The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-27
General Blair's Speech at Omaha, Ne
braska.

UIhsAhs
On Thursday last Major-General Frank P.
Blair was received, on his way further West,
by the citizens OF Omaha, in immense num-
bers. After felicitous welcome by the Mayor,
General Blair spoke as followe:
am here to acknowledge the compliment
you have paid me. assure you that l value
the compliment. am well aware that it is
not paid to me as an individual, but rather as
one OF the representatives. Of that cause to
which you have shown yourself so devoted.
[AppIause.] It is q cause, my fellow-citlzens
worthy Of our greatest devotion, and Of your
highest enthusiasm. It is the cause Of free
government and constitutional government in
this country, and I am satisfied, my friends
and fellow-citizens, from the enthusiasm
and feeling manifested here tonight, and
is destined to a great and glorious
victory in the next election in November.
[Great applause.1 I feel, my fellow-citi-
zens, that we are destined to achieve great
victory in behalf of our free government and
free constitution. feel to-day, not alone
from this manifestation, but from all We have
seen during the past year in the elections
where the policy OF the Radical party. Las been
condemned by overwhelming majorities Of the
withstanding this condemnation by the people,
these reckless people who achieved power upon
a totally different issue from that which is now
before the people, have in defiance Of the
popular will, in defiance Of the votes of the
people whom they were simply the rep
resentatives, have urged forward these mea-
sures to completion, in the hope that they
could bind the hands Of the people OF this
country, and wrest from them the power for
ever. Applause Yes, my fellow-citizens,
they have by these measures put under foot all
the people Of our race in ten Of the Southern
States, and have bound million Of people TO
the earth with their bayonets. and they have
put on the top Of them this hideous black bar
barism-[applause] and, my fellow-citizens,
feeling that they have lost the con-
fdence Of the white race, both North and
cast against them at the North in the free
States during the last year by the minority Of
the South, whom they have made supreme
over the white race there, and the question
comes up for your decision-for the decision of
the whole people Of this country-will you per-
NIT minority in both sections composed OF
the white race? [Cheers.] That race, my fell
low-citizens, that glorious race OF people whose
history is the record of intellectual progress
among mankind, the only race that have ever
shown themselves capable Of establishing and
maintaining free government. Ia voice, 'The
Blair family, suppose."] The Blair family
will be found on the side Of the white race.
[Cheers.] The Blair family can never be de-
TERED ''from taking that stand by any man
who wishes to assail the fair white race OF
this country by a mixture with the blacks,
[Applause.l My fellow-citizens, it is not my
intention to detain yon by any heightened
very we'll that what I had to say would not
please certain set of people; and will say
further, that did not intend to please them.
loud cheers.] II any one is displeased that
we, the Democrats, intend TO restore the gov
eminent and the constitution, they may make
their DEGREES now, Tor tell you, that after No
Yember you will not be able to hear one OF them
speak [Applause.l But I am for giving them
the Myest liberty of speech. do not intend
nor desire that they should be gagged, as they
our people. in the South. / do not think 1t will
be the policy Of the Democratic party, when it
comes into power and establishes the govern
ment, to prescribe free speech anywhere in the
country. It has always been their policy to give
thelargest liberty to all men to nse the most
perfect freedom Of speech; for without it we
these things are exceedingly distastefu to
our Radical brethren. Throughout the
South they put the gag in the mouth
of those people whom they have trod
under the military heel. Men are arrested,
thrown into prison, and tried by military
commissions, in defiance Of those constitu-
tional guarantees Of the rights Of free speech,
right Of trial by jury, and the right to be tried
before his peers and the judicial tribunal for
any alleged offence. Where are those rights
nowP They bave been stifed, trodden down;
and yet we find men in this country who can
stand up and defend those acts Of atrocity.
tCheers.] My ellow.citizens, thank you for
your attentive audience. This is q gratifying
spectacle to any man who loves liberty and the
constitution. This enthusiasm is sure har-
binger Of our success next November. [Cheers. ]
And that success, under the lead of the distin-
guished gentleman who has been chosen by q
Democratic Convention as your candidate for
the Presidency, is certain to restore to you the
constitution handed down to you by your faith
ers. Gentlemen. ! again thank yon. [Cries OF
"Go on."l find it impossible, my fellow-citi-
zens, tomake my voice reach the confines OF
this immense crowd, and, thanking you from
my heart for the kindness which you have
shown me to-night-thanking you still more
for the enthusiasm you have shown for that
cause in which am now engaged along with
you, now retire. Loud cheers.j