The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-01


Now slavery, as an institution, has been over
thrown hut slavery, as an idea, still lives IN
the American Republic, and the problem ana
| the dutv of the present hour is this:-Whether
there Is strength enough, wisdom enough, and
virtue enough In our American nation 10 nit ~
| ont of trouble; whether by its legislation and
iurisDrudence these distinctions between man
! and man, on account of his race, color, or de-
scent shall cease. Last year, my friends, spoke
of the nations great opportunity. l still thlnk
we have one of the greatest oppS9rtnnltles' S one one
of the sublU1est chances that God ever put INTO
the hands of nation or people.
But it is not in opportunities presented, but
in opportunities accepted, that the very pith
and the core OF our national existence lies.
What we need, my friends, in this country, is
all the energy, all the wisdom of the nation so
to reconstruct this Government that II will
render another such war impossible. There is
something wonderful my friends, in the power
of an idea. And what to-day is the watchword
of the present hourY II is the brotherhood of
man amid the din and strife of battle, amid the
conflict of the present age; and yet it is an idea
which has been struggling through the centu-
ries, baptized in blood and drenched In tears.
To-day the tendency of the spirit of the age is
towards higher form of republcanism and
purer type of democracy and yet this idea has
been struggling for ages. look away back on
the pages of history, and hear it preached by
Him who made it, in His death, the sublime
lesson of His life eighteen hundred years ago.
Proud and imperial Rome stood crowned and
sceptred amid her seven hills, apparently the
strongest power in the world. At the same
time, in manger lay child whose work OF
1eform was destined 10 1--WE when the proud
empire should be laid away amid the dead
Kingdoms. This idea, my friends, met with
opposition just the same as this idea of equal
rights meets with opposition to-day. This man
held up the single idea taught by Jesus Christ,
with His giant enthusiasm tor humanity, and IT
was met with opposition from every distinct
class.
And yet this reform, meeting with all this
opposition, lived on until it became the pro-
tessed faith of the most enlightened and pro-
gressive nation on earth. The men who mar
tyred Jesus Christ now sleep in forgotten
graves He lives and shines in the hearts OF all
who accept Him as the true and living Christ.
The crown of thorns has changed 10 a diadem
OF glory, and the cross has become power and
ensign OF victory.
The Protestant Reformation sprang from the
same spirit, and still fights Its way against the
ignorance and superstition of ages. 1t lived on
until the InquisitiOn ceased to claim its victims,
until the OUtOde,te no longer lit Its fires, until
Protestant kings sat upon the very thrones from
which the eulcts against the children Of Re
formation had gone forth.
Men then grappled with agony and death, so
that they could secure the rights which we this
day enjoy. We are carrying on the cause, but
we have cnly got through one part of the strug-
gle; the reform we are now carrying on, we may
feel assured, Notwithstanding all the opposition,
Notwithstanding all the obstacles III Its way,
with truth and Justice Clasping hands, shall yet
win the fight.
Oh, my friends, the work goes bravely on!
look back seven years ago, and see this nation
apparently IN a.prosperous career with slavery
bound to her with tour-Gold cord, N TQur
commercial interests, men said, virtually, Let us
make money, though we coin it from blood and
! extract it from tears. Here were ecclesiastical
Interests, the same from Maine to California;
here were our political parties clasping hands
North and South; and yet they were all snapped
asunder, simply because they lacked the cohe-
I sion of Justice. (Cheers.) Now tonight the
question arises, What shall be done? How shall
j fl,n s,,ta Of so a II
nation shall be wise enough to know its citizens,
and knowing them shall be strong enough to
I protect them?
One thing that this nation has been doing is
throwing away an element OF strength. The
colored man, as laborlng force, as political
force, and even as moral ioTce in this
country is an element OF strength or OF weak
| ness As q passive force he is an element oil
weakness; that is, he weakens the country
when he is pressed down IN the scale OF life
when he is wronged and robbed. But justice
will certainly take sides with this peoole who
have been pressed down in the scale of life
people who are struggling for higher anC
purer state of existence. Now, hold that the
colored man is capable of being an element o
strength to the American nation.
have lately been down amid the cabins anC
humble homes OF Tennessee; fand-would yol
believe it, my friends? some Of the most oeauti
ful lessons of faith and trust that | have eve
learned, which could never nave been learne!
in the proudest temples OF wealth or fashion,
have learned in these lowly homes and cabin
OF Tennessee. There may be some people wh'
think within themselves that 1t little strang
Andrew johnson, after having promised tn
coloIed people that he would be their Moses
should turn around, and instead of helpin
them to freedom, should clasp hands with tn
Rebels and traitors of the country. (Cheers.)
NV friends, since have come from Tenncs
see | am not surprised at the position tha
Andrew johnson takes. Do you know WAY
was that David was not permitted TO build tn
temple of the Lord? Because his hands wer
not clean; he was man unit for the work
And so, when have gone among some OF tn
people OF Tennessee, who have breathed thel
words OF iaith and trust, / see in Andre
johnson a man whose hands are not clea
enough to touch the hens OF their garments
(Cheers.)
Do you ask me tonight what are the colore
people doing in Tennessee? They are doin
Just exactly what Mr.. Lincoln said the colore
man might be required to do in this cOuntrl
They are helping to keep the jewel of liberty /
the family OF nations. And how are they dom
it? have heard, my friends, of seris to Whol
a broader and higher freedom came, and the
did not know how to appreciate it, aud Otfere
TO go back again into seridom.
have been in humble homes where povert
has been staring them in the face, and said
/ them, Would you not rather go back again ini
slavery? And such an answer as this has Con-
up:-''I would rather live in a corn-crib."
remember, some few years ago, / met in Loni
vile. Kentucky, a woman who lived in a roo
) which looked as though it might have been
| stable converted into dwelling. 1 said to her:
"If your master would take good care OF yO
would you not rather be back agalnW III
: woman. with eyes filled with Indignation, f
she did not know that loved freedom so We
4 that | liked TO hear its praise from the humbl
! | lips said 10 me:-"Dont you wish to be tT
u and stamp your foot in Jubilee? God bless Il
+ poverty that brings me that privilege" "a
=. plause.)
:; There is one thing that has impress I'd 4
than