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(POLITICS.) LYNCH, JOHN ROY.
Political letter by an African
American former U.S. Congressman.
Autograph Letter Signed to Hon. Samuel
Fessenden, acknowledging receipt of a draft for the campaign fund of James Blaine and the
Republican Party and a plan for a speaking tour of Mississippi. Five pages, 4to.
Magnolia, MS, 21 September 1884
[800/1,200]
AN EXCELLENT LETTER
,
RICH IN DETAIL REGARDING THE
1884
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF
J
AMES
B
LAINE
,
THE
R
EPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
.
John Roy Lynch (1847-1939), African
American, politician, attorney, and author, was born into slavery. Freed in 1863, just ten years later
he would be speaker of the Mississippi House. His entire life was devoted to the elevation of the col-
ored race through active political service. Lynch lays out a detailed plan for speakers to address crowds
at railway stations in Mississippi and adds a full page with suggested stops. He mentions speaking
before large crowds of both whites and blacks, enthusiastic supporters of the Republican Party. As it
turned out though, Grover Cleveland won the election, the first Democrat following an astonishing
run of six presidential losses, the longest of any party.