The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-09-06

public schools was inimical to the ne
gro's well.being, and "retrogressiye Il
white civilization"
| The resolution, when it was read, wa
loudly applauded by that class of Dem
ocrats who have learned from the propb
cts Of Egyptian Bourbonism that ont
, Of the cardinal principles Of Democracy
is that the negro has no rights thu
white man is bound to respect, and
that the heel Of prejudice should be
kept upon the black mans neck. Ger
tain gentlemen, catering to this preju
dice which has its root in ignorance
had disseminated the belief that tn,
&C, mentioned in the resolution refer
red to gave TO the negro child the right
TO indulge in mixed schools, aud thai
| Mr.. Oberly had voted for such schools
Col. Watkins made no such charge
and we believe offered the resolution il
good faith, but Mr.. Allen, who has con
cluded not to endure any person neal
his throne, had, wo understand, ex-
prs-scd rogret that Mr.. Oberly
made tho mistake OF voting for tho bill
that he had thus forfeited the conf.
dence Of Democrats and ruined him
self politically. The judge makes some
OF his most dangerous charges in the
form of regrets; and he does SO in a
manner so kind and so courteous that
the charge becomes to tho person it is
aimed at compliment, and tho victim
thanks the executioner while he writhes
under the fatal blow. ..'t
This belief that the bill was a mixed
school bill, belief which Mr.. Oberly's
good friends have regretfully propoga.
ted with great industry, had iuaamed
the minds Of some Of the delegates
aud when Mr.. Oberly arose aud asked
permission to speak few words il his
own vindieation aud in explanation of
the law named in the Watkins resolu.
non, MIR. Shannon, of Randolph county,
a gentleman who would not be guilty
OF the discourtesy if an enemy had NOT
entered into his mouth and stolen b..
orains--a gentleman whose experience
should have made him the defender of
Tree speech, not its bcisterous enemy.
objected, objected in manner IN
sultiDg and in language jumbled but
sufficiently definite to be understood
Another delegate, whose nams wo did
not learn, (from Williamson, We be.
lieve) also loudly objected. But mo.
ton prevailed to allow Mr.. Oberly to
speak, and he took the stand amid
great confusion. During the first five
minutes with difficulty he proceeded, the
interruptions being continuous. The
voice of Mr.. Shannon crying mo, no ;
you sha'n't speak, and of the William
ION county delegate crying: "Damn
you, your no Democrat and never
we're, and the voices Of other gentle
nen hostile 10 Mr.. Oberly, mingling
With the cries Of the fair play men to
go on y made a great uproar and
he moving TO and fro of excited men
ne calls Of the chairman for order, con
ounded confusion. But in a short
ime Mr.. Oberly got a hearing, and
DON received the undivided attention
+ the convention. As he proceeded
he convention that had been
hostile to HIM in the commencement
began to sympathise with him. He
heard applause where before he had
been compelled to listen to Kisses.
The occasional protests of the drunken |
man from Williamson, and Of the un.
ortunate Shannon, were greeted with
ries Of Put them out put them outp"
'ot because he has any ability as an
rator but because he was in the right
nd spoke with courage and earnestly,
% succeeded in convincing the con
'entions that he was not as black as h.
lad been painted. As he closed his
peech he was greeted with loud
beers and loDg-continusd applause,
nd the convention refused to adopt
10 resolution.
Many Of the delegates warmly con.
ratulated Mr.. Oberly, among them
'oi' Watkins, and even Mr.. Potter, of
he Mound City Journal. Mr.. Shan
on, too, afterwards informed MIR
'berly that his explanation of the law
'as conclusive. p.
In oar opinion Mr.. obsrly has moth.
ng to regret in the part he acted at
Anna and he believes the introduc.
on of the Watkins resolution resulted
more good than harm.