New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-09-12

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New York during the rebellion-a mob whose
hands were bloody with the blood of the in
nocent black children and the innocent black |
men in New rk-addressed them as friends, |
not as murderers. He was selected. That
was the tendency of the party and what it
means to do when it gets into power. What
was its platform? Why, it was this: The
benefcent measures of justice to humanity |
and equality which have been incorporated |
into the Constitution of the United States |
are unconstitutional, revolutionary, and null
and void, and that is the mind of the party |
and has been until within the last few months. |
1t now processes to have met with a change |
OF heart; to be born again. lLaughter.] 1t
now asks us to receive them into full COM
munion with the political saints. Laughter
Well, for my part distrust that convention.
know human nature we'll enough to know
| that people who have been thinking and
acting in any one direction, as the Demo-
| cratic party has been thinking and acting,
CANNOT EASILY BE CHANGED IN AN IN
SLANT.
/ know there have been instances of instan-
taneous conversions, and believe in them
in some cases. We read of one which was
quite instantaneous in the Scriptures--the
| story OF Saul, who was converted, and the
great light that prevailed was visible to his
attendants; but don't know about this con-
version of the Democratic party, or that they
have seen any such light. l am afraid the
light that has dawned upon the Democratic
party didn't come from above. Laughter
There is voice, and there is light. no
doubt, and good deal of it, but 1 doubt
where it came from. I want to know how
the Democratic party came to its change.
| Our good friend Charles Sumner, whose name
should only be mentioned with respect for
the past, believes that party has been con-
verted; but l want to see the Democratic
party on its knees before 1 shall trust it.
When one has experienced religious con-
version he is ready to come on board the
Gospel ship and act in the most humble capa-
city, but the Democrats want to man the
ship, take the helm, and seize the cargo.
WANT TO PUT THEM ON PROBATION
for six months, so as to have a little more
time to examine the evidence. The Demo-
cratic party of late has become very Scriptu-
raj, and breaches the doctrine of forgiveness.
L don't know but that am prepared to act
on the principle inculcated by the parable of
the Prodigal Son. The prodigal said he had
snned, and asked to be taken back as hired
servant. The father received him as son;
but the spirit of the prodigal was that Of
great humility. He did not ask to get pos
session of the farm, as did the Democratic
party. On the other hand, the Republican
moving the stain of slavery. 1t was true
under Grant as well as under Lincoln. I
know General Grant well. 1t has been
SAID THAT WAS sLIGHTED
in not being invited to a certain dinner.
Where is the Democratic President who ever
invited colored man to his table? Who
ever raised this as a standard of friendship as
to whether colored man was invited or not
to dine? l confess l met an insult on the
steamer upon the Potomac, and I would have
been glad had President Grant resented this
insult by inviting me to his table. But I am
sure, from what L know of General Grant,
that he was not capable of any intentional
slight to the colored race. L have General
Grants word that, had been present with
the commission in Washington, / should have
been invited with them.
Mr.. Harris, of Springfield, interrupted the
speaker by inquiring if he did not complain
to Senator Sumner of his slight by the Presi-
dent?
Mr.. Douglass replied that he would have
been glad to be invited, so as to break down
prejudice by inviting a colored man to his
| table. Was that reason why he should be
removed or distrusted? Loud responses of
"No" followed this question: We have
now in the Constitution the fourteenth and
! fifteenth amendments. We are asked what
danger is there to let the Democratic party
come in, as they could not do away with
these great reforms. While do not believe
Mr.. Greeley would consent to the doing away
of these laws, we all know that
THEY COULD NOT BE ENFORCED,
if necessary, without Congressional action.
There was years ago in the Constitution
provision that all men should enjoy liberty
everywhere, and yet how often was this pro-
vision made null and void by State action?
Are we so simple as to believe that the DEM
ocratic party once in power would pass any
suitable provisions for the securing of justice
for the colored man? No; far from it. Our
only safety lies in the reelection of U. S.
Grant. Our colored brethren are nstinctively
alarmed at the possibility Of the election of
Greeley even, as the old slave drivers flock
to his standard. In all my Southern tour l
have not found colored man who did not
wish success to the Republican party. 1
have just traversed the hills and valleys of
Maine, and 1 will encourage you by the as
surance that the people there are awake, and
that the Republicans next Monday will
ROLL UP A MAJORITY OF TWENTY TToUs-
| AND.
against majority Of 10000 last year. AS
it is my intention to address the convention
at another time, l will not further trcspass
| nnN,