The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-25


not to be forgotten, unless gratitude be
persisted virtue in the South. And always
since General Grant had been a compass
sionate and forbearing ruler. Next to
Abraham Lincoln and Charles Sumner,
General Grant was the man most easy of
approach that he had ever known. The
humblest man of the land, whether white
or black, might confidently seek the pres
and kind reception that would at once put
him at his ease. 1t was good thing to
have such man down in Washington at
the head Of this great democratic nation,
which had at last carried into effect the as
sertion Of the Declaration OF Independence,
that all men are born free and equal.
But the speaker would come to close,
because he saw that the sun was sinking,
and he wished to give the vast crowd before
him an opportunity to see their next Vice
President in broad daylight. He would
give way to Hon. Henry Wilson, of Mas
sachusatts, who had always battled for bu-
mainly and freedom, and whose noble fea-
lures always smiled a benediction. ..
HON. HENRY WILSON'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Wilson was received with tremen-
dous applause as he came forward and was
introduced by Mr.. Clements. ....
He said that he rejoiced in the privilege
of following Fred. Douglass upon the soil of
Virginia, in an address to the people of his
own enfranchised race. He heartily wel-
coined him to the stump, which he had now
taken for the first time in his career. The
words of such man as Mr.. Douglass,
whose experience had been manifold and
whose knowledge of American politics as
they bore on the rights and liberties of the
colored race, was peculiarly to be relied on,
should be well needed by his people. lie
believed that Mr.. Douglass spoke the truth
when he said that he had hated slavery,
but had loved the stakeholder I; and in
these feelings he had always concurred. He
himself for thirty years had opposed slavery,
and through all that time, though hated,
despised, misunderstood, misrepresented,
ma1igned, slandered, and prosecuted, he
had never ceased to love his4felloW citizens
of the South, shareholders though they
were. es.hh 20
But the question of the day was whether
the colored people of the South who had
been freed, enfranchised. and secured in
their rights by the Republican party and
the prowess and skill of General Grant,
should now prove false and ungratefui to
that party and that man. and wander off
after strange gods. lie did not for mo-
ment consider it possible that they could
desert the party of freedom and equal rights
and 90 over to the ancient enemy of that
party. But he did not claim their votes
simply because the Republican party had
done SO much for them, but because it was
the true party Of liberty and progress for
all men, and should be alike supported by
all men, II the colored people, aye, or
white people, desire perfect liberty, through
education and full development of the
country-if they desired to make this great
country fulfil its great destiny among the
nations of the earth-then they must stand
great Republican party.
; Those who had been lifelong enemies of
human freedom and progress had recently
hurried to Baltimore, and given lip-scrvice
to liberty. He hoped that the colored
people would not be deceived, but would
remain true to the principles that had
wrought out their deliverance, and the day
would not be far distant when they would
carry victorious banners from one end OF
Virginia to the other.
Their addressing himself to the Democ-
cy, Mr.. Wilson continued: IA
3 lie said that the Republican party ex-
tended the right hand of fellowship to the
Democrats who had adopted a Republican
platform, and had nominated Republican
for President. The Republican party was
three and half millions strong, and sure
to be victorious. II would be better, since
they had yielded their principles and men,
to come over completely to the winning
side and share in the spoils. The door was
open for their reception, and they should
remember that they who climbed over the
wall were but thieves and robbers. There
were probably fifty thousand, not more,
who had seeded from the Republican party
to Join in the Greeley movement with the
Democracy, but it was a sure thing that
while the tail would not shake the dog, the
dog would surely wag the tail. lie be-
Heved in moving forward with events and
keeping pace with vast masses Of men,
white men of every class and occupation.
To those who were Union men before the
war and during the war, but were attemp-
ting disunion and rebellion after the war
to all he would say that he was ready to
bury the past deeper than ever plummet
sounded. He spoke for the Republican
party in this and for the whole country he
loved so well. He wanted peace, with
liberty, equality and justice between him
who lives in palace and him who lives in
a little cabin. Let us have peace, and let
us all join together in promoting the free
dom and prosperity and elevation Of our
common humanity. With Mr.. Douglass,
he could point to the words of wisdom and
patriotism uttered by great men of Virginia
in the olden times-by Washington, Jeifcr-
son and Henry. Virginians should remem-
Der and follow those great leaders and their
successors, who, from revolutionary days
even to the present, had presented the
highest examples for the imitation and
emulation of mankind.
Five years ago he addressed the people
of Richmond from the steps Of the Capitol,
and undertook to prove that the object of
the Republican party was peace, order and
universal suffrage. lie invited the white
men of Virginia to unite with the party aud
take enlarged and popular views ofthe situa-
ton. His efforts then to start a party upon
proper basis in the State had failed but
he thought that efforts should still be made
to fill the ranks of the existing party, so
that in November Virginia may be carried
triumphantly for Grant and progress. He
denied that Grant and Congress were seek
ing to humiliate the South, and claimed