The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-18

who might. II they chose, put a paddle in his
hahds, but they did not choose; when some
.y Dody further removed from the poor Doatman
made desperate effort, aud threw paddle
over the heads of the unhelping, un feeling men
around him, with the words, Nov paddle your
own canoe We hear much talk about who
are our friends. This now we know that until
now, we never had any rights or privileges. II
WuSthdOe 0een oJrtend that gave them TO u.s."
Said Wilson Cook
"It is the first time IN my life that I've had
the privilege of expressing my feelings in pub
lie. Who granted us these PRIVILEGES? Did
our Legislature at their last session grant US
these rights? l think not; but the best friend
we have in the world gave them to us. Beverly
Nash says our best friends are this side of the
Our former masters should be our best friends
.,.i,,a out are they The scriptures say we must
prove them. Mr. Nash says he had rather truSt {
our old masters than other men; but where dii
they leave us?why in the mud. We must rea.
son among ourselves, and decide who are our
DesJ lrlends. Be careful thHt you cast your
votes not to cut your own throats, II your old
master comes TO you and draws you a bad pic
tule, and tells you what is TO happen i'm ten
years, you be very careful. The Republican
is wilson Cooks friend. After all the Republi-
cans nave done Tor us, shall we say they are our
enemies? had rather be taken out in some
old field and hung first / have off red sl5OO i'm
gold for myself and they said Wilson Cook
That day Will never Gomez but the day came
when the good Old Stars and Stripes waved
over mere, and they said, Wilson Cook you are
Iree ana have got your $1,000 yet Qoud cneer-
lnsl ana now snail turn traitor to the ones
who planted the good old flag in our midst?
rather hang me. Once we were slaves; now
We are freedmen. Let us do our duty by our
country, and we will be a people yet If we be-
have ourselves. The United States says so, and
believe 1t, See all they have done for US. and
WnaG IDeN are now doing. Look at the teachers
who have left their homes, deprived themselves
OF society, and subjected themselves to the
Sheers of our former owners-and for what9
why, for us. Who built our school-houses,
ana who teaches our children? Did we or can
we do ii ourselves? No; without help we can
do nothing. We are thankful that darkness
Is going away, and the light dawns upon
the treedman's mind he Will know who to vote
f'r, and we Will prove ourselves a grateful
people yet"
Said Mr.. Williams:-
"The Southern people say they are our best
friends. 1t is for us to decide. The privileges
we now enjoy would never have been gran ted
us by our former masters. You all know by
whom they are granted, and 1t seems to me
mighty hard to turn against our Northern
friends, or to speak as Beverly Nash has done.
Now, you all know who to votefor without my
telling you. We have right to choose our own
friends, and will vote for those we can trust.
Suppose man had you down beating you, and
another man should come along and take
him him OF. which f0n1;na man .,%a WOULD you call
friends."O Or suppose your wrists were hand
cuffed, and some Kind-nearted person should
take on the handouts, who would you call
your friend, the one who put them on or took
them off? The Republican party have taken of
thousands CfhandcilGS Whom will you choosl,
Republicans or Democrats? Ott, President has
Tet6ed eteTy bin mai has been Offered for oly.
tCe!tdre; Congress-, the Republican party, have
passed over his veto. This is why we are al
lowed to meet here and exchange our views
like men tonight We come here for no poiiJi-
cal excitement, but because we wish to pre-
serve our rights. II practicable, we would be
friendly with all, and torgiving, with malice
towards none, harmony in all our hearts; but
we must be decided like men. Who shall
make laws for us? Win we vote for Repuoli-
cans or Democrats? (Unan mous cries Of For
Republicans only.") 1t was tuen voted: This
is a Republican meeting"