Enquirer still thought our voting would disgrace the American ballot
and supported those platforms.
    On July 7, 1869, the Ohio Democratic party, in its platform,
declared against the attempt to regulate suffrage in Ohio by  means of
the fifteenth amendment, which it declared was unconstitutional.
    The Enquirer placed itself upon record as being against the
      fifteenth amendment.
    On June 1, 1870, the Ohio Democratic party, in its platform,
demanded the repeal of the fifteenth amendment so that we might be
robbed of the right to vote, which right we then enjoyed through the
efforts of the Republican party.  The Enquirer supported that platform
in its effort to help the Democratic party disfranchise us in the State of
Ohio.
    On June 1, 1871, the Ohio Democratic party, in its platform,
denounced the means by which the amendments  granting "negro
suffrage" were passed.  The Enquirer also defended that platform.
    On August 26, 1874, the Ohio Democratic party, in its platform,
declared
                against the "Civil Rights Bill."
    The Enquirer stood on that platform and denounced the Republi
cans for having passed such legislation.
    On July 4, 1879, the Ohio Democratic party, in its platform,
denounced employment, at the polls, of marshalls and officers of the
law who  insured us the right to vote without  molestation.  The
Enquirer supported that platform.
    In this above statement of facts, no reference is made to the count-
less, merciless, and fiendish atrocities perpetrated upon our race in the
South by the Democratic party, but reference is made only to the record
of that party in this State. The record shows the Democratic party in
Ohio has done absolutely nothing for us but on the other hand, has
fought the Republican party, year after year, and step by step, in
everything the latter has done for us.  Such has been the disgraceful
record of the Democratic party which now asks our votes.
    What has been the record of the Democratic candidate for
Governor toward us?
           It has been worse than his party.
His circular urges us to support him in the following language:  "Hon.
John R. McLean represents within himself all of the good qualities of
a true friend of the colored people."  Let us see what kind of a "true
friend" he has been to our people and what "good qualities" he
"represents within himself."
    In the year 1885, this same John R. McLean, who claims to be our
"true friend," and to have "good qualities within himself," was a can-
didate for the U. S. Senate.  At that time he resided in Cincinnati,
where our people knew him well, but had not learned what a "true
friend" he was to us, or of the "good qualities within himself," and
they determined to vote against him and his Legislative ticket.
    IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT A "TRUE
FRIEND" HE WAS TO OUR RACE, AND THE "GOOD QUAL-




			

OHS Archives/Library Pamphlet Collection

Address to the Afro-Americans of Ohio

R.