Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1881 — What Brother Gardner Saw. [ARTICLE]

What Brother Gardner Saw.

Detroit. Free Press. “I would like to spoke a few words* to Telescope Perkins, if he am in de hall to night,” said the president as the meeting opened. The brother wiped off his mouth and advanced to the platform, and Brother Gardner continued — “Brudder Perkins, I met you at 8 o'clock iu de evenin’ on ’lecihun night.” “Yes, sah.” “You war’what de white folks cali slewed.” “I’ze mighty sorry, sah.” “You were full of glory. \ou felt dat you had saved de ken try. Your clothes war’ all mud. Your breaf smelt of skunks, an’ you had to jump up an’ down an’ whoop to keep from bustin’ yer biler.” “Lots o’ white folks doin’ de same, sah.’ ’ “Bartin\ sartin’. You, an’ old exslave. unable to read or write, jvas only followin’ in de footsteps of intelligent, eddicated, white men." Bruder Perkins, I was walkin’ round ou leckshun day, an’ P saw some curus things. I saw citisuns who would not swallow ten drops ol whisky if life depended on i£ wote fur men who nave sold the pizen stuff ober de bar furyi'ra. An’ dat war saven’ de kentry. “I saw men who would turn a serv'ant girl outdoors on a winter’s night, if dey heard a scandal ’bout her, walk up to de polls an’ wote fur me'" who ren t from two to half a dozen hou<es to womeu of bad character. D«.v war gw’ineit stjaight! “I saw men whose wives am breakin’ deir hearts ober de wayw’ard course of beloved sons, walk to de winder an’ stick in ballots fur candidates whq am in cahoots with blacxlegs an’de steady patrons of gambling-houses. Dat was de glory of politics! “I saw Christian men, who pray agin vice and shed tears ober the wickedness of society, wote for candidates whose private lives am one long night of debauchery and, corruption. Dat was standin’' by de party! “I saw ministers of de gospel cast wotes for drunkards, libertines aD’ outlaws of society. Dat was supportin’ de principle! v “I saw de honest, decent men oj Detroit arrayed on one side, and de tugs, thieves an* loafers on de odder, an’ de honest, decent men war’ swept away like chaff befo’ a gale. Dat was an illustrashon of de beauties of de ’lective franchise! “But I won’t do it again, sab,” - pleaded Brother Perkins. “You kin sot down,” quietly remarked the “Dat same night I heard" aldermen bawlin’ like mules bekase some favorite candidate had pulled trew wi’d de aid of money an’ whisky. Citizens who wouldn’t let you in at de front doah rolled in tbemud dat night like bogs. Men who hev eons to bring up met and shook hands an’ rejoiced ober de ’leckshun of candidates who know de wav into ebery saloon an’ poker room in Detroit. Blame you, Brudder Perkins—blame you for follerin’ de example of leadin’ white folks! No, sah!. Go an’ sot down an’ feel proud dat you come so nigh bein’ an eminent citizen.”