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take the field, and when the black soldier performs, as he will,
some conspicuous act of bravery and demonstrates beyond ques-
tion his capacity for epaulettes, President McKinley will not
hesitate to award them to him.  Every step we take in advance
must be earned, and it can only be held by hard and continuous
work and eternal vigilance.  This may seem cruel, but it is the
condition we are compelled to meet, and we might as well pre-
pare ourselves for merciless competition.  Our future greatness
lies in industry, education, and the ability to do what is needed
a little better than anyone else can do it, with equal promptness
and fidelity. Our prosperity lies in making friends with the
strongest forces of the body politic, and yielding cheerful obedi-
ence to the law.
   There is hope for the Negro, and the problem can be solved by
natural processes, if he just keeps "hammering away," and per-
mits no opportunity for advancement to escape him.  We have
good friends in the South, as well as in other sections of the
country, and we should be careful when we discuss the situation
not to abuse those who are kindly disposed toward us.
   I have no fears of the result in Ohio. The President's wise
and conservative administration will be sustained, and Judge
Nash will be elected by a healthy majority.  The Negro voters
are too sensible to be led away by appeals to prejudice and pas-
sion, and under the guidance of such eminent men of affairs as
George A. Myers, W. R. Stewart, W. H. Parham, H. C. Smith,
John P. Green, Charles Cottrell, Robert Harlan and others, they
will rally enthusiastically around the Republican standard.  The
issues are strongly and candidly stated in the platform, and the
Negro understands thoroughly that in the prosperity brought
about by Republican success he will enjoy an equitable share.
   There is nothing for the Negro in Democratic success in Ohio.
There is everything for him in the triumph of the party of free
dom and human rights.
                                 HENRY P. CHEATHAM.
   A Democratic legislature in the State of Florida passed an
election law several years ago depriving the Negro of the use of
the ballot.




			

OHS Archives/Library Pamphlet Collection

Colored American Republican Text Book