parlament. What I care for Parlament. I know jis' as much as Parlament does. Why, I owns a wagon, and a hoss, and a moole. . Jis' you 'uns go to do cort house and look who pays de taxes, who rais de munny for de church, dat ain't bilt yet, and what lays in [sic] in de bank. Why, you knows it was me. Now if you uns don't do better; I bus' do whole ting up, sure. I will fo' a fac. Dis is Miner talkin' to you; dat's who I is. You darkies what ain't bin here long has no bizness to stick you selfs up abuv me. Dar is Tom Byrd. He bin way from here long time, and is' now got bac. And dar's Braboy, is jis' cum here. Who is he? Why no's name but a barber, what shaves at the Clinton House. I telin' yoose I'se bin here longer dan enay ob you. Who pays taxes? I does, and not one ob you pays enny. Dose you hear who's talkin' to you? I doesn't want to put myself on a lebbel wit you poor niggers. Col. Blanch say long go dat I'se de smartest darkey among you all; and I is, too." The meeting appointed Braboy and Hans as delegates, and gave Garvison a unanimous vote for Coroner, when the convention adjourned sine die.   The "poor white trash" held a similar convention on Saturday at which very dissimilar speeches were made. [Kdem- 04 Apr 1872/p2/c1-2] Minor NICHOLS / BRABOY / GARRISON / HANS / Tom BYRD / 4th ward / Politics To-day at the Fair Grounds, the colored citizens of this county will celebrate the XV th amendment. J.S. Hinton, colored contingent elector for the State at large on the Republican State ticket will be the orator of the occasion. [Kdem- 01 Aug 1872/p3/c1] Colored Celebration / Fifteenth Amendment / Politics   One day last week, Bill Nick, Minor Nichols, T.C. Philips, Charley Murray, and some colored folks from Grant and Marion counties, held a Grant love feast at the fair grounds. Minor said he "would pay fur de water melons when de champagne was over." Bill Nick buckled a heavy line scabbard round his neck, and said: "Whar de Dem'cratic party now? I likes to 'dress my own fokes, cause I was mostly raised in de city ob Kalamazoo, Michigan, in dis here State." Murray said the nigger never turned her back on him. Philips said if Greeley was elected the poor bleeding nigger would be put back in slavery and he should lose the postoffice. His goose would be cooked. Then they all sang, "Did you see that man with a round-about his breeches tore and shirt-tail out," "Let us git out ob de wilderness," etc. [Kdem- 08 Aug 1872/p2/c3] Bill NICK / Minor NICHOLS / T.C. PHILIPS / Charley MURRAY / Politics / Social Events / Colored Celebration   The colored people of this county are all for Grant. [HCR-6 Sept 1872/p3/c1] Politics

The Negroes and Corruption.   Last week at the joint debate of Whiteside and Tyner in Ervin township, there were a large number of our colored fellow citizens present, and Mr. Whiteside was going in strong upon the corruption of the republican party. He at length appealed direct to the colored men present, asking them if they were aware this was the most corrupt administration ever in power, and that Grant, as the republican leader was today the most corrupt and venial president that had ever disgraced American politics, when one of the old colored men, a man who had at one time felt the shackles of the slave power, arose, and as his whitened wool glistened in the sun he remarked:   "We culled men don't know much about this corruption you is talking about, more than this we know dat dis corruption was de means employed my God to break de shackles from four millions of slaves, and de culled men of dis section is gwine to stand by dis corruption and vote for Genl. Grant." The argument was rather heavy for the speaker, and we have not head of him appealing directly to the black men any more upon the corruption branch of his arguments.   The real facts are the colored men know who their friends are, and when one deserts them as Horace Greeley and Geo. Julian have done for the sake of political gain, they will not follow in their footsteps. [HCR-6 Sept 1872/p3/c5] Politics / Debates / Ervin township   Ed. Pettafer, colored barber in this city is one of the best workers on election day in the city. Last Tuesday he worked all day for Jo Johnson for the city clerk, and although the liberals offered him a liberal purse to work for their man, Ed couldn't see it in that light. They will find that the colored population of this county are generally well-informed and intelligent and will not be scared or bought to vote for the men who by every art and work shows they are enemies to the colored race. If there is one colored man in this county that will support Greeley or any of his lieutenants, we don't know which one of the boys it is. [HCR-20 Sept 1872/p3/c1] Politics / Pettafer, Ed Imported Stock. - Last Saturday night, a democrat of this city was going home when he was accosted by a negro, who said he had just got off the eleven o'clock train, from Indianapolis, with "Hello Mister, does you know whar Dr. Nichols lives." The Democrat played Radical to him and elicited the following facts: The negro had been sent to this county to vote for Browne; he was paid a stipulated sum per diem for his time; he was told to inquire for Dr. Nichols and was instructed to report himself to the Dr. in person. The Democrat then asked his name, but he said, "I isn't gwine to tell now, you may not be a Republican." After drawing out his designs, the Democrat let him go. Yet our Radical friends deny a single imported negro voter. The thing is too thin, gentlemen. [Kdem- 10 Oct 1872/p3/c2] Dr. Minor NICHOLS / Politics / Voting

J. A. Braboy (colored) is a candidate for municipal honors. He is out for Councilman from the Second Ward. [Kdem- 30 Oct 1873/p3/c1] BRABOY, J. A. / Politics / Second Ward   The election of Councilman in the Second Ward, passed off quietly, Tuesday. There were but two candidates, Dr. Darnall and J. A. Braboy (colored). The tally sheet revealed the following vote: Dr Darnall............131 J. A. Braboy............14

Both gentlemen belong to the same political household. The Fifteenth Amendment doesn't seem to be popular in the Second Ward. Mr. Darnall is one of our most successful merchants and is above the slightest taint of corruption. He will make a valuable member of the Council. He is honest and faithful and will watch the city's interest carefully. The people of the Second Ward have secured a good representative in the municipal body. [Kdem 06 Nov 1873/p3/c2] BRABOY, J. A. / Second Ward / Politics

The Colored People on the Death of Charles Sumner. We, the colored citizens of Kokomo, assembled to commemorate the death of our much loved, and esteemed friend, Hon. Charles Sumner, the house having been called to order by Rev. J. Bundy and after singing and prayer Mr. H.S. Hance was called to the chair, E. McCoy acted as secretary. Some very appropriate remarks were made by the chairman after which Rev. J. Bundy moved to appoint a committee to draw up resolutions of respect to the great dead. The committee consisted of J.A. Braboy, Wm. Gaskin and Mr. Winbon. The committee withdrawing to form the resolutions. The audience was addressed by Rev. J. Bundy, C.S. Hance, and others with very appropriate remarks and reminiscences of the life of Senator Sumner. The chairman of the committee, J.A. Braboy, then read the following resolutions: Resolved, That we, the colored people of Kokomo, will ever hold in remembrance the great and good Charles Sumner, who did so much for the freedom of our race and that we feel our loss irreparable. Resolved, That we will ever remember his dying words in regard to the Supplementary Civil Rights Bill which secures to the colored people equal rights as American citizens. Resolved, That we ask Judge Hoar to use his influence to secure the passage of the aforesaid bill at an early day. Resolved, That we request the Christian people to invoke the blessing of Almighty God to encourage Judge Hoar to use his influence to secure to us the rights and privileges as the dying Senator requested, and be it further. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent for publication to the different county papers, also to the Indianapolis Journal and the Christian Recorder at Philadelphia. The resolutions were received and Rev. Bundy, J.A. Braboy, and C.S. Hance appointed a committee to report to the papers. Kokomo:March 16, 1874. [KTW- 24 Mar 1874/p1/c4] Politics / BUNDY, Rev J / HANCE, Mr H.S. / HANCE C.S. / BRABOY J.A. / GASKIN Wm. / WINBON, Mr. / MCCOY, E. / Colored Meetings

Election Sparks. ...[among other notes] Ten Negroes were shipped from this city last Monday to assist the Republicans of the 4th Ward, Indianapolis, on Tuesday. [K Dem-6 May 1875/p3/c3] Politics (Elections) / Republican Party At the last meeting of the city council Robert Dunlap (colored) presented a bill against the city of Kokomo for one dollar and fifty cents for "cleaning spittoons for the city dads four months." The Council, after due deliberation, and not recklessly or hastily, consented to allow the bill on the grounds that Mr. Dunlap had rendered good, efficient, and even indispensable service. [K Dem-13 May 1875/p3/c1] Politics (City Council) / Dunlap, Robert / Occupations We are sorry to have to say that we cannot sell our lots in West Kokomo to the colored people. We mean no harm to those people by saying this. We do think it better for them to settle in a part of the city to themselves, and close to the church and school of their own kind and choice. [K Dem-20 May 1875/p1/c4] Politics / Real Estate / West Kokomo "Kokomo has forty colored families." -- Kokomo Tribune. "That's pretty steep. Cut down the number of colors a little." --Lafayette Courier. How will this do: Kokomo has forty families of African descent. [KSET- 11 Sep 1875/p4/c4] Enumeration / Families J. A. Brayboy, the Clinton House barber, was elected chairman of the State convention of colored men, which met at Indianapolis on Tuesday to take action on the "black laws" of the State. [KW Dem-23 Sept 1875/p3/c1] Politics / Brayboy, Joseph A. / State Convention of Colored Men Mr. J. A. Braboy, of this city, was in attendance at the State meeting of colored citizens at Indianapolis, on last Tuesday. [KSET- 25 Sep 1875/p3/c3] BRABOY, Mr. J. A. / Politics / State Meeting of Colored Citizens

Dr. Minor Nichols has turned Democrat since the Cincinnati convention. Kokomo now has two stanch colored Democrats. [KWD-22 Jun 1876/p3/c2] Politics / Nichols, Dr. Minor That is a very dirty bit of business by Democrats, the going to colored men and telling them infernal lies about what the senior editor of this paper said one, five, ten or twenty years ago. But then it is so natural for a Democrat to do mean dirty things that it is old to refer to them. [KST- 12 Aug 1876/p4/c3] Politics / Democrat The Mass Meeting of the Colored voters, which the Democracy allied to occur next Wednesday, has been postponed until August 28th, when Mr. Hinton will be here. These voters have decided that they can manage their own affairs without the help of any Democratic candidates. [KST- 12 Aug 1876/p4/c3] Politics / Mass Meeting of the Colored Voters The Mass Meeting of the colored voters of this Congressional District, which the Democrats got up, and to which they invited every colored man, woman and child, was called to be held adjoining Ad. Armstrong's residence and it was promised that refreshments would be served on the ground. [KST- 12 Aug 1876/p4/c3] Politics / Mass Meeting of the Colored Voters That Colored Rally. A letter from J. E. Meyzeek, Who assigns a reason for not being here. Editors Tribune: -- I received a letter from C. S. Hance, Esq., of your city, bearing date of August 3d, inviting me to address the colored citizens of this Congressional District, at

Kokomo, at the rally of August 15th. I readily accepted the invitation and would have complied with the request, but I since learned that the rally was to be in the interest of the Democratic party. I want the people of Kokomo and elsewhere to understand that I am a Republican and nothing else. I received an appointment from Hon. George W. Friedley, chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, to speak at Lafayette and other places. I would be glad to meet some black Democrats. I have never yet seen one. If the colored citizen's of Howard county wish to hear me I will come and speak through the settlement for them.               J. E. Meyzeek. Logansport, Aug. 16, 1876. [KST- 19 Aug 1876/p1/c1] Politics / HANCE, C. S. / Speeches On Monday night Mr. Bell had an appointment at the Bass school-house in Ervin, among the colored voters. Quite a large number had collected to hear him when a company came by going to a Republican meeting at Young America. Our friend Milton, tried to get them to stay but they joined "Gideon's band" and went along not a person remaining to hear him. Of course he did not speak. [KST- 30 Sep 1876/p5/c3] Politics / Bass Settlement / Ervin Township / Speeches Every colored man in the settlement voted a Republican ticket without a scratch. And only two in this city voted for their life-time enemies. [KST- 14 Oct 1876/p5/c1] Politics / Voting / (?) Settlement Dr. Minor Nichols is supposed to be in Louisiana waiting on the bulldozed leading lady of the "lecshun" board. [KWD-21 Dec 1876/p3/c5] politics / Nichols, Minor

We are requested to announce that Wm. Cary, a colored man of this city, will be a candidate for the nomination of Constable before the Republican township convention to be held next Saturday. [KWD- 28 Feb 1878/p3/T/c2] CARY, Wm. / Politics / Candidates A Word to Colored People. Now that the Republican have repudiated the colored people, let the Democrats show this element of our civilization which party is their best and only friends. The Democrats, North have always been the negro's best friend, politically speaking, and he is beginning, we are glad to note it, to find this fact out to his entire satisfaction. If the Republicans are the sincere friends to the colored people they claim to be, why don't they give them an office occasionally, if for no other purpose as an earnest of the fact. The truth is the Republicans nominating a negro for any office in any town, community, or district where white Republicans were in the majority? Never! And they never will till the colored people assert their complete independence by refusing to be led as so many sheep to the shambles to be slaughtered by their pretended political friends. Rise up! O, ye dusky descendants of ham, and be men, that ye have a right to be! Shake off your poitical thralldom, your serfdom to party, and assert your complete freedom and manhood! If you must follow and ape after the white people, copy the good and not the bad examples they set. Imitate whatever is good and worthy and ennobling and inspiring in your superiors, and condemn the bad. Is it well that the whites should be divided politically? Then, why should not the colored people, also, divide up on political questions? Must you be forever led about, as it were, by the nose by your white brethren? Must you have a Moses to lead you; after having been landed in the promised kland? There was a time when you needed a political Moses to guide you, but that time has long since passed. You are now free men in the land of promise, not exactly a land flowing of milk and honey, but a mighty rich and productive land it is, and it remains for you to make the most out; of it and yourselves. Be yourselves; now that you have that blessed privilege. Be somebody! If your skins are black, don't let it be said that your hearts are of the same color. Be men, not slaves! Vote as your best judgement dictates, and not as designing politicians tell you to. If those who pretend to be your especial political friends snub and mistreat you, assert your independence! Give them to understand you are not their slaves! Return payment in the same kind of coin you receive! And, our word for it, you will bring them to time and yourselves to a much higher grade of respectability. Here in Kokomo, a town where the colored element has always stuck like a leech to the Republican party, where (will some one point to an instance,) has the Republican party ever rewarded this devotion by electing a colored man to any office of public trust whatever? On the contrary, the white Republicans seem to take especial delight in sitting square down on a colored man every time he aspired in the direction of a public office. Only last Saturday, they told Mr. Wm. G. Cary, a colored man, a most worthy and well qualified man for the office he sought, that it was the height of insolence and impudence for him to ask to be elected to the humble position of Constable by Republican votes -- this they did by refusing to vote for him for the nomination, preferring to give it to a white man whose sheer incompetence to fill the office will as surely defeat him as that the April election shall take place. Now let Thornton Parker, or some other well-qualified negro of good character, announce himself as a candidate for constable, and his election by Democratic votes will prove what the Dispatch has always maintained -- that is to say, that Democrats are the best political friends the colored people have, at least so far as Kokomo and Howard county is concerned. [KWD- 07 Mar 1878/p2/T/c3] Politics / CARY, Mr. Wm. G. / PARKER, Thornton Constables. [...] William G. Cary, a colored man, was a candidate and an far ahead of two of his competitors. Had he been known to all others as well as he was to us, he would have been nominated, for he is a first-rate man, but he has not long lived in town and was only known to a few. A few ignorant whites and blacks are attempting to make it appear that the Republicans "sat down upon the colored brother," because Mr. Cary was not nominated. Such "white trash" are beneath contempt. The true man estimates every other man by his worth. The man who votes for a colored man because he is colored, is as much a demagogue as he who refuses to vote for him because he is colored. When we are in company with such a colored man as Mr. Cary, we forget that he is colored because he is a gentleman. We voted for him because we knew him well, because he is a gentleman, and not because he is a colored man. The colored man who expects Republicans to vote for him because he is colored, ought to be a Democrat. Mr. Cary isn't that sort of a person. He has sense and is manly. The Tribune has never changed its opinions on this subject. It recognizes manhood

whatever may be the complexion and it despises a "nigger" who claims unusual rights because of his color as much as it does a Democrat the negro's natural enemy, who runs around hugging colored folks before elections to get their votes. We repeat what we have said before that the place for an "onery," mean, lazy trifling colored man is in the Democratic party, while gentlemen of color who expect to be adjudged upon their merit, should be, and will be Republicans, It is our opinion that the demagoguery and flattery of Democrats will have no effect upon Mr. Cary; he will remain a Republican because he is a gentleman and will await his time. It is also our opinion that every decent colored person in town is utterly disgusted with the stuff that appears in the other paper, this week, written by "white trash" and intended to "honey-fuggle" colored folks. If there is one who is pleased with such stuff from such a source, the sooner he gets into the Democratic party the better. [KST- 09 Mar 1878/p1/c6] Politics / Elections / Constables / CARY, William G. The Colored Voters. Judge Dykeman Endorsed - Breaking Loose from Party. At a recent meeting of the colored voters of this city, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: Resolved, That we tenaciously adhere to the ancient land-marks of Republican principles. That we reel ourselves identified with the laboring masses, and feel our burdens with them in regard to the financial crisis of the county, AND WILL SUPPORT MEN AND MEASURES THAT WILL TEND TO BETTER OUR PRESENT CONDITION. That we heartily endorse the course of the Hon. D. D. Dykeman, of Cass county, in presenting and working through the late Legislature a bill furthering the educational interests of the colored children of this State; AND FURTHERMORE WILL BE FIRM IN OUR SUPPORT OF HIM IN ALL SUCH LAUDABLE AND PHILANTHROPIC PRINCIPLES. That we hail with enthusiasm the pluck manifested by S. P. B. Pinchbak in regard to the calumny heaped upon him by Senators Edmunds, Christiancy, etc., their Republican proclivities to the contrary notwithstanding. That we favor the calling of at an early date of the State convention of the colored voters of Indiana. Rev. H. H. Thompson presided over the meeting and C. S. Hance was its secretary. The committee on resolutions consisted of C. S. Hance A. H. Brown, J. A. Braboy, F. Roberts, and R. McDannels. A resolution condemning President Hayes was voted down, as was one endorsing the platform of the National party. [KWD- 14 Mar 1878/p3/T/c6] Politics / THOMPSON, Rev. H. H. / HANCE, C. S. / BROWN, A. H. / BRABOY, J. A. / ROBERTS, F. / MCDANNELS, R. / Political meetings The Colored Man in Politics. An excellent colored gentleman of Kokomo was a candidate for constable at the recent Republican primary election [...] [KWD- 21 Mar 1878/p1/T/c9] Politics / Candidates Thornton Parker, nominee for constable, one of our colored fellow citizens, was born a slave -- served with honor as a soldier during the war of the rebellion is honest and capable, is a close student, endeavoring the dispel the mist which the curse, slavery, put upon his color, He stands to-day an honor not only to his country but to his race. Would make a trusty officer. [KWD- 28 Mar 1878/p2/T/c8] Politics / Candidates / PARKER, Thornton Republican Snubbery of the Colored Man Again. Henry Bassett is an intelligent colored voter of Ervin township. At the recent Republican convention to nominate a township ticket, Mr. Bassett offered himself as a candidate for constable and was incontinently snubbed by his white brother. He received only 50 votes cast, 30 of those received were cast by his own color. Thus out of 270 white Republican votes the colored man only received 20. The colored voters of Howard county have at last discovered that the color line exists as marked in the North as in the South, and that he has been a mere tool, a voting machine, for the Republican who never fail to set down on him when he asks for even the meanest office. The colored man needs political emancipation, and we predict he will strike the party shackles from his limbs at no distant day, and become thoroughly a freeman. [KWD- 28 Mar 1878/p3/B/c2] Politics / Candidates / Ervin Township / BASSETT, Henry The Color Line in Politics. And Open Letter to the colored Voters of Howard County by a Colored Man. To the Editors of the Dispatch: Kokomo, April 1st: -At home and abroad, I find that the colored people are testing the Republican party thoroughly. I need not tell the people whether or not that party has stood the test. It clearly demonstrated itself when we, the colored people, assembled

together in this city recently and selected our very best talent for the lowest office in the gift of the people and met with disastrous defeat at the hands of the Republican party. We have often been told by the Democracy of Howard county and elsewhere that the Republican party only enfranchised us for a selfish purpose; that they only wished to use us as a cat's paw to pull the chestnuts out of the embers for them to eat. Now we see the truth of the statement clearly demonstrated. But probably to act as a cat's paw ten years ago was all we deserved then but the time has come when we are looking for better things. The Republican party still places the low estimation on us that they did ten years ago, in spite of all our education, enlightenment, and experience. Now I say to my people, since the Republican party will not move forward, let us move forward and leave them behind. I have been very considerate with the Republican party. I have been in the presence of men who called themselves good Republicans and have heard them say, "D--- the nigger! If he votes the Democratic ticket he ought to be placed back in slavery." Of course I would have been insulted if the Republican party had not done a great many good things for the colored man. Now my fellow colored people, I am not asking you to join the Democracy, but I do exhort you all to rise up in your manhood, extricate yourselves from this political thralldom that we have been under for the last eight years, allow no one to use us for a political tool, take the papers, read the news, understand for yourselves, study the science and history, and act like freemen. Be thinking men, and act like independent people; allowing no demagogue to lead you to the polls and vote you; allow no one to give you whisky on election day. Remember, the merciless slaughter of Wm. Carey, of Kokomo, and Mr. Bassett of Ervin township, is convincing proof to you that Republican are no more your friends than the Democrats. In my closing remarks, I exhort you to vote for your known friends, be they Democrats, Republicans, or Nationals, and vote against the country's enimies and plunderers. You m ay expect to hear from me again upon this subject. Yours for political enfranchisement. A Colored Voter. [KWD- 04 Apr 1878/p1/T/c8] Politics / Candidates / CAREY (CARY), Wm. / BASSETT, Mr. / Ervin Township / Editorials "A Colored Voter," one of the most intelligent colored men of this city, addresses an open letter to his people, on the first page of to-day's Dispatch, that has the clear ring about it. We commend the article to every colored voter in Howard county. What the colored man most needs now is political enfranchisement. [KWD- 04 Apr 1878/p2/T/c1] Politics / Editorials The Colored Voter. His Status in Politics Past and Present. What the Republican Party Has Done for Him - What the Democracy is Now Doing. Dykeman for Congress and the Reasons Why. An Address to the Colored Voters of the 11th Congressional District. [The following speech was prepared by Mr. Len. Nicholson, an colored man of Tipton, for delivery before the Colored Boys in Blue pic-nic, held in Kokomo on the 3d instant, but was not delivered on account of illness of the author.] [...very long speech discussing general politics, no local names mentioned] [KWD- 12 Sep 1878/p4/TB/c1-2] Politics / Social Activities / Colored Boys in Blue / Editorials At a Republican meeting held, at the Colored School House No. 1, in Ervin township, on last Wednesday evening, the following resolutions were adopted by an unanimous vote: Whereas, strenuous efforts are now being put forth by the Democracy of this Congressional district and by D. D. Dykeman, their candidate for Congress, to induce the colored voters of said district to cast their suffrages at the coming October election for said Dykeman for Congress said appeals for our suffrages being based upon the fact of the said Dykeman, while a member of the State Senate of Indiana, having assisted in the passage of a bill granting unto colored children the right to attend the schools provided for he education of white children in certain cases, he is hereby Resolved by the colored voters of Ervin township, Howard county, Indiana, that while we recognize and duly appreciate any and all unselfish and disinterested efforts put forth by any one in our behalf, we can not vote for said D. D. Dykeman for the following reasons: 1. The party of which he is a member, and when now puts him forward as their candidate for Congress-- the Democratic party--labored more ardently during the period of its administration of the affairs of this government to degrade us and perpetuate our bondage than it did to preserve and perpetuate the Union. [among other reasons] The above shows conclusively that the colored people will not vote for Dykeman for Congress. [KST- 14 Sep 1878/p1/c6] Politics / Voting / Schools / Ervin Township

The colored people had an enthusiastic Republican meeting at their church in the second ward last Thursday night. Many warm speeches were delivered. The meeting heartily endorsed the action of the executive committee of Indianapolis in electing J. A. Braboy to attend the National colored convention to be held at Nashville, Tenn. and steps were taken to defray part of his expenses. [KST- 03 May 1879/p7/c3] Politics / BRABOY, J. A. / Second Ward / National colored convention. Will. Gaskin and Bob Myers are true-blue Republicans, and their work was quite effective among the colored brethren last Tuesday. [KST- 10 May 1879/p1/c3] GASKIN, William / MYERS, Bob / Politics Messrs. J. A. Braboy, C. S. Hance and William Gaskin have been chosen as delegates from this city, to attend the state convention of colored people to be held at Terre Haute, on Aug. 6th. [KST- 19 Jul 1879/p5/c3] Politics / BRABOY, J. A. / HANCE, C. S. / GASKIN, William The Colored Man in Politics The Kokomo correspondent of the Indianapolis Leader, the new organ of the colored man in Indiana, had this item in his last week's budget of news: "Kokomo is a Republican town, the county is largely Republican, and has about two hundred colored voters in town and county. But we take notice that no colored man has ever been appointed to even a secondary place in office in the county. Republicans, what meaneth this? We deny any county in the State, with the same number of colored people, to furnish any more real estate owners, or more intelligence than Howard county. And we ask, are none of the colored people worthy of a position as policeman, or a member of the fire company, of to clean the court house? Don't all speak at once." By their fruits ye shall judge them. Let the facts of history for the past fourteen years answer. The colored man has seldom been rewarded with the gifts of spoil at the hands of the Republican party. Unless his own color has been strong enough to elevate him to position in spite of the white vote, his place in the body politic has been that of a simple voting machine, a hewer of wood and a carrier of water, a pack mule to bear, uncomplaining, the load of the Republican party at the polls. The Republican party has acted with Punic faith towards the colored man. Their love for him has been a cruel deception and a hollow mockery. They sought his enfranchisement only to enslave his ballot. They assumed to hold a mortgage on his political services and

treat him, withal, like a vassal and not like a peer. Because after fourteen long dark years of blind political slavery, the colored man is now opening his eyes and breaking away from his party tyrants and seeking to vote as a free man, as God's nobleman, that party is even now murmuring and repining that he was never granted the electoral franchise. Here in Kokomo, Republican love for the colored man has more than once been proven to be a snare and a delusion. When Mr. J. A. Braboy ran for Councilman in a strong Republican ward he was buried beneath an avalanche of Republican votes and his political body was basely stabbed in a hundred cruel wounds. Still later when Mr. Carey was candidate for the Republican nomination of Constable (and there were three to nominate) he was ingloriously slaughtered. But his colored friends believe he was counted out by his Republican friends(?). Why, the howl of anger that went up from Republican throats in the court house yard where his nomination was believed to be a certainty, would have done credit to the bulldozers of the Yazoo country. "Nominate a nigger over a good white Republican! That will never do. Carey must go down!" This and similar expressions attested the pure ingenuous love(?) The Republicans here at home have for the colored man. As the Dispatch has always maintained, we now reiterate--the sooner the colored man establishes his absolute political independence, the sooner the color line will fade from politics. Let him exercise perfect freedom at the ballot the same as his white brother enjoys. [KWD-9 Oct 1879/p2/c3] politics (editorial on colored candidates and injustices colored men must face) / Braboy, Mr. J. A. Our Colored People. J. A. Braboy, our agent at Kokomo, desires to state that he has copies of the Leader to sell each Monday morning. Please call around and buy. The Bassett settlement is in a flourishing condition, under the management of Benjamin Artis. Go in, Ben - the campaign of 1880 - there you will reap your reward. in last week's Dispatch there appeared an article breathing out a vast amount of vituperation against the poor black man because he is looking out homes for himself. The Democratic press of the State is yelping about the importation of negroes in the State for political purposes. Now why do not they say something about the seven thousand that have fled to Kansas from Democratic tyranny in the South? Now since they have to turn and hunt some other locality, as there are as many in Kansas as can do well, they must certainly locate elsewhere. I should like to know if the Democrats will not allow the colored man to go where he pleases, or do they wish to keep him still in a state of secondary bondage? Speak out. [KST- 29 Nov 1879/p9/c1] BRABOY, J. A. / Bassett Settlement / ARTIS, Benjamin / Politics

The following delegates an alternates were chosen for the several conventions: [among others] Judicial convention. [among others] Ervin Britton Basset [delegate] Orrin Ellis Jr. [alternate] [...] [KST- 14 Feb 1880/p1/c3] Politics / Ervin Township / BASSET, Britton / ELLIS, Orrin, Jr. Our Colored People Our correspondent also offers the following sensible remarks to the colored voters of Howard county: Gentlemen: We cannot afford to vote carelessly and indifferently this year. I am aware that several of you have voted against your politics in past elections in order to gratify some friend that has favored you, either when you were sick or out of money or employment. You thought simply because some Democrat had favored you in order to repay him you had to vote for him. You should never pay a man in that way. if a Democrat, or even a Republican should befriend me, I would try to save a little money or call my physical strength together and pay him that way. I think a colored man cannot commit a greater evil than to vote for a Democrat for any office. I would not vote for one under any consideration whatever and I don't want any of them to ask me to either. I don't care if it was only a supervisor's office he was seeking, I would not vote for him. Let us be very careful how we vote and if General Grant is nominated , let us give him a solid support. Abe. [KST- 28 Feb 1880/p8/c1] Politics The Delegates. Below will be found a full list of the delegates appointed to represent the various townships: Center Township Second Ward [among others] Flavius Roberts Joseph Braboy Wm. Gaskin Ervin Township [among others] Oran Ellis sr. Britton Bassett [...] [KST-10 Apr 1880/p3/c1] Politics / Second Ward / Ervin Township / ROBERTS, Flavius / BRABOY, Joseph / GASKIN, Wm. / ELLIS, Oran, sr. / BASSETT, Britton How We Stand for President in Ervin [who voted for what candidate] For General Grant [among others] H. Rush Harry Gammans Thomas Artis Ben Artis Britten Basset M. Artis Oren Ellis O. Bond For James G. Blaine [among others] Wm. Ellis Geo. Bassett Richard Bassett For John Sherman [among others] Noah Whisler John Hardiman [KST 10 Apr 1880/p10/c2] Politics / Ervin Township / RUSH, H. / GAMMANS, Harry / ARTIS, Thomas / ARTIS, Ben / BASSET, Britten / ARTIS, M. / ELLIS, Oren / BOND, O. / ELLIS, Wm. / BASSETT, Geo. / BASSETT, Richard / WHISLER, Noah / HARDIMAN, John A Long List of Citizens Who Remonstrate Against the Annulling of the City Charter [...] We the undersigned resident tax payers of the city of Kokomo, over the age of twenty-one years, would respectfully represent to your Honor that we are resident tax payers of the city of Kokomo, and as such would respectfully remonstrate against the surrender of the charter and municipal government of said city: [among others] Jos. A. Braboy Flavius J. Roberts David Gaskin M. Winburn [KST- 17 Apr 1880/p1/c2] Politics / BRABOY, Jos. A. / ROBERTS, Flavius J. / GASKIN, David / WINBURN, M. For Councilmen. The Republicans Hold Conventions in the Various Wards. [...] Second Ward. About 100 Republicans of the second ward met at the court house, and Dr. J. H. Ross called the meeting to order and upon motion of J. W. Barnes, Dr. Ross was chosen as chairman. Up the motion of D. O. Freeman, Ed. Pritchard was appointed secretary. Newt. Graves moved effectually that the vote for candidates be taken by ballot, the one receiving the majority to be declared the nominee. Nominations being then in order, Ed. Pritchard presented the name of J. B. Ellis; George Stewart put in nomination Joseph Braboy and W. L. Dickerson presented the name of Hiram Klum. G. W. Landon, C. F. Stokes and Dr. R. Q. Qilson were appointed tellers. The first ballot resulted as follows: Joseph Braboy 41 John B. Ellis 37 H. Klum 8 Total 86 No one having received a majority, a second ballot was taken, (Mr. Klum having withdrawn) resulting as follows: Ellis 51 Braboy 40 Total 91 Mr. Braboy then moved that Mr. Ellis be declared the nominee by acclamation, which was agreed to. [KST- 24 Apr 1880/p1/c5] Politics / Second Ward / BRABOY, Joseph / STOKES, C. F. Our Colored People. No colored councilman yet. [KST- 01 May 1880/p3/c3] Politics The Colored Man in Politics. It is an encouraging sign of the times that the colored voter is at last opening his eyes to his true status in the body politic of this country. For eleven years he has stood in unbroken phalanx the faithful ally of the Republican party. Actuated by a spirit of grateful reciprocity, he had devoted his entire political influence to the cause of that party. He has fondly cherished the cruel delusion that in the republican party his best interest lay; that the party was his true and sincere friend. And now after years of patient political serfdom, when he dares to ask the meanest place of honor or profit, he is ruthlessly thrust aside and given to understand that the Republican party claims to hold a life-mortgage on his suffrage. To prove the utter insincerity of the Republican party's pretensions lf love for the colored man a few facts in history will suffice: The Emancipation Proclamation was issued as a war measure--strictly so--and not as a humane and benign effort for the freedom of the colored man. Its provisions did not obtain in territory not in open rebellion. The enfranchisement of the colored man was distinctively a measure of political necessity, for the Republican party saw that unless this was accomplished their race was run and certain defeat was only at arm's length. Actuated by this sordid motive, the elective franchise was conferred. To show what benefit the colored vote is to that party but one fact is necessary: Some of the colored vote, the Republican party could not carry five States in the Union to-day. The voting statistics verify this statement. That party has constantly rode the colored man to victory. And what have they given in return? Nothing but flattery and idle promises. They have simply praised the bridge that has carried them over the murky waters of ignominious defeat. With pretended love for the poor colored man, the Republican party established the Freedman's Bureau, and proceeded to rob and plunder the credulous victims of their hard earnings. Only last week, Senator Bruce, colored, of Mississippi, offered a bill in Congress providing for the appropriation of $2,000,000 to pay the Southern negroes who were robbed by the Republican party through the agency

of the Freedman's Bureau. Think of it! Two million dollars stolen from the race they assumed to love! ... [other instances of the Republican party blaspheming the colored man in US cities] The God's fact is, the Republican party has no real love for the colored man. Nowhere in Indiana has that party recognized the colored voter. He is never rewarded, but occasionally is given the cold compliment of a nomination for some party office only to be slaughtered by Republican votes at the polls. Here in Republican Howard, no colored man can be elected even "dog pelter." The Republicans of Center township counted out Mr. Carey two years ago. The Republicans of Ervin township induced a colored man, Wm. Bassett, to run on their ticket for Constable. Though they polled a clear majority of 40 in the township the colored candidate was defeated by 11 majority--while both a Democratic and a Republican candidate were elected by a handsome majority. The Republicans had it in their power to elect their colored candidate but they defeated him by voting for the Democrat. Only last Thursday a wee, J. A. Braboy, one of the most intelligent representatives of his race in Howard county, was ignominiously defeated for the nomination of Councilman by the Republicans of the Second Ward--who, virtually, said by that act, "the colored man must go." These are plain unvarnished facts and can not be gainsaid. The Republican party only has use for the colored man--that of a voting machine, no farther. In their heart of hearts they despise him. They reward the German vote by office, but never the colored man. They consider they have a life mortgage on the black man. How long will the colored voters of Howard county remain the political slaves of the Republican party? [KD-6 May 1880/p6/c2] Republican politics / colored voters as merely voting machines / Bassett, Wm. / Braboy, J. A. / Carey, Mr. "The Colored Man Must Go." The Republicans of Kokomo think the colored man's vote is a good thing, yet when the colored man comes forward and asks the Republicans for their votes the color of the horse changes very materially. Joseph A. Braboy, a representative colored man and property holder of Kokomo, recently asked for a Council nomination, and like Caesar, was slaughtered in the house of his friends. The Lord saw fit in His wisdom to make Mr. Braboy's skin black. That is the head and front of his offending. He is as intelligent as any of his opponents, pays taxes, conducts a large and legitimate business, and looks out for the advanced interests of his race. Kokomo has a large colored population which supports a church and a school and the only favors ever shown them by the Republican party has been the appointment of one or two of them as deputy constables. Beyond limited jury duty Mr. Braboy has never has a voice in shaping municipal affairs in which he is as much interested as any white man in Kokomo. The motto of the Kokomo Republicans seems to be: "We will use the colored man for all he is worth, but he must not be allowed to use us." Therefore they keep their feet upon the black man's neck. [KD-6 May 1880/p9/c1] Republican politics / colored voters merely as voting machines / Braboy, J. A. Democratic "Taffy" for Colored Voters. In a lengthy article under the caption of "The Colored Man in Politics," the Dispatch, this week, with its usual brazen effrontery says: "The Republicans of Center township counted out Mr. Cary for Constable, two years ago." Here is another bold and malicious lie and a slander against honest, upright, moral and conscientious citizens. The Dispatch charged that the delegates who nominated Hon. M. Garrigus two years ago were subsidized, thereby maligning 27 of the best Republicans of Howard county. Only three weeks ago they charged that corrupt means, by "set up jobs," etc., were used to procure Republican nominations at the county convention, thereby slandering 277 representatives citizens from the various townships of Howard. Now they say that "the Republicans of Center township counted out Mr. Cary two years ago." There is only one inference to be drawn from this statement. Hon. Milton Garrigus, Millard McDowell and A. L Sharp served on the election board in March 1878 when Mr. Cary was a candidate for Constable. The Dispatch charges that these men counted him out, leaving the inference that he was nominated but afterward cheated out of the office. How do the election board like to rest under this charge? True, it comes from an unreliable source-is the utterance of a paper that is notorious for its misrepresentation and willful lying in politics, but isn't it about time to demand that such charges be looked upon as purely criminal, and the liars punished in a court of justice? The Kokomo Dispatch displays the cheek of an army mule when it talks about courtesy to Republicans. A few words concerning the candidacy of Mr. Cary will not be out of place here. He was a candidate for the nomination of Constable on the Republican ticket of Center township, at the primary election held on Saturday, March 2d, 1878. He received 254 votes . Baker A. Bannon, James Hilands and Wm. T. Wiley each received more votes than Mr. Cary, while two others, white candidates, George Frazee and Ezekiel Childers, received less votes than Mr. Cary. The first three named were nominated. At the time, in commenting upon the result, the Tribune said: William G. Cary, a colored man, was a candidate and ran far ahead of two of his competitors. Had he been known to all others as well as he was to us, he would have been nominated, for he is a first-rate man, but he has not long lived in town and was only known to a few. A few ignorant whites and blacks are attempting to make it appear that the Republicans "sat down upon the colored brother," because Mr. Cary was not nominated. Such "white trash" are beneath contempt. The true man estimates every other man by his worth. The man who votes for a colored man because he is colored, is as much a demagogue as he who refuses to vote for him because he is colored. When we are in company with such a colored man as Mr. Cary, we forget that he is colored because he is a gentleman. We voted for him because we knew him well, because he is a gentleman, and not because he is a colored man. The colored man who expects Republicans to vote for him because he is colored, ought to be a Democrat. Mr. Cary isn't that sort of a person. He has sense and is manly. The Tribune has never changed its opinions on this subject. It recognizes manhood whatever may be the complexion and it despises a "nigger" who claims unusual rights because of his color as much as it does a Democrat the negro's natural enemy, who runs around hugging colored folks before elections to get their votes. We repeat what we have said before that the place for an "onery," mean, lazy trifling colored man is in the Democratic party, while gentlemen of color who expect to be adjudged upon their merit, should be, and will be Republicans. It is our opinion that the demagoguery and flattery of Democrats will have no effect upon Mr. Cary; he will remain a Republican because he is a gentleman and will await his time. It is also our opinion that every decent colored person in town is utterly disgusted with the stuff that appears in the other paper, this week, written by "white trash" and intended to "honey-fuggle" colored folks. If there is one who is pleased with such stuff from such a source, the sooner he gets into the Democratic party the better. The above words apply as well now as when they appeared in the Tribune two years ago. Sensible colored men will not be "honey-fuggled" by "white trash" Democracy, whose wonly mission is to poison their minds against their best friends. [KST- 08 May 1880/p1/c5] Politics / Candidates / CARY, William G. / Editorials

[City council meeting...] Manager Cole then moved that the real estate commissioners be selected, which was agreed to, and the following men were chosen: [among others] J. A. Braboy, Second Ward. [KST/KTCE- 18 May 1880/p1/c3] Politics / BRABOY, J. A. / Second Ward / Local County Offices The colored people of Kokomo can now see by the action of the Democratic party Council whether or not the Democrats are amicably and fairly disposed towards them. At the last meeting of the Council Two colored men, Joseph A. Braboy and Thorton Parker, were placed upon important Boards on motion and by the unanimous action of the Democratic members of the Council. This is the first Democratic Council the city ever had, and this is the first time the colored man has ever been officially recognized in Kokomo. [ KD-20 May 1880/p4/c1] Democratic politics / council appointments / Braboy, J. A. / Parker, Thorton The colored people of Kokomo can now see by the action of the Democratic City Council whether or no the Democrats are amicably and fairly disposed towards them. At the last meeting of the Council two colored men, Joseph A. Braboy and Thornton Parker, were placed upon important Boards on motion and by the unanimous action of the Democratic members of the Council. This is the first Democratic Council the city ever had, and this is the first time the colored man has ever been officially recognized in Kokomo. -Dispatch. Well what of it? Joseph Braboy has always voted the Republican ticket, while Thornton Parker is a Greenbacker. Is not the object in placing these colored men in position a stroke of policy? If not, why was not Michael McGlynn, Cornelius McCarty, John Devana, or others of our Irish citizens who have always stuck close to you recognized in some manner in parceling out the offices. Will the Dispatch please answer? [KST- 22 May 1880/p4/c2] Politics / BRABOY, Joseph / PARKER, Thornton The Colored Voter's Revolt. "A Colored Republican" propounded a number of questions to the Tribune, recently, in which he fairly dissected the Republican hypocrisy and simulated love for the colored man. The complaint was based upon indisputable facts, coming under our very noses. The repeated defeat of every colored Republican by white Republicans here in Howard county and Kokomo, has at last opened the eyes of the colored people to the fact that race prejudice is the root of all unfair treatment of the colored man--and not party hate. There is no disguising the fact that right here at home the Republicans entertain a deeper and more malignant hate towards the colored man than the Democracy does. Acts speak louder than sounding words. The Republican party of Howard county has never once rewarded the colored voter, nor in any manner accorded him a manly recognition. That party has controlled the patronage of the county for time immemorial, and the colored man has stood loyally and unflinchingly its trusted ally, yet he has never been recognized. He has not so much as been made spittoon cleaner. In contradistinction to this, the Democracy, upon coming in power in the city government a few weeks ago, voluntarily appointed two colored man on important Boards. To this action, the Republican party, with Satanic hypocrisy, retorts "taffy." If it is "taffy," who has not the Republican party ere given them "taffy"? They like that sort of "taffy", and are to-day laughing in their sleeves at the Republican scare-crow of "Democratic taffy." The Tribune's attempted reply to "A Colored Republican"is a puerile begging of the question and a flat failure to meet a single argument adduced. The silly twaddle of "merit" is the purest bosh. Republican "merit" in Howard county consists of a white skin--nothing farther. The Tribune declares that Messrs. J. A. Braboy and Thorton Parker, colored, were not placed in position because they merited the place. That is certainly placing a very low estimate on the recognized intelligence of these men. It is, of itself, an evidence of Republican hatred and venom toward the colored man. Our contemporary refers with savage glee to the palmy day of slavery when the babe was torn from its mother's arms and sold like a dog by the Democratic master"--but it forgets to tell of the Republican master in New England who was guilty of a like atrocity. It refers with evident satisfaction to "the Democratic brute who slaughtered the colored people so mercilessly at Fort Pillow," but it fails to state that this same "democratic brute" afterwards turned Republican and was lauded to the skies by Republican tongues. It did not tell of the sudden conversion to Republicanism of Rebel Generals Longstreet, Key, Mosby & Co., and the political rewards given them--preferment over Union soldiers who to-day carry rebel lead in their bodies. But we shall quote a colored man, whose logic is convincing and silencing, in answer to the Tribune--Mr. W. A. Allison, himself a colored man, who conducts a colored column in the Indianapolis People. On last Saturday he re-published from the Dispatch a recent article on the colored voter, and endorsed every word of it as follows: [Mr. Allison's reference to the May 6, 1880 article in the Dispatch titled "The Colored Man in Politics] [KD-17 Jun 1880/p2/c1-2] Republican politics / editorials (injustices towards colored voters) / Braboy, J. A. / Parker, Thorton Imported Negro Voters. The Dispatch has pretty reliable information that the Republican party has imported 100 negroes into Howard county to be used to debauch the ballot-box on the 12th of October, in the interest of that party. If such is the case, these imported voters will be known and spotted on election day. The Democracy have a correct poll of the legal voters of the county, and all illegal voters will be closely watched. In Howard county we must have a pure ballot, a fair election, and an honest count. Mark that. [KD-30 Sept 1880/p5/c2] politics / 1880 election / Republican party importing voters Alex. C. Hopkins was recently converted to Republicanism by the persuasions of Thornton Parker. Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Parker shook hands and mutually pledged each other to vote for Garfield. Many Democrats of this city said they were glad that Hopkins had left their party - that he had asked for every office within the gift of the Democracy, and that he had now declared for Garfield in the hope of getting the post office. Hopkins told a number of gentlemen that he considered Garfield a better man in every respect for the Presidency than Hancock. On Wednesday night Mr. Hopkins attended a Democratic caucus from which Mr. Parker was excluded. Being thus for one short hour deprived of Mr. Parker's influence, he fell from grace and on Thursday morning, in a card published in the Dispatch, says he will not vote for Garfield, but will vote for Hancock. Mr. Parker is afraid that Hopkins went back because the Democrats told him (Hopkins) that he should not have allowed a "nigger" to convert him. We do not think this is the reason, and have no doubt but that if Mr. Parker could have attended the caucus with Hopkins and thus constantly have kept him under his influence he would now be for Garfield. We advise Mr. Parker to see Hopkins on the morning of the election and make one more effort to save him. [KST- 23 Oct 1880/p5/c3] PARKER, Thornton / Politics

The Race Problem The Colored Man Defend By One of His Race. A Reply to Miss Waters' Article To the Editors of The Dispatch: In the Dispatch of issue 'February 17th, I noticed an article by Lucy A. Waters, being an attempt to answer an article by Hon. Maurice Thompson, of Crawfordville. Now, I do not care to reply to the article, but to ask a few questions and to correct some false charges brought against my race. First, she says, why not give the negro Texas? Now I desire to know by what authority or by what power can the American people give Texas to the negro? A negro born in Indiana doesn't like the State of Texas, and doesn't wish to live there-- what would you do with him? He being an American citizen, and having bought that citizenship with his own blood, what is to be done if any party undertakes to abridge these rights as a citizen? He (the negro) holding the balance of power with the intelligent, unprejudiced masses of the whites, would hurl such law makers from power as the people did the members of the Credit Mobilier Ring and the Salary Grabbers. And if they would attempt it with the bayonet, the unprejudiced whites would take part with the wronged Africans and the result would be as the late war - the party of justice and right would triumph and the party of oppression and wrong would be overthrown. As for myself, I spent three years defending this country-- and the whole country. I fought for Texas and Indiana also, but I choose to reside in Kokomo. Who has the power to send me to Texas without my consent, or the power to send any American citizen to Texas without his consent? So the lady will see that her compulsory education plan would be a failure. Again, she says that Texas is a more congenial climate for the negro than the Western States. Does she undertake to say that the negro who was born and reared on the frosty hills of Minnesota would be better pleased with prickly pear marshes or the sandy plains of Texas? While the white man would not give up his pleasant Texas home, it would be equally true with the negro's Northern home. Now, she says, as long as the negro is with the whites he is a slave. Well, if Miss Waters will go to Webster's Dictionary and find the meaning of the word "Slavery," and if she finds one negro in all the Northern States that is in slavery, I will go to his rescue at once. She says that the white people will associate with the negro for his vote, but after the election is over they will not associate with them (the blacks) any more. That is true, but it is equally true with their own race. For proof of this-- the men who are candidates for office in our county will associate with men of their own race with whom they never associate again unless needed for a similar purpose. And I know to be equally true of Mr. J. S. Hinton (colored), of Indianapolis. He associated with men of the white race that he will not be found in company with again until he wants an office. So you see that rule works both ways with equal dexterity. You say he is good to make laws for himself. That is true, but he has been tried and found to be equally as good to make laws for his white fellow citizen. Proof: When all the white Congressmen were drunk, Congressman Rainey, of South Carolina, was at his post. Again, she says she is in favor of the enlightenment of all races, but she goes about it in a very awkward way. She admits that the white race is the most enlightened. She says that the mixing of 6,000,000 of citizens of a weak race with 40,000,000 of the stronger race would be degrading; that is 6,000,000 would degrade the 40,000,000. Now then that is contrary to common sense. You had just as well say the school room degrades the pedagogue, simply because he associates with his pupils that do not know as much as himself. But Miss Waters says if they associate together they will marry sure. She must be one of those weak-minded creatures who, like some I have seen, carry banners at political gatherings inscribed, "Fathers Save Us From Negro Husbands" -- as much as to say to the public that they did not have the dignity, education, and moral power to take care of themselves. She says the God of nature made the distinction. She is misinformed concerning God. He made no distinction since the destruction of Jerusalem. For proof of the fact I quote the following Bible language: "God created of one blood all nations that dwell upon the face of the earth." Farther proof, I quote from Peter: "I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted with him." I also quote from the Declaration of Independence: "All men are created equal." She asks Mr. Thompson to go to Bucktown and hunt up the lowest of my race in that he might form a low conception of my people. So I can equally say to Miss Waters, if she would go to Stringtown, in Cincinnati, and see the low and vile of her race, she would wish she were back in Bucktown in order to find better associates. But why didn't she refer Mr. Thompson to the Fisk University, of Tennessee, or to the colored graduates, or Oberlin College, or have him step into the United States Senate in the absence of Vice President Wheeler, and see B. K. Bruce, a representative of my race, presiding with dignity over the highest tribunal of our great Nation. These are the places to tell Mr. Thompson to go to find a fair representative of my race. She asks the question: "If the negroes come North, will the white race of character take them in their society?" No law regulates that. The intelligent blacks and whites will regulate that in the future as they have in the past. She says that it is the low class that intermarry. I know of my own personal knowledge that it is not always so. But suppose that be true, have not the low and vile have a right to make their own choice? When the colored man gets so low and vile that he can not find one of his own race that is low enough for his wife, is he not a free American citizen? Who will dare to deprive him of the right of going to the white race to find his equal? She says that some of the blacks say they were better in slavery. Will she name one? Still I can cite her to many of her race that would be better as slaves, but the foundation of this government is based on the theory of the greatest good to the greatest number. But last to all she says the poor darkey has been trying to make himself the equal of the white and has failed. Now that shows her to be very, very incapable of writing on the race problem. The negro has proved himself far superior to the whites in regard to advancement; but assertions are easily made, let's have the proof. First, we are only about fifteen years old as citizens, numbering about 6,000,000. Let Miss Lucy go back and study American history. When the whites only numbered 6,000,000, or even when the whites had only been fifteen years from under the British yoke, then compare the advancement and intellect of the masses of the white race at that time with the masses of the colored race at the present time, and every well-balanced mind will say, at once, that the colored race is far in advance of the white race. But a better test yet: When you find white and colored students sitting in the same college, ask the Faculty who graduates with the brightest honors. You will find, if there is anything in favor of either race, it is the colored race. They are the equals of the white race, to say the least. Now for proof: We have a colored student in the High School department of the Kokomo schools and he is at least equal to any of the second year students in the school. For proof of the fact, I give for reference, A. C. Hopkins, ex-Principal, or Prof Cox, present Superintendent. These are facts based upon unequivocal proof: But let us go farther with our proof. Ask the Professors at Oberlin, Ohio, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, Colleges, or even go to West Point and see the record of Capt. O. O. Flipper, who graduated with as high honors as any student that left West Point. For proof, see the record of the institution. And Whittaker was advancing so fast that it aroused a prejudice and they overpowered him and cut his ears off to impede his progress until they could catch up with him. Now I don't write these facts so much in reply to Miss Waters as to disabuse any other person who is so gangrened with the old Calhoun type of prejudice that they have not learned that the negro has thoroughly proved that he is not only the equal of the white, but he is superior in point of intelligence, with opportunity equal. But I will look up some statistical proof and write again soon. I regard the article as well written, for a female writer, but every sentence shows that the lady is misinformed concerning the facts in the case.             Joseph A. Braboy. [KD- 03 Mar 1881/p2/c4-6] BRABOY, Joseph A. / Editorials / Politics / Schools The Race Problem -- To "School Miss." In the Dispatch of May 5th there appeared an article an indirect reply to my article on "The Race Problem," signed "School Miss." She seems to be agitated from the fact that I proved conclusively that with equal chances the negro race is at least equal, if not superior, to the white race. She says she does not wish to discuss the question with me, but I propose to discuss it with her, or any of her friends, until they are willing to admit the facts in the case. I do not propose to discuss the question as to how the colored people were emancipated neither do I propose to explain why a certain negro Congressman opposed woman suffrage. But let us discuss the question at issue. I reaffirm that, with equal chances, the negro race is equal, if not superior to the white race. "School Miss" states me a "surface thinker." I never claimed to be a profound thinker, neither are the profound thinkers of America found teaching common schools in villages or small districts, neither do they have time to satiate their prejudice by writing articles with no foundation of facts for their argument. She says, "surely if there is any thing that proves the negro race inferior to the white race, it is history and science." Now then she attempts to prove this by referring to Adelung or Dr. Prichard. When we come to the facts, as given by such men as William H. Curo, we find that it is not the fact that the thickness of the skull or the size of the head have anything to do with the talent, but it is the shape that indicate talent. But I presume she would like to refer to someone that is gangreen with prejudice like herself. "School Miss" had [page torn], since she has proved herself so [page torn] rant concerning the race problem, [page torn] me know who she is so I can furnish her with a copy of Curd's works for her better instruction. But let us, and the readers of The Dispatch, have better proof. Let us come home to self evident facts: We have a colored student in the High School in our city, and I quote from the Professors. Prof. McClain says, "Mr. Leroy Stokes is equal to any in his class." Prof. Hopkins says, "My colored students in the High School are doing as well as any in the school." Prof Cox says, "Richard Brown is equal to any in his class. Now then, the pretty "School Miss" has the quotations of gentlemen who are profound in thought and their positions prove them to be such, then when she talks about quoting authority to show the inferiority, I quote the authority of her own race to prove the absurdity of her statements, her depth of thought, notwithstanding. I quote the language of James A. Garfield last year to the graduates of Fisk University, colored: "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Tennesseeans and Graduates of Fisk University:-- I am glad to con- gratulate you here to-day. There is not in history the record of any race that has made such wonderful progress as your race in the last fifteen years." But if it were not for trespassing on the patience of the readers I might quote Grant, at Savannah, and many other distinguished persons who are equally as deep in thought if not so pretty as our "School Miss." But the reader may judge for himself. She says he (the negro) is in a state of barbarism, unassisted by the white race. I say that is not the case, for proof of the fact I refer to that portion of Africa that was civilized by Mr. Roberts, President of Liberia. She says, "Behold him in his native jungles, in a Livingstone for proof, but let us prove something else by Livingstone. She says that the white race of people are intellectual in any clime, but the facts proves the contrary. Livingstone says in his travels in Africa that he was surprised to find some tribes of native Africans that were as fair as the whites of this country, but were just as illiterate as the other natives. Will the "School Miss" explain this? But before she writes she had better send to J. Milton Turner, of Philadelphia, a get a copy of Prof. Curd's Works and learn the reason. She says they have no temples of worship in Africa. Now then the rules of good manners forbid me to say she writes what she knows to be a base-falsehood, and yet certainly she would, or could, to be teaching the youth of this country without knowing something of the progress of the various divisions of our globe. But suffice it to say, for general information, that there is in Africa sixty native graduated ministers, with numerous temples of worship, and also quite a number of graduated ministers from this country have been sent there and have built quite a number of houses of worship, and institutions of learning are numerous. Now I am very sorry if the pretty "School Miss" has not posted herself sufficiently in ethnology to know that different climates produce different intellect, as can clearly be seen by comparing the intellect of the Germans with the Australians, or any other country that borders on different climates.

The facts show that the more vertical fall the rays of the sun on a nation the more drowsy, dull, irritable, and by pochondriacal are the people. To make a better comparison, we will compare the talent of South Carolina with that of Massachusetts. South Carolina had its Haynes and Calhoun in talent and oratory, but it never had a Webster or a Sumner, with their wonderful talent, depth of thought, and matchless oratory. Such a climate as South Carolina never has produced such talent as Massachusetts and never will. Would the Miss pretend to say that the South had one fourth of the inventive genius of the North? Do they not wait for our inventions and have them shipped to them? True, they study the same books in school, and sometimes graduate at the same colleges, but the Southern climate is not the place to find that grand flow of wisdom that must direct the education or else it is but little use to humanity. Now I quote these self evident truths to prove that neither white nor black will ever be as bright in intellect in Africa as in the United States. Both races will be equal in the same country with equal chances, and if any difference it is in favor of the African, as the facts will show. I will quote some African history to show what brilliant talent was developed under such difficult circumstances: Julius Sextuis Africanus was a native African. He was a Christian writer, was the founder of the City of Nacapolis, was a prominent bishop, and composed a Chronicon in five books, commencing with creation and closing with the year 221 of our present era. They were used by Eurebius and other historians. Two letters by him are now extant. And for other information, I refer the Miss to the American Encyclopedia, Vol. 1st, B-171. Again, some of the most adventuresome voyages have been made by native merchants. I quote from the same authority. But the Miss would have the American people believe that no negro could be a merchant, but the history to the contrary under the vertical rays of a tropical sun notwithstanding. But the Miss has forgotten that one of the greatest men known to modern history was a full-blooded African, a descendant of an African King, namely Toussaint L'Ouverture, and was born a slave but freed himself and the people of the Island of St. Domingo, or Hayti, and was King and General-in-Chief of the Island. He rescued the French Governor from prison and was declared the protector of the whites of the Island. History says, "Toussaint L'Ouverture, who distinguished himself early as a leader of the blacks, was one of the most extraordinary characters of modern times, and exhibits proofs of genius and elevation of character which give him a high rank in the annals of great men." Napoleon confessed, when incarcerated at St. Helens, that Toussaint was a better ruler than himself. These are facts as can be found in history, written by persons of the white race. But she says, "Behold the negro here in America where he has lived for two centuries, both as a slave and a free man." Oh thou infatuated Miss, when did you hear of a free colored man in the United States until the act of June 8, 1866, when Congress passed a law protecting all her citizens alike in their rights as American citizens? I was born and reared in Indiana, but was not a freeman until then. For the edification of "School Miss," I quote the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, year 1856, by Chief Justice Tanney, found in 19th Howard, page 393, known as the Dred Scott Decision, which declares there is nothing about a negro that a white man is bound to respect, which invalidates all his rights to hold property of any kind-- if it was of such value that a white man wish to swear him out of it. The negro had no right to testify in the case at all. But in the last fourteen years that we have been free, we have produced merchants, doctors, poets, sculptors, lawyers, editors, and politicians. And we have produced exponents in all the distinguised trades and professions. She asks what invention has the negro placed on file in the U. S. Patent Office, and what efforts in literature. Oh silly question! How long will "School Miss" continue to teach the youth of this land and be ignorant of the great cotton picker and puller, invented by Dr. Smith, a colored man, then of Chicago but now of Arkansas; and the numerous colleges instituted by the colored race alone! But finally she sees the fallacy of her argument and tries to dodge the question by saying that she means the 'full- blooded Africans,' when she knows well, if she knows anything that there are not to be found in the United States one hundred 'full-blooded' Africans out of the 6,000,000. Speaking of Bruce, she says, "Many a dummy has sat on a throne." She borrows that language from Oriental times when dummies could get position by birth, but none get position in this country by birthright. It is more than ordinary talent that is called to preside over the U. S. Senate. If it is not true, it makes a very poor showing for the white race to allow it. Then she quotes from one of the old slave melodies to prove their inferiority, which proves very conclusively to the contrary. See these poor slaves driven off from books of any kind, overpowered by the whites, the law-makers. It was fine or imprisonment to learn a slave his letters, and these poor creatures want to sing praises to their God. They see their brethren getting along to the church or log-cabin; they see each other's daily walks, praying, fasting, solemn and Christlike disposition, that proves to each other that the meeting will be that succeeding night and some one with natural wisdom composes a song. But you see the young white student four years in the schools of his country and then probably have to spend five years in Europe before he can compose one song. So the Miss sees at once that the part of her article only proves my statement true. But she seems to know nothing of the educated music composers of my race, such as Pickett, Hart, and Lucas. Samuel Lucas' music books are used on nearly every stage in the civilized portion of the globe. She says we are imitative. I admit the truth of the statement, but while we imitate the white man in some things he imitates us, too. The white man imitates the negro in song, dancing, and even blacks his face imitating the negro. But that does not prove that black is better than white because some white people black their faces. But she says, "From the remotest aniquity the black man has proved himself the inferior race," but I deny the assertion and to substantiate the denial I give for reference the history of Solomon, one of the wisest rulers of ancient times, conceded by all theological scholars as being a black man and of Ethiopian origin. Again, about the year 1444 B. C., Thotmes the Third, a great king and warrior of his time, and all the way down, for 500 years this dynasty ruled and greatly improved the country, and subdued Syria, Ninevah, and Babylon to their sway, caused a great Sphinx to be constructed, one of the great wonders of the world, and adorned the country with many splendid edifices, and commenced to build the great canal across the isthmus of Suez which has been so recently finished. This dynasty of great kings was of Ethiopian origin. For proof I give the Bible, I Kings. But from the unjust attack she makes on the race, (the full-bloods she says) I suppose she don't take the Bible for authority, so I will refer her to Anderson's General History. She asks the question where is the African that ever penned a poem like that of Horace. I presume she has read Solomon's Songs--such a grand display of wisdom and beauty of sentiment as never flowed from the moral lips before nor since, and it has long since been decided that Solomon was a black man of Ethiopian origin But the Miss would beg the question by saying that he was not a "full blood." Certainly "School Miss" quotes some facts in history, namely, that it is well conceded fact that men of superior talent must govern the world. And no one of my race claims any superiority of the negro race over the white race at the present time. When we consider the white race, with one hundred years in the advance in freedom, literature, art, science, and wealth, and see the negro race hopelessly in the minority, no right under the law that the white race was bound to respect until the last fourteen years, no wonder we may step down and out of Congress. Now in my judgement, I have met every material point she attempts to make and I am sorry that I did not use more brevity for the benefit of the reader, but as for "Female Writer," I only have one point to answer in her case. She says the "African is complaining of being wronged, and if he don't like this country let him leave it and go to Africa." But not so. What wicked mother would say to her husband, my household don't suit me and I intend to leave it. Oh, no! The good husband would say, let us both stay here and arrange it better. So it was in 1856. This country did not suit us, but we did not, like cowards, run and leave it, but in 1863-4-5 we turned out 200,000 men (colored) and helped to fix it to suit ourselves, and now we are happy and have no complaint to make, but are ready to defend ourselves when attacked by a "Female Writer" or a pretty "School Miss." But there is one fact I had forgotten to note. She said the negro race is much in debt to the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" for their freedom. I acknowledge that is true, but in the dark days of slavery we had our emissaries to build up the cause of freedom. With equal alacrity we had our Helens, Herodias, Amestria, which seem to have equal power to tear down. And now I close my remarks by defining my position to discuss this question in the future as I have in the past. I only commence to discuss the proposition, or to defend the race on three propositions. Here I define them: First, I do not make any distinction on the various shades or colors, but the little Miss would define me thus, all that are over one-eight African blood in the common acceptation of the term are negroes. Proposition second, It is self-evident that the rapid progress the negro has made within the last fourteen years in literature, science, art, and invention has not a parallel in the annuals of history. Proposition third, you may go to the ferny tops of the northern mountains or the orange and fig regions of the Sunny South, or the pine clad borders of the Kennebec, or the cotton bottoms of the Mississippi, or in that section of country where nature appears in her most icy garb or where her face is clothed in perpetual smile-- there is abundant evidence in history and observation that proves the negro is equal in every respect. In the future I shall only notice such reply as is consistent with these propositions. I regard the article by the "School Miss" as moderately well written but I should like for the Miss to prove, not by her own assertions , but as a matter of record, that where they (the blacks) have had equal chances from youth up that they have not proved themselves equal, if not superior to the whites. "On this line I will" discuss the question "if it takes all summer.             Jos. A. Braboy. [KD- 02 Jun 1881/p3/c1-4] BRABOY, Jos. A. / Editorials / Politics / Schools / BROWN, Richard / STOKES, Mr. Leroy Republican and the colored voter. The colored people are the most patient, self-denying, party-loyal race in the world, else they would not to-day be voting as a body with the Republican party. Broken promises, with now and then a mere crumb from the plethoric tables of political preferment, is their only reward for their unexampled fidelity to the Republican party. But we are glad to note signs of certain, though slow, change in the political status of the colored voters in this country. They are beginning to see and realize the very degraded, subservient relation they have borne to their political masters since their enfranchisement, and are gradually throwing off this servile bondage and asserting their God-given prerogative of independent thought and action. While promising everything, the Republicans have never done anything worthy of consideration for the colored people. Here in Kokomo and Howard county there has never been a single instance where the white Republicans have recognized the colored element of their party in any substantial manner. Every political preferment they have received has been at the hands, or at the dictation of the Democrats. The latest instance in proof of the never-dying love (?) of the Republicans of this city for the colored people was the action of the Republican members of the Common Council at the last meeting of that body. We refer to the election of Joseph A. Braboy, colored, to the honorable position of City Commissioner, vice C. C. Brandon, resigned, which action was consummated by the unanimous vote of the Democratic members. Mr. Braboy did not receive even a single complimentary vote from the Republican side of the Council. They did not intend that "a nigger should be elected to this high position of honor," and when the deed was done, and Mayor Cole declared Mr. Braboy duly elected, they were so bewildered with the hocus-pocus operation by which it was done, that it was several minutes before they could recover from the nervous shock. Pending the wrangle which ensued, a motion to adjourn was carried, and worse beaten and more sorrowful visaged set of men were never seen--outside of the New York Legislature-- then the Republican members of the Council appeared as they filed in solemn and measured tread from the Council Chamber, Ellis leading and Hunt bringing up the rear of the funeral procession. [KD- 04 Aug 1881/p4/c6] Politics / Elections / Kokomo Common Council / BRABOY, Jos. A. / City Commissioner

The Kokomo Dispatch and the Colored Voter. To the Editors of The Tribune: If everybody in Howard county did not know that the following, taken from this week's Dispatch, was only a small decoction of a systematic stream of mawkish hypocricy(sic) and lying cajolery with which the public has been nauseated for years, one might think they were "a colored man once themselves" as was told of a candidate who sought colored support. The Dispatch says: "The colored people are the most patient, self-denying, party-loyal race in the world, else they would not to-day be voting as a body with the Republican party. Broken promises, with now and then a mere crumb from the plethoric tables of political preferment, is their only reward for their unexampled fidelity to the Republican party. But we are glad to note signs of certain, though slow, change in the political status of the colored voters in this country. They are beginning to see and realize the very degraded subservient relation they have borne to their political masters since their enfranchisement, and are gradually throwing off this servile bondage and asserting their God-given prerogative of independent thought and action. While promising everything, the Republicans have never done anything worthy of consideration for the colored people." True it is that the colored people are the most "patient, self denying" race in the world, history has made it a patent fact to all, and, above the rest of mankind, Democrats should realize its truth. They are patient, are they? We surely think they must be for they worked for Democrats for 200 years, and worked hard. You hadn't forgotten that little illustration of their patience, had you Mr. Dispatch? Two hundred years of hard labor--patient, self-denying labor, wasn't it? Did you speak about their pay? You didn't, oh! I will then! Two hundred years of hard labor for what? ... [ruthless rebuttal continues] ... [signed] Colored Voter [KST-6 Aug 1881/p1/c5-6] politics (editorial) The Colored Voter in Howard County. In reply to an editorial in The Dispatch of last week on "Republicanism and the Colored Voter," a white Republican, under the stolen livery of "Colored Republican," occupies a column and half in Saturday's Tribune in the the most "utterly utter" drivel that has been inflicted on this community for a full twelve-month. The pith of our article was to the effect that the Republican party of Howard county, with an overwhelming and impregnable majority, has never once rewarded the colored element, which has voted solidly and continuously with the party, with a patience and a forbearance worthy a better cause. "Colored Voter," who is a white leader of the Republican party of the county, essays an answer, the fact that slavery was wrong--and that a portion of the Democratic party was pro-slavery a quarter of a century ago. The Dispatch freely concedes all "Colored Voter" says as to the wrong and curse of slavery. Slavery is a crime against humanity and a sin against God. There is no defense for it, and sixteen years after its abolition in this country, to bandy words over it is to discuss a dead issue--an issue as dead as a last year's mackerel. The right or wrong of slavery possesses no vitality in this day and age of human progress in the United States. It is happily, a thing of the irrevokable past. It has been entombed forever. "Colored Voter" fails to touch the point of our article by twenty years. He does not get past the slavery period. Our article dealt with the live issues of the present; his reply has solely to do with the dead issue of the past. We affirmed that the Republican part of Howard county, with her thousand majority, had never given a single crumb of official bread to the colored voter, who has asked, and asked in vain. The reply to this is, that a portion of the Democratic party, a quarter of a century ago, endorsed human slavery. This doesn't reach the issue. It is an acknowledgment that our allegation is true. Let us briefly examine the facts: A Mr. Cary--an intelligent, well-qualified, colored Republican, a few years ago, asked his party's nomination for Constable, in Center township, in recognition of the colored vote of the county, which had been cast solidly and steadily for the party since the adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment. He was heartlessly slaughtered in the household of his friends, with the reprimand that "the time for colored preferment in Howard county had not yet arrived." Next Joseph A. Braboy stood for the Common Council and was beaten by the Republicans. Again he tried to stem the tide of Republican prejudice but was worse beaten than before. Then the Republicans of Ervin township nominated Wm. Bassett, an intelligent colored man, for Constable, and at the polls defeated him while they elected all other candidates by fifty majority. "The time hadn't yet come for colored preferment in Howard county." Only last spring, in this city, C. F. Stokes, a colored school teacher, was asked to become candidate for City Clerk. After cajoling him, as a cat cajoles a wounded mouse, he was stabbed in the back, as had been the case with every colored man who had dared ask for office in Kokomo or Howard county. And lastly, only a few weeks ago, every Republican member of the Common Council voted persistently against Joseph A. Braboy for City Commissioner. At no time during half a dozen ballots did he receive a single Republican vote. He was elected by the solid vote of the Democratic members. This is the second time Mr. Braboy has been elected to this office, and both times by Democratic votes. Mr. Braboy is the only colored man who has ever held office in Republican Howard county--and each time his success was solely due to Democratic votes. He was and is a Republican, but his party did all it could to defeat him both times, because "the time has not yet come for colored preferment in Howard county." Though the colored voters of Howard county have asked recognition of the Republican party no less than half a dozen times within the past five years, they have invariably been defeated in the conventions or slaughtered at the polls by Republican votes. The only recognition the colored element has ever had in this Republican county came from the solid support of the Democratic members of the Common Council of the city of Kokomo, opposed at every point by the solid vote of the Republican members. These are God's cold facts and are a part of the political history of the county. No sort of abuse of the Democratic party for its attitude on the slavery question twenty-five yeas ago, can change facts as above set forth. These are living, vital questions of the present; they have to do with the generation now living. We have shown that the only official preferment ever bestowed upon the colored voters of Howard county came through a Democratic City Council, opposed at every step by the united vote of the Republican members. This may not be a pleasant reflection to the Republican party of the city and county, but it is as true as the sunlight of heaven and as immutable as the eternal hills. Hence we must reiterate, with increase emphasis, our original proposition that - :"The Republican party of Howard county, with its overwhelming majority, while promising everything, has never done anything worthy of consideration for the colored people." [KD- 11 Aug 1881/p4/c3-4] Politics / Kokomo Common Council / BRABOY, Joseph A. / CARY, Mr. / BASSETT, Wm. / Ervin Township / Center Township The Dispatch and the Colored Man. Colored Voter Again Gives the Dispatch a Few of "God's Cold Facts." And shows the Hypocrisy of that Paper in its Defense(?) Of the Colored Man. To the Editors of the Tribune: The Dispatch, in a column and a half editorial, commenting on my reply to its "colored voter" article of last week, after calling said reply " the most utterly utter drivel" (whatever that means,) says: "Colored voter fails to touch the point of our article by twenty years. He does not get past the slavery period. Our article dealt with the live issues of the present; his reply has solely to do with the dead issues of the past. We affirmed that the Republican party of Howard county, with her thousand majority, had never given a single crumb of official bread to the colored voter, who has asked, and asked in vain." You, yourself, have dodged the issue which you, yourself raised, Mr. Dispatch. In my reply of last week, I quoted verbatim et literatum, about one-half of your editorial, in fact all of the "pith" of it. Your opening statement was the general affirmation that "the colored people were the most patient, self-denying party-loyal race in the world," and more to that effect. Your next was an expression of rapturous gladness at "the signs of certain, though slow change in their political status." in other words, that some of them were turning toward Democracy for consolation, etc. Your third proposition was that "while prom