New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-28
TIE PENNSYLVANIA EQUAL RIGHTS
LEAGUE

in Louisiana which were adopted at the
meeting at Wilkesbarre on tho nineteerth
instant. Speeches were made in the con-
vention by Senators Barber, Burch and In.
! graham and General Chester, which were
! received with great enthusiasm. We are
enabled to reproduce the remarks of Gen
eral Chester on the occasion:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
Though summoned to the platform by your
complimentary calls, would not, at this
| late hour, weary you with any additional
remarks upon Louisiana affairs, after tho
| exhaustive arguments and facts so elO-
| guently submitted by Senator. Burch, Gen
eral Barber and Colonel Ingraham. In ap-
pearing in response to your summons, it ID
not with the intention Of making a speech
but to congratulate you, Mr.. President, and
the representative men of the State upon
the favorable auspices under which you
have convened, and felicitate you upon the
march of legislative progress and impartial
Justice, through the efforts Of the Equal
Rights League, in the old Keystone State.
While governments in the old world have
been convulsed with revolutions, in passing
through the phases and stages necessary to
develop them into progressive States, the
true spirit Of civilization and Christianity
has been silently and effectually accomplish
ing results in this State. having for their OBJ
ject the complete disenthralment of man,
irrespective Of race or color. While free
dom has become more universal, and
JUSTICE is more impartial no intelligent or
reasonable COlOred man can be insensi-
BILE to the incubus which neutralizes the
blessings of American citizenship, cOntem-
plated in the organic law. However just
may be constitution, in letter and spirit,
and however perfect may be the statutes
made to enforce. its positive declarations,
while they may sometimes restrain evil dis
posed persons, they can not change the mis-
chievous propensities of men, nor perfect
the ethics of a community. 1t is only by in
tellectual means and through moral infu-
ences that the hearts of men can be puri-
fed; that they can be quickened by high
sense Of duty, and impressed with those
godly convictions which dignity nature and
immOrtaliZe man.
Slavery passed away in convulsions
which shook creation, but its spirit still
lives in various phases in different parts of
the land. 1t lives in every prescription 10
which colored persons are subjected; in
every humiliation which We endure; in
every wrong which we suffer- in every
degradation and outrage which We are
forced to undergo. The sun Of liberty,
coming down frcm>our national horizon, is
eclipsed by the shadows Of slavery which
SO frequently intervene. We have much
over which to be grateful, and for which
We can heartily rejoice, but great and glo-
riOus as our freedom is, it is not as in
violate as that of our white fellow citizens
If we would be men, developing our
minds to an extent compatible with our
opportunities, We must educate ourselves
and our children for duties as men, and
responsibilities as citizens. If We would
raise the dignity and character of our race,
to a standard Of public admiration, we must
develOpe qualities OF progression and refine
ment. If we would manifest those virtues
which eDnOble humanity and crystalize 60
ciety, we must cultivate the arts, science
and literature. If we would exalt our
status in our own estimation, so that we
would no longer shrink from ourselves but
priding ourselves upon our Identification, we
must radiate our circles with learning and
glory, and gem them with purity and virtue.
As we have much to do before we enter up
on this higher order OF civilization, would
say to you, present an unbroken front
to every species Of oppression; stand shoul;
der to shoulder until the last vestige of caste
distinctions shall be eradicated from the
continent: combine with all good elements
in the work of redemption; cultivate a high
degree of selfrespect and exemplify to man
that peace and good will which passeth all
understanding.
If our white fellow citizens did this they
would dissipate from the land the last yes
tage Of opposition founded upon color.
They would advance q standard of excel
lence based upon merit. They would ban
ish in their intercourse with men every
semblance Of prejudice which paralyze our
manhood and prescribes our citizenship
Every discrimination which ia imposed
upon colOred persons from which the whites
are exempted. every injustice practiced and
every outrage inflicted necessitates colored
organizations and cOlOred conventions to
resist and defeat the encrOachments of op-
preston. Slavery, ancient or modern,
whether of the black or white race, has |
ever united the bOndsmen into union of |
mutual defense, sanctitied by suffering and
cemented with blood. The affections Of
people, like the prosecutions of the Jews,
quicken them with the spirit Of brother
hood as long as wrong is suffered, right
is denied or an injustice is practiced.
When the hotels OF Pennsylvania shall
be as accessible as have experienced than |
in London, Paris, Vienna, ST. Petersburg |
and Venice; when upon your lakes and |
rivers there shall be no discrimination on |
account Of race OF color; when manhood |
and citizenship shall determine the status |
of passengers upon railroads and other |
public conveyances; when admission to |
places Of amusements and intellectual |
resOrts snaIl oe Ieguldteu ny propTleCy anu
gentility; when all men shall stand before |
the bar of American public sentiment. as
We believe mankind will stand before the |
great Judgment of Heaven, irrespective Of |
race and color, then and not till then |
would it be polite for US to disband our
organizations, ground,O Jour arms and entrust |
our liberties and destiny to those who have !
80 persistently wrOnged US.
We are Republicans in politics and reli l
80 far as our rights and citi- I
zenship are concerned. There are many
evils in the Republican party which we
would aim to correct and remedy, but it is |
impossible as long as its supremacy is
threatened by the elements of reaction.
When we shall become American citizens
in deed and in truth; when we shall be as
happy and contented as the most favored
in tho land; when our rights shall be
deemed as sacred and every wrong as
promptly redressed; when we shall be as
in the exercise of our consti-
tutional privilege as the winds of Heaven
are in their course around creation; when |
the administration of justice shall be as un-
sullied as the springs upon your mountains,
and the religion of your people as pure as
the springs in your valleys. then would we |
be untrammeled by fears and divested of sus-
picion, and rising above all party preferences
anu preOllectlOns; lOeDlIy ourselves VIII
that movement best calculated to promote
legislative reform; retrenchment OF public
expenses; faithful collection and disburse
ment of the revenues; the abolishment of /
all unnecessary offices and sinecures, and |
all other measures of honesty and economy /
dictated by wisdom and patriotism. To the !
whites here assembled, and through them
to the State and nation, we appeal in the I
name of freedom and independence, which |
is their proud boast, for universal liberty |
and impartial Justice, and upon the hopes |