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The Pioneer Press |
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That I have been a Republican fanatic in this State for the past 16 years, toiling irksomely to the detriment of time, my pocket-book, my past position and family, and that damns have been my remuneration, are facts that can be proven. That there are genuine Republicans in this State, we have no doubt, and were they at the head of affairs our past fealty to the party would be the same today; but it is not so, and hence our course. . . .. When the post office contest took place here, it was my privilege, as a citizen, to decide and act according to my decision, and in doing which I favored Mr. Wisner (with whom I was reading law – a privilege Mr. Flick denied me “for want of time” and on the same day and in my presence offered to take a white student). For doing so, Mr. Wm. H. Riggs called me a “d—n yellow son of a b——“ and said, “the idea of a nigger taking a part in a white man’s fight.” Mr. Riggs was then chairman of the Republican County Executive Committee, and upon seeing him I took him to task and the “old soldier” denied it with an oath. But coming from the source it did, I knew he was lying and published him; daring him several times to meet me at places named and dates fixed, but Captain Riggs would not show up. I was no delegate either, but I was nominated and elected, but he and his allies defeated. A certain man said loudly: “No d—n nigger will go to Chicago as a delegate from this State, and don’t you forget it,” and we claim by Flick’s action, he carried out the spirit of that low assertion. He told the people at Kearneysville that he opposed me to honor Bossy Lewis, who is dead. It is not so. Bossy Lewis nominated me and begged the convention to send me. . . . As to the many letters endeavoring to load, persuade and scare me off of my course, I have simply to say that none of you know me. That man don’t live who can change me from right to wrong. The wife, whom I love above all living
beings, and who has done more to make me a man of letters than any
living being, had cried many a day and night, because I’ve published
things in the Pioneer Press, relating to local issues, which I know to
be wrong and which have been throttled, and are acknowledged by her and
many others as wise. So, you see, is she can’t change, no one else can,
unless it be done by force of reason, to which, when right, I always
yield. Let us all learn that neutrality in politics, or even opposition
to candidates, is no evidence of a man’s dishonesty. |