New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-10-10
George r. Downing. Esq, FOR
Grant and Wilson.


vention held in the State House of Rhode
Island, we are glad to observe Mr.. George
T. Downing declared himself more emphati-
cally for Grant and Wilson than in any Of his
previous utterances. AfOremOst man among
our people, his words will have weight with
all classes Of citizens. Called cat upon the
spur Of the moment. Mr.. Downing spoke as
follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: thank Won heartily for
the invitation which You have extended to
me to say something on this occasion. 1t is
unexpected. It's embarrassing. Neyerthe-
less l shall not shrink from the possibility.
Of course l DO not take it to myself as a per-
sonal honor that you have called upon
| George L. Downing to speak, thus making
| him i'll q certain sense an exception among ali
! the members of the convention. | consider
| that it has Il broader significance and one
much more gratifying. 1t is the evidence Of
a determination on the part OF the Republi-
can party, and may not add, Of the Amer-
can people generally, to recognize a once
despised and outraged class. 1t is in this
aspect that | receive it. 1t is il this aspect
that l feel oyerjoyed in receiving it. 1t
| gives me assurance that we who have so long
been outraged are now to be taken properly
/
I countrymen. l assure you, gentlemen, that
| even this little recognition Of us will have an
inspiring influence in this campaign. / feel
| that the efforts OF the enemy (and | use the
term intclligently) will avail very little to-
ward securing the nine hundred thousand
black votes that are to be cast in this coming
election. Aside from its relations to the
present occasion there are important retiec-
| tons suggested by this little incident when
we view it in broad light as American Clti-
IONS.
! My duty is clear. TO support Grant and
| Wilson as against Greeley and Brown.
| Viewing it with relation to the class TO which
L am especially allied, that duty is doubly
apparent; for l feel that the cause Of pro-
gress, now marching on so happily, will be
sadly impeded if Greeley shall take the place
now, so fortunately for the welfare of the
country, filed by General Grant. True we
are to have Grant and Wilson instead OF
Grant and Coltax, as at present. The
change to me is not very material. Both OF
the gentlemen, the one substituted as well
as the present incumbent, are Republicans,
and both are my personal friends. should
have been glad to cast my ballot for either
of them. But stand by the nomination OF
the party at all hazards. The gentlemen
who addressed the State Convention very
| properly alluded to the prosperous condition
of affairs throughout the country. Looking at
| it periodically think this is one of the most
powerful arguments we can advance in favor
| OF the present nominations. Look over our
| broad land. Wherever the people would
have prosperity, they have it. If you look
at the Southern States Ouwill find class OF
prosperity springing up there that Americans
| should be proud of. And a broader prosper
| ity would be seen there if q majority Of tho
Southern people would not oppose themselves
| to 1t. 1t is notorious fact that, in those
States, the lords of acres will not sell their
lands nor yet cultivate and improve them,
simply allotting out small portions, which are
cultivated on shares by the freedmen only to
the extent of meeting their immediate wants,
instead of developing the South and making
it grow as it would grow under the new order
of things, if there were perfect harmony there
among all parties. II there is state of
things at the South different from what we
would all as patriots be glad to see, the fault
lies, not with the Administration, not with the
colored people, but with the rebel elements
there, which must not have sway, as they
would have under Greeley and Brown, as the
very speeches show that these candidates are
now making throughout the land. There
| fore, as Americans, IS men wishing our coun-
| try prosperity and wishing not to renew
the state of things which unhappily married
| the country so long, we must continue the
present Administration in power. 1t is for
| this cause that | take part in this canvass.
| | am in it in earnest, meaning, not only as Il
| Rhode Islander, but as citizen of the Uni
| ted States, to leave no effort untried for Sc
| curing tho success Of these Republican nom
| nations.