The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-07-24
Mr.. Do0litl!e.
HIS SPEECH BEFORE TIE BALTIMORE CON
yENTION.

" -
thank you for this great honor; words
can hardly tell how much, but you VIII
allow me to pass at once from what is
personal to speak of the great occasion,
the duty, the purpose which bring Us
here. Two years ago, nearly five years
after the bloody period of the CIVIL "S'r
had closed, the Liberal Republicans OF
Missouri [applausel feeling keeniy all
the evils of the prescription test oa'h'
the hates and the strifes, and the pas
sions the war had left upon them long
after the war itself had ceased, ana reel !
ing keenly the executive Federal power |
i'm their local elections, determined 10
organize movement to restore eq'ai
rights to all our citizens, LappiauSeJ
white as well as black, tappiauseI to re-
store local self government, and to AZ
rest the further Capitalization OF Eede-
eral power. [Aprlduse.l They tEcl
said this thing has gone far enough, II
not already too far; the time has come
when AL honest and patriotic hepuDii-
cans must say halt, and reasscrt the Vi
tai doctrine of Republican government,
that under the Constitution, the powers
of the Federal government are defined
and limited Applause and cries OF good,
good, and that the people Of the State
have the right to govern themselves IN
their own domestic affairs upon the ba-
sis of the equality of al the States be-
fore the higher law, before the Constl-
tuition, and the equality of all men before
the law; universal loyalty, amnesty,
suffrage and peace; taking no steps
backward, taking no rights and no fran
cllises which had been secured to the
blacks. Pledging themselves to sup
port them all in their full vigor, they at
the same time demanded--in The name
of peace, i'll the name of liberty, in the
name of Republican govcrnment-ttat
freedom and equal rights should be re-
stored to the white people. [Great ap-
plause.l They organized nearly forty
thousand strong and called upon Is.
Gratz Brown [applausel to lead the gov
eminent. We placed him in nomina-
ton for Governor. Then what follow
ed? Eighty thousand Democratic Re
publicans feheersl looking upon the
success of that movement as above any
party triumph, [cheersl resolved to s'ls-
tain it with their whole strength
Love of country, love of Republican I'D
erty, love of the equal rights OF all me'
inspired that union, taught men to ac
together who had been partially op
yosed to each other all their lives upon
other questions and in other times, ant
without violating the honor, logic, con
science, or consistency OF either side
this patriotic union was based upon
higher grounds than ordinarily contro
political action. Applause. Ever
those who fought against each other il
battle clasped hands over the blood.
chasm-[renewed applausel-and sid
by side. like brothers with hearts beat
ing in unison, beating strang with tn
same high purpose, they helped to oea
49, its flag to a glorious victory. That
gentlemen, is Liberal Republicanism
[enthusiasml and that is Democrat
Republicanism. tGfeat enthusiasm j
The victory which came from that unio
was the entire prescription of test oaths
of pain and strife, and of all disloyalty
In a word, the real end of the civil WA
came with that victory, and did nc
come till then in Missouri. Ii redeem
ed the State, it gave the rigot of freeme
10 5000 men who had been bound an
fettered. Missouri is now a free Stat
in this Union, with oil her rights an
dignity and equality under the Const
tuition, and not o'.o murmur of dislo.
atty is anywhere beard. BY that uniol
Federal dictation in Missouri in the
local elections was ovcrthrown, and |
that union strife and hate have give
place to peace and good will; by TIL
union liberty with equal rights for q
men have given to the State unbound
prosperity, and to her people JOY 6
most unspeakable.
So great was their JOY and so compile
their success, the Liberal Rcpubliea
of that State were not content witho
making an effort to extend the sal
union of Liberal and Democratic +
publieans, and with il the same blcssil
of liberty, peace and fraternity to all t
other States.
Accordingly, in the State Conycnti
on the 9th of March last they rosolv
: to invite the Liberal Republicans in
the States to meet them in Nation
Convention in Cincinnati on the FL
day of May. That itation was
cepted; there was ] cd a great +
ponse. They came thousands,
such vast numbers til. a delegate Co
vention of represec ives of all
States was formed b ii from princil
and from necessity rive form TO
proceedings. Many the ablest m
in the country, late !ders in the
publican party, W here and tt
part in its deiibo ~ s. They W,
assured large nm T of Liberal
publicans in every " and from
portions of the CO stood beh
ready to SUSTAIN the and they W
morally certain tina, if the milli
whom we this day represent would o
come to their support the number