New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-09
THE BLACK MANS CAPACITY.
ADDRESS OF b. p. BUTLER-PREsENT CONDITION
OF TIE CoLoRED RACE-WHAT III 10 ~
ACCOMPLISH

the cOlOred citizens OF Boston this evening IN theH
chapel in North Russelst After referring to the OH
fcrences which have existed between the Republicans
on the questions OF the day, he said:
II Is now food tide with the Republican party Every
where prospects have Frightened The people are
aroused to the fact that the issues raised by the war are
not yet settled that the embers Of the rebellion nave not
been queuched that its baefu fires si shoulder there
ready TO burst forth whenever they may do 80 I'M
checked and that there Is the necessity now that
all true, good, and loyal should stand together Tor
the preservation OF the nations life which made the
country rise up in 1861 The ties which bind
Republicans together frightened not loosened We
have become again sOdIed party; dssensons have
ceased. Minor questions have taken minor places; and
the united Republican party again marches onward to
do battle for right justice. and the country The voice
Of Connecticut has Obterated all dependency caused
by the failure Of NewHampshre and the future Of the
Republican party and its administration was never than
now more hopeful more prosperous, or more glorious
To you my fclow-citizens who have called me here
and those OF the few weeks past have been
most interesting epoch Scarcely at any period before
your interests in jeopardy or had you more at
stake. neglect TO enforce the XVIII Amendment,
which gives you equal protection Of the laws, involves
the failure OF the rights and powers required by the
XVIII Amendment by which you can assert your
manhood and citizenship. The ballot II no protection
against the bullet when he who holds the ballot Is un
armed, homeless, and landless. The vote Is great
safeguard against entertainment upon AIMING
equals. but is privilege TO a dependent or scrf
Within tie past the great question has been
settled whether under the Constitution Of the United
States there was any power in Congress to maintain by
law the coorcd man. or indeed the white Republican Of
the South in the of the ballot to protect himself
What did Ku-Klux organization meant 1t meant sim
ply that the Rebellion, failing to wrest the power from
the Government to erect an independent empire whose
cornerstone slavery, now by steathy midnight
tries attain that purpose which 1t lost on
the open field Of battle. II meant that the negro having
been emancpaed and raised 10 the citizen, is to be him
dcred by force, fraud and murder from enjoying the
rights guaranteed him by the Constitution of his coun-
try Ii meant that lie should be reduced to state OF
pconage worse than slavery, because having the birth
right freedom the ballot ne is TO be coerced in its use
according his oppressors desire for their eeya-
ton TO power.
A few weeks ago. the Democratic press, both North
and South discussing the right nay the expediency
OF declaring the XVIII ard XVIII articles of amendment
TO be void and Of effect and men were threatening
If ever the Democracy into power every foostep
OF freedom should be reraced Mr. Blair the late candi
date for Vice President had not retracted the doctrines
OF the Prodhead letter. declaring all the reconstruction
acts OF Congress void. and that the state CONSTITUTIONS
framed IN accordance with them, giving equal suffrage,
should he changed the interests OF the Democratic
party might dictate. Since the legislation against ku-
Klux-isn by Congress, how changed the tone OF the
Democratic press both North and south IL recognizes
the power of the Government t. protect It's ctzs ana
enforce its laws that the people will tolerate no
change Of the fundamental rights settled by the war;
and Though the Southern heart desires the abrogaton
of tue XIVth and XVIII Amendments "a no one doubts
vet their newspapers are compelled 10 declare tney
are willing to Yield the necessities OF the Northern
Democracy enable il to carry States sufficient IN mum
Der 10 bring the Democratic party into power while the
entire Democratic press OF the North Is onerlng WIN one
voice that II people will Ieinstate that party In
, power, the amendments shall not be disturbed
III no man be deceived II the Democratic party shall
come into power in 1872 by majority strong enough to
maintain Itself jlst 80 surely oy rofee by iruG OF
evasion, all benefits OF those cohslohal gt S
will be taken away from the eoiored man; unjust ana
vet II will not lack attempts at Justification we near
now even coming from South Carolina, demand that
nf tba 1ts 81 that ne The Very foGndatonston repub
canisn-that the majority shall goyernis there 10 he
the majority The fact Is admitted that Ia that otate
ineritv thew ought not TO govern the whyf
because they are oec.se ,hy cbore ia made
THIS. then If understand it, Is what the Southern
Democracy claims that republican government means,
that the majority shall not rule unless that majority are
the OF the property of the state; that the ma.
ury shall not rule unless that majority Is composed or
the educated classes. And that comes from party
that seeks aiaon at the North with the unedncated
Irishman, and German ana foreigner, Who Iaaus upon
our shores without knowledge OF our Institutions, and
water Mark it Is VINO say that the ignorant Irish
man or German ought not to vote II Is the Southern
Democrat who SAYS that the uneducated man ought
not to have voice III pnGic auaiIs ~, ~ HoG
who say that the poor irlshnan or German sn!Il nOt
have hs fair share i'm his government II II the
southern Democrat. with his Northern oily, who de-
carcs poor man IN the majority VIII be governed
] H.
claim that an men are equally en;itlcd the ballot
an Unborn right believe in the right of the majority TO
govern. Lad rather cast my lot m ahd governed Dy
an NM ducated majority than by on educated minority
hold the agcrc gate intelligence OF the mass III deter
which they better to be trusted than the intellect
however refined OF the few, sWayed Dy thef PASSIONS
stand with the poor governing country being the
greater than be governed by the rich mem being
the few. Ogarchy whether OF wealth. OF Drtn or OF
education, all experience has shown, Il the worst gov
eminent Of all Better, far better the rule OF one man
NJ mar
Ills vices and divided among the mass WIZ 1e IN
fntesimal in their hurt Their graSpng desires ana pas
siOns viii multiply the IMPRESSIONS oI Ills IN te Fallp "a
6e arrogant incrattude Of these South Caronians
whose reg,Qllgg | take us specimen OF the whole
WIS Are the coorcd men OF South Carolina They
the majority OF laborers they the majority OF
the wealth producers they are the majority OF the cltl-
zens possessing under our Constitution anu uer eLvy
idea OF republican government, the majority or ghIsi
and why should they not goyern Ana what Is that de-
mocracy therefore that that they shall not gov
/ crni Are they the ey4iisposedl BY no means. Wit
ness their action during the late cNll war, wnen
being i'm the majority and having full power, II they had
chosen 10 use it, 10 have inflicted untold injuries upon
their masters they remained quietly about ther apos,
even taking OF the women and children OF those
who had oppressed and robbed them during their entire
Are they indeed gnorant Sufficient 10 answer those
who complain OF their ignorance that If 80, IL is your
own fault. Why didn't you educate them II Ignorant,
trusted with legislative power because they are 50 eager
for learning that their hst acts are TO adopt so extensive
! and expensive school system that the taxes upon
property too heavy that their desire for knowledge
Is great that they impose too heavy burdens upon he
proptrty OF the STATE get rd Of that lgnO
rance which forced upon them without their consent
and of which you complain You do not seem TO accuse
them of rejoicing IN Aer ignorance. And II their "
norauce Is detrimental TO the State the quicker Il
rid of 1t the better the higher me taxes Ior tast p
pose the better and their audable endeayOr 10 nj them
selves for Their duties citizens Is the last thing win
which the educated minority or the prOperty-nOldef
OF the state should charge wrong done 10 yourselves
Yo aver that education makes the better cltzen, ana
still you complain Of the unedncated because they seek
education by which - raise themselves 10 that hgher
plane where only IL asserted by the educated white
man the governing power ought to reside Unreasona
bv Won first declare that ignorance degrades the man.
tales ~ disl his ignorance. II Is agreed all hands