The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-08-08


ored race can rely upon his heartfelt SYM
| pathies. Nor can IL be forgotten that short
/ ~ alter the return of the Commission from
this island, Hon. Fred Douglass colored
orator, accomplished in manners as in elo-
quence, was thrust away from the company
OF the commissioners at common table Of
the mail packet on the Potomac. almost
within sight of the executive mansion, sim
ply on account of his color But the Presi-
dent, at whose invitation he had joined the
Commission,
NEVER UTTERED A WORD
| in condemnation of this exclusion; and
when entertaining the returned commission
ers at dinner, carefully omitted Douglass,
who was in Washington at the time, and
thus repeated the indignity. Other things
might be mentioned, as showing the sym
pathy of the President. but / cannot forget
the Civil Rights bill, which is the cap-stOne
of that equality before the law to which all
are entitled, without distinction of color.
President Grant, who could lobby so as
siduously for his
SAN DOMINGO SCHEME,
fell wrong to the eolored race, could do
nothing for this beneficent measure. During
the long session OF Congress it was constant
ly discussed, and the eolOred people every
where hung upon the debate; but there was
no heartfelt sympathy from the President.
AT last, just before the nominating conven-
ton, he addressed letter TO a meeting of
c0lored fellow-citiZens in W ashingtoD, called
to advance this cause, where he avoided the
question by declaring himself in favor of
the exercise of those rights To which every
citizen should be entitled, leaving it uncer-
tain whether the colored people are justly
entitled to the rights secured by the pend
ing bill Understand that Mr.. Greeley has
been already asSailed by an impractible
Democrat being friendly to this bill, hut
nobody has lisped against President Grant
on this account.
Among the antecedeDtsI deem it my duty
to mention, is the little capacity of industry
of the President in protecting the colored
people and assuring
PEACE AT THE SOUTH.
Nobody doubt that small portion of
the effort and earnest will, even without
the lobbying so freely given to the San Do
mingo scheme, would have aVerted those
kuklux outrages which we deplore; so that
there would have been no pretense for fur
ther legislation by Congress. But he was
disabled, both by the character and the
drawback of his own conduct after violat-
ing the constitution and international law,
to insult the black republic; and setting n
example of insubordination, he was not in
a condition to rebuke the law-break ars.
Second--Passing from antecedents, l come
now to the present position of
THE TWO CANDIDATES,
which is the subject of your next inquiry
If in any former particulars the two are on
an equality, yet in all substantial respects
the obvious advantage is with Horace
Greeley. Each was nominated by Repuli-
can Conventions. one at Cincinnati and the
other at Philadelphia. La this respect they
may seem to be on an equality, but it will
not fail to be observed that the convention
at Cincinnati was composed of able and ac-
knowledged Republicans, many of whom
have acted with the party from its first for
nation, and who, without previous Organi-
cation, came together voluntarily for the
sake of reform and purity in the govern
ment, while on the other hand the conVen-
ton at Philadelphia was com posed of dele
gates chosen largely under the
INFLUENCE OF oFFIcE-HoLDERs
who assembled to sustain what is known as
Grantism. Seeing the personal govern
ment and personal pretensions of President
Grant, involving nepotism, repayment of
gifts by official patronage, neglect of duty,
absenteelsm, military rule, disregard of the
constitution and laws, with general unfit
ness, and indignity to the colored race, all of
which is SO unrepublican as to make his
support impossible by true Republicans,
therefore the Convention held at Philadel-
phia. calling itself Republican, was less Re-
publican than that held at Cincinnati. The
two platforms, so far as concerns especially
the colored race, are alike in substance, but
that of Cincinnati is expressed in terms of
the most worthy of
EQUAL RIGHTS.
1t states and claims that we recognize the
| equality of all men before the law, and
holds that it is the duty of the government
in all its dealings with the people to IN aCe
out equal and exact justice to all, of what
ever nationally. race, color or persuasion.
| religious or political. In other respects the
| Cincinnati platform is the most Republic
| can, inasmach as it sets itself against those
| unrepublican abuses which have been nurs-
| ed by the President into perniciOuS activity.
From the two nominations and the tWO
| platforms, come to the supporters of the
candidates. And here l look first at those
Immediately about them, and secondly at
| the popular support behind. Horace Gree
| ley has among his immediate supporters, in
all parts of the country,
DEVOTED AND CONSISTENT REPUBLICANS.
always earnest for reform and purity in the
government, and upon whose lives there is
no shadow of suspicion, being contrast in
| the character of those rings which play such
part in the present administration. The
/ country knows too well of the military ring,
| the Senatorial ring and the CustOm-house
ring, through which the President acts.
Such supporters are very poor recommen-
dation. Looking at the popular support,
| the advantage is still with Horace Greeley.
| President Grant has at his back diversiti-
| ed army of office-holders, drilled to obey
| the word of command. All speeches prais-
/ ing him are by office-hOlders and
MEMBERS OF RINGS.
Horace Greeley finds flocking to his sup
port large numbers of Republicans unwill-
| ing to continue the existing misrule and as
| allies with them; regenerated party,
which comes forward to unite in the liberal
movement. The Democrats in joining Hor
ace Greeley have changed simply as Presi-
dent Grant changed when he Joined the
Republicans, except that he was rewarded
at once with high office. The change is
III II,
| which places equal rights of all under
safeguard of irreversible guarantees, and at
the same time accepting the nomination OF
a lifelong Abolitionist, who represents,
prominently. the sentiment OF duty to the
colOred race. They have set their corpor-
ate seal to the sacred covenant. They may
/ continue Democrats in name, but they are
| in reality Republicans, by the same title
that those who sustain Republican prIncl-
pies are Republicans; or rather they are
| Democrats according to the original sigaif-
ication of that word-dedicated to the
RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.
1t is idle to say that Horace Greeley and
the Republicans that nominated him are
! less Republicans because the Democrats
] unite with them in support of cherished
principles and the candidate who repre-
| sents them. Conversions are always well
come. and not less so because the change Is
| in the multitude other than an individual.
! A political party cannet if it would, and
should not If it could, shut the door against
4 converts. whether converted by the score.
hundreds or thousands. so we ind that
the supporters of President Grant announce
| with partisan triumph the adhesion of a
single Democratic politician, or a single
| Democratic newspaper, with equal reason
and with higher pride may supporters of
Horace Greeley, announce the adhesion OF
one who. turning from things that are be-
hind presses on to those that are before.
1t is also idle to say that the election of