New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-18
The ColOred Men of tho United states and
Cuban Freedom.

The following extract Is from speech at
Oberlin, Ohio, by Professor John NJ. Lang
ston:
With freedom established in our own
country, and equality before the law prom
ised in early federal if not State legislation,
we NAV we'll consider our duty with regard
to the abolition of slavery. the establish.
ment of freedom and free institutions upon
the American continent, especially in the
tanned by despotic Spanish rule, and where
the people, declaring slavery abolished,
and appealing to the civilized world for
sympathv and justification of their course,
have staked all upon the dread arbitra.
ment of war; There can be no peace on
our continent; there can be no harmony
among its people till slavery is everywhere
abolished, and freedom established and
protected by law; the people themselves
making for themselves and supporting their
own government. Every nation, whether
its home be an island or upon continent,
if oppressed ought to have, like our own,
a new birth of freedom, and its government
of the people, by the people, and for the
people. shall prove at once its strength and
support.
Our sympathies especially go out toward
the struggling patriots Of Cuba. We would
see the Queen of the Antilles free from
| she advancing in her freedom across the
way of national greatness and renown. Or
| if her million and half Of Inhabitants,
| with their thousands OF rich and fertile
! fields, are unable to, support national indie
| pendence and unity, let her not look for
| protection from or annexation to country
| and government despotic and oppressive in
| it's policy. By it's proximity to our shores,
by the ties of blood which connect its pop
| uIation and ours, by the example presented
| in our Revolutionary conflict when France
| furnished succOr and aid to our struggling
but heroic fathers, by the lessons and ex-
amples of international law and history, by
| all the pledges made by our nation in favor
| of freedom and equal rights, the oppressed
| and suffering people Of Cuba may justly
| expect, demand our sympathies and support
in their struggle for freedom and indepen-
| dence Especially let the cOlored American
realize that where battle is made against
despotism and oppression, wherever hu.
| manity struggles for national existence and
| recognition, there his sympathIes should be
felt, and his word and succor inspiriting,
encouraging and supporting.
To-day let US send our word of sympathy
to the struggling thousands of Cuba, in
whose midst, as well as among the people
of Porto Rico, we hope soon to see slavery
indeed abolished, free institutions firmly
established, and good order, prosperity and
happiness secured. This accomplished
our continent is dedicated to freedom ant
free institutions, and the nations which
compose it's population will enjoy SURF
promise of national greatness and glory
Freedom and free institutions should be a.
broad as our continent. Among no natiol
here should there be found any enslaved O
oppressed.
"Compromise between right and wron!
under pretense of expediency' should dis
appear forever; our house should be n
lon ger divided against itself, a new corner
stone should be built into the edifice of ou
national continental liberty, ,land those VIII
'sguard and support the structure" shoul
accept, in all its comprehensiveness, tn
sentiments that all men are created eaua
and that governments are establishe
among men to defend and protect their in
alienable rights of life, liberty, and the pul
| suit Of happiness.