The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1872-10-19
DR.. Greeley's Speech ut Louisville.

1 SNf-tVS " l-ONtSCt(fC: : Oh inc
soil of Kentucky, ask you who are
my associates in the great Liberal
movement of the day to bear testimo-
| ny with me to certain truths. First, is
! it not true that we desire II government
| Of just and equal protection to every
American citizen: [Applause, and
cries of "That's So" Is it not true
that while we demand Il repeal of all
acknowledgements, of all prescriptions
OF all Americans because of the part
they bore in our late struggle, that we
desire that no man shall be disfran-
chiscd that no man shall be prescribed;
but that every man shall stand OH an
equal platform with ourselves: Is not
that the fact: [Cries of "Yes, that's
so."] Is it not true that we have no cx-
pectations, no purpose, no understand
ings that the rebel debt shall be paid,
or the rebel soldiers pensioned, or the
slaves emancipated by the result Of the
war paid for: Is it not true that we
have no purpose, or expectation, or
understanding that any of these things
shall be done: [Great Applause and
cries of "You arc right.''1 Now, fellow
citizens, I wish to call your attention
to the aspect of this struggle which has
not yet been presented. There is no
class Of our citizens, no part of the
American people, who have so real and
great an interest in the success of our
Government as the coiored people of
this country. Though they know that
we all admit their rights arc perfectly
secured by the Constitution, and that
no one can go back of that, it is still
their real interest that their rights shall
be not only accorded, but that they
should be fully accorded, that there
shall be no opposition, no objection to
their enjoying just the same political
and civil rights that we do.
1t is their interest moro than yours
or mine, that all contention concerning
black men or white men shall absolute
~ cease that every individual shall be
judged and estimated according to his
worth, with no respect whatever to
color or condition. If our government
succeeds, there is no party, there is no
considerable faction, there is really
nobody left in the field opposing or Oh
jccting to their standing on II common
platform of American nationality.
[Groat appl;euse.1 1 say, then, it is
their clear interest that our Govern
mcnt shall be welcomed and ratified
and approved by the entire American
people, and yet it is very discouraging
fact presented to us that there is no
other class so generally and SO bitterly
opposing us as they are. There is no
other class as Il class who insist SO thor
oughly Or so misapprehending in mis-
representing us. I say not this to excite
prejudice against them. They arc igno-
rant, and their ignorance is not their
own fault, though it is their and our
misfortune. They are mislcd, and we
are illuminated in their ears. Why,
have been repeatedly asked to contra
dict assertions that l have been a negro
hatcr. Even on my way to this place
one quadroon girl, on hearing me speak
said: 81 would like to stick 4 knife
into his heart. He sold my mother
into Richmond, Va" Laughter.] l
can imagine reason why lies like that
should be told. / can imagincno reason
why good men and women should not
everywhere discountcnancc and rcfutc
them. 1t is, I say, Il misfortune of the
colorcd people, II misfortune ofour peo-
pie that they, as a class, arc stcclCd
against us. They will not hear us.
They tto not believe us. They arc told
that this movement is Il cOntriVancc
to get them cnslavcd again virtually,
if not absolutely, and that all the pro-
tensions of the Cincinnati platform and
Baltimore endorsement in favor of
equal rights arc frauds, arc lies. IfI
this party succeeds, says Mr.. Wendell
Phillips, you must conceal your prop
crty and take care your arms.
Now, fellow-citizcns, l state these
facts here, not that would have you
think any worse of these misguided
people state them because L want
you Kentuckians to realize that igno-
rance is n public peril that you cannot
we'll afford to have a part of your pco-
pic growing up in that dense unacquain-
tance with public men and public af-
fairs that they can be deceived and mis-
led as this people are. You must take
care that they shall be educated, SO that
they shall be toowise, too we'll rnisin-
formed and misguided. Fcllow-citizcns,
if our movement should prevail, as /
trust it shall prevail, we will sweep
away all this refuse Of lies in three
months, we will say to the colorcd
man, awe proticr you nothing except
the protection of the laws; the same
for you as for us you have your living
to earn as well VIC; you will have to
use all your abilities, all your energies,
all your faculties, and make the most
of them you can. The laws do not
favor you, but they will thoroughly