The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-10-15
THE TRIBUNE.
. 4 woRTHY son,
SReech OF Robert Nj. Douglas, Son of
stephen A., at Raleigh. Sent. is.


At the great Republican mass meetin
In Kasalgh, y. G., on Sept. TO- Rober
NJ. douglass made the following speech
FELLOW, CTIZENT Though it ma
appear psespmption in one so young t
attempt to discuss questions which tasI
the energies and abilities of our great
est statesmen, yet feeling in this vita
sffuggl9- on which I believe the future
prosperity, if not the very existance o
our eaRRty depend, it is the duty of ever,
one, young or old, to exert his utmost IL
detetIse of our sacred cause. l obey
your CALI Thisis probably the first time
In or nations history thst a youn=
has had the opportunity OF appearing
before popular gathering as the advo
cate O. a truly national party-a party
that's governed by no seeil 'nalinterests Oh
partisan predjudices but whose motto
Is our whole country. whose eternal prin
ciples are equal rights, and equal laws.
/ do not hook upon this as a canvass
which will decide the maner in which the
government of the country shall be ad-
ministered !; But as an issue on which
will depend the vital question, shall we
have country
Sincerely believing in this, [ shall not
attemptto deal with minor questions Of
domestic policy. but shall come at once
to the main issues, Union or Dlsunlon,
Peace or War
What satisfaction does the true patriot
derive from the adoption of his dearest
theories of government, if, in the adop-
ton of those theories, begins the RUIN OF
the land he fondly hoped they would lead
to greatness? Laws founded even upon
Divine inspiration, would be useless IT
there were no cou ltry for them to govern
What theater is there for the display
of the young and aspiring citizen just en-
tering upon the important duties OF lite,
in a country torn by civil strife Well
has an eminent American statesmen re-
marked There is no path of amb,-
ton open to me In devided and distract
ed country.
To prove that the real issue is peace or
war, we have only to refer to Frank L.
Blair's letter, written with a view to his
nomination, and subsequently Endorsed by
the very fact of his nomination by the Ma
tional Democratic Convention.
Blair in his letter says:
f'There is but one way to restore theGov-
eminent and the Constitution, and that
is for the President elect to declare these
acts null and void. compel the army to
undo its usurpations at the South, dis
nerse the carpet bag State Governments,
allow the white people to reorganze their
own governments, and elect Senators and
Representatives,.
OF course, any attempt to subvert the
Government Of these Southern States by
force, would lead to war, as the Cover
nor and all other State officers, civil and
military, are sworn to obey, support and
defend the Constitution of the State Of
North Carolina and we will defend it.
Further down Blair says:
1--WE must restore the Constitution
before we can restore the finances, and
to do this we must have President who
will execute the will Of the people by
tra,npling into dust the usurpaton OF
Congress, known as the reconstruction
acts. I wish to stand before the Con
yention upon this issue. but it is one
which embraces every thing else that is
of value In It's large and omprehensiye re-
Its 1t the one thing that includes ali
rat IS worth a contest, and without 1t
ere is nothing that gives dignity, honor,
value to the struggle.
On this issue he was nominated. 1t
any further proof were ncele'i to show
the reyolu sionary spirit, Of the Conserya
tive party, it cnu!i easily be found IN the
violent haraugues we daily hear around
Us their bitter prosecutions OF tnlnn men,
and their unrelenting hatred of the North
and its loyal people.
This bitterness towards Northern men,
VIII, prove true TO their principles, and
who do not blox In slayish submission 20
tn .npininnS of these haughty arlStocrat>,
sclt-constituted judges of honor and NOR
ALLY, I know from personal experience
Though descended from one OF the old
est families of this State. and born AMI
partially raised in Rockingham county,
upon my return nearly two years ago to
my native place, | was denounced as
Yankee, aud generally received with all
the coI1ness and distrust due to one of
that detes$ed race. Notwithstanding
my own nativity, and position OF my
mother family, they could never forget
the Puritan birth of my father. whose
native State. Vermont, with her 1000
majority, so molly leads the van; and L
may add, could never forgive his dying
efforts In defense of his country.
Speaking OF him, and feeling that
whatever Importance any words of mine
may have, is derived from the name |
bear, and the affection many still feel to-
ward one who through life proved HIM
self the people friend few words con
corning my father may not be deemed
inappropriate. 1t was the feeling OF
surprise, and must add, Of in llgnation.
that | saw his name inscribed upon one
of the tranSparencicl borne IL the late
Conservative procession. thought
that common decency at least would have
prevented them from dragging from tn
tomb the name of man whom they had
bctra, and noun cd through te and
after his death. whose orphan children they
had prosecuted.
While gazing upon that name |
remembered the time when the same men
declared him a traitor to every piinclpie
of honor because he preferred his coun-
trv to his party, and bitterly denounced
him for his efforts TO rally the people of
the West for the defense of the Union
remember all these when am de
clared a degenerate son and for every
quotation they give me from his speeches
/ will give HIM a dozen When the Sen
tiael parades a sentence concerning a
white man 5 government, [ would remind
them of his dying words, When the
wife bent over the scarce breathing form
of the expiring statesman, and asked if
he had no message to send to his chill
drcn. Tell them said he. in a voice
rendered almost inaudible by the near
app zach of death, ''to obey and support
the Constitution and the laws of the
land This solemn injunction | intend
to obey. When | see myself personally
abused by the Conservative press, ON
account Of my political sentiments, and
called traitor to the State in which was
born, would recall to their recollection
the time when I was declared an alien