The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-22
THE TRIUMPHS OF FREEDOM.
The Position and Prospects Of the
coIoFed People in the United
States-LectuFe by Hon.
George Thompson
Last Evening.


This gentleman, styled "England's Eloquent
Champion OF Freedom and Universal Suffrage"
delivered lecture on the above subject in
Liberty Hail. Lombard street, below Eighth,
last evening. The inclemency of the weather
no doubt hiDdered many from being present
that undoubtedly would have been there, but
Notwithstanding, goody number we're assem-
bled TO hear this, the first lecture for many
wears by this gentleman in our city. The
9peaker was introduced in few brief remarks,
AT the conclusion of which he said:-
He wanted 70 communicate what he had to
say in a conversational manner. He would
address himself TO those of his audience who by
complexion or blood are related TO that race
which upon this continent as elsewhere, have
ever been the victims OF slavery, prescription,
prejudice, and unjust Legislation, and who have
vet TO establish their true and Tightful claims as
human creatures and citizens of this country.
'iAn men are created equal, and endowed
with certain inalenaole rights and to secure
the blessings OF liberty the republic OF the
limited States was established. The victims of
American slavery and OF American prescription
have, in my judgment, higher mission to fuldl
than simply the achievement OF their own
liberty, and the conquest of their own rights
npon this their native soil. You who are colored
men are fighting battle for your race and for
humanity throughout the world. Hold to your
glorious destiny, and awake and meet the foe.
Every victory you gain is victory tor white
humanity as well as black. When you establish
uOur rights, you have won them for every shade
Of humanity throughout the face OF the whole
earth. Contrasting the former condition of the
COlOred race when they were mere chattels, the
speaker said it filled his heart with Joy to think
that now the colored man is legisated for in
the halls Of Congress the same as the white man.
The COlored fugitive, lacerated by the lash,
scared by the branding iron, mangled, per-
chance, by the bloodhound wading through
sWamps, swimming through rivers, scaling
mountains, and Drawing death, sought 81 hiding
nj in no W q MIGHT no af
the pursuit oflegallZed trafickers inhuman flesh
it was the man whom foul wrongs had driven
from the soil which gave him birth; it was the
man whom slavery had caused to eXecrate the
name of home and curse the fate that from
his mothers womb, had stamped upon his brow
the name of slave-what though he were Il
tneudless and shivering exile from the sunny
valleys Of the SOuth-he was happier far in the
enjoyment of his liberty, and he would rather
hOuseless roam with freedom and his God, than
be the sleekest slave at home, crouching at his
masters feet. Slavery caused the late disas.
ferrous and sanguinary war. The friends of
peace should improve the opportunity to incul-
cate into the hearts OF the people this solacmg
truth.
Peace without Justice is impossible; there
can be no peace without the right condi-
tions. To avoid war we must study the things
which MAKE peace. Slavery itself is war. OF
all descriptions of war it is the meanest and
most neXcusable, and the most gailty. II was
war of the strong upon the weak in this
country. 1t was war Of the white race upon
the black; of the many upon the few; OF those
who had wealth on those who were poor, feeble,
helpless, and despised; a war upon innocent
men, women, and children, to compel them to
work without wages.
four years. war between the Rebels of the
South and the loyal States OF the North-a war
which had been waeing for two centuries
between the white and the black races. The
war OF the rife, the bayOnet, and the cannon has
put an end to the war OF slavery. Monster war has
destroyed monster slavery. White men IN their
struggle have saved the life of the nation. They
sacrificed their lives, and in dong so have been
the instruments employed by providence for
the emancipation OF the black race, Thus Gave
the destinies of men been overruled by the wis
dom of God. The abolition of slavery is great
and glorious event. 1t is an event that has
made the name OF Abraham Lincoln i'm
perishable and lasting upon posterlty, with
the lustre and fragrance of those names
among mankind who have welded human power
for human good. To liberate, not to enslave;
to love, not TO crush, is the proclamation put
forth on the first of January, 1868. What was
partially done by Abraham Lincoln has been
completed, 80 far as slavery is concerned, by the
amendment 10 the Constitution, so that Ameri-
cans may now say there Is not a slave within
our boundaries. Some of my friends speak dis
paragingly of the proclamation of freedom and
the amendments to the Constitution. | wish the
people OF America would take the proclamation
Tor what 1t is, and for what it was meant; and
the amendment to the Constitution also. | be-
heve that slavery is abolished in this country.
Wherever there is anything that has the sem
people violate the great charters which have
been conferred upon the population of this
country. (Applause.) Slavery places obstacles
IN the way to civilization. education, and pro
gress The slave doctrine in this country pre-
vented the teaching of the slave reading and
writing. Slavery perverted the teachings il
the Testament. 1t placed paddock upon the
lips of the religious teacher. 1t precluded tht
introduction of ideas and institutions whict
have made these great States what they are
But the obstacle has been swept away, and thu
friends of freedom may now send the teacher
the Bible, and Northern ideas to the South.
have met with people who have sad "YoI
make too much fuss about these black people
they don't possess the capacity for That whcl
you would conter upon them. Why seek u
elevate them above the position which Prov
dence manifestly designed them tor?' / knoV
that many, too OF my own countrymen speal
contemporary of the colOred race. They cal
them "niggern and other opprobrious names
These eptthets are as unworthy as they are un
Just. History will abun antly testify that thei
talents, patriotism, and ; ETY. have 5er bee
denied. The Mahommedan g" ,derors WIN
held Spain in subsection for a centuries, an
threatened the conquest o: europe, were blac
fellows. There can be no doubt that the blac
fellows OF Africa had obtained degree Of accr
racy in the practical departments of science, i
connection with astronomy, unknown to EurOp
two centuries ago. Before our ancestors ha
put aside the robes OF barbarism, Africa ha
seen her theories, beheld her statesmen, ser
her bishops of the Church, and her Christa
martyrs to the stake.
There is little need at the present time {
argue the question OF the natural Intelligent
or capacity of the blacks There Is little nee
70 claim for them capacities which they DO
sess as well as the white fellows. Their deeC
through the war, and the progress they hay
made since, wherever an opportunity has bee
given them, attest at once their title and the
fitness for the liberty with which they ha'
Fov. tha 81 nVvo,