New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-02-19
Washington City January lG, 1874.
Speech ON Civil RighiaTby ID. A
SirAker, Esq.
Delivered on Tuesday, the 1Oth Instant, al
Union League Mail.

Union League MaIl.
MIR. CHAIRMAN-MY FELLOW CITIZENS:
1t is indeed humiiating in the extreme, that
we as citizens of this great Republic, which
has well nigh reached its hundredth year of
Independence, during which time it has
grown in arts and science, favorably to be
compared with the most enlightened nation
which has ever graced this earth, should be
called upon as a special class of people to
demonstrate our right to the enjoyment and
exercise of our privileges, our immunities
equally with other citizens, differing only as
we do in the shade of skin. l know that our
meeting tonight will meet with the disappro-
baton of some men. These are the sort of
men who will ccnsure us-the money dema-
goguc, whose principles are founded in self,
and who will hazard not word, though it
should liberatc a people in destroying false
theory, should it threaten the pocket with
the loss of dollar. Another ccnsurcr will be
the ambitious man, who, when he can't rule,
will certainly ruin. Another is the official
whose mouth is Theoretically scaled against
such sentiments as displeases his liegc lord.
But be assured, my citizens, that we
are esteemed in the eyes of the true patriot,
the liberal statesman, the true Christian, the
defender of human rights, and the advocate
of human liberty and civil equality. Charles
Sumner will not censure us, nor will General
Butler, nor Wendell Phillips, nor the host of
humanitarians and philanthropists, who put
their faith in God and the justice of this
cause.
deem it important, on all proper occa-
sions, to discuss the policy Of public measures
and public men, to advocate human rights
and civil and political equality irrespective
of race, color, or previous condition Of servi-
tude. This is an ancient and indisputable
privilege of the American people. Webster
calls it a 'home-bred right, a iire-side privi-
lege, belonging to private life as right, and
TO public life as a duty" Then, my fellow
citizens, we are but doing our duty, and, until
our cause is no more question, no longer a
doubt, let us ask Divine aid to press for
ward Action! is the political watchword
when political rights are in danger; yet
they there are some among us who are Of us,
| who excuse themselves from joining us on
pleas like unto those who answered when
called upon to join in the Marriage supper"
| 81 pray thee have ME excused; have bought
a piece of ground; have bought five woke
oxen; have married wife: let US
press on"
would ask, "Is he free, who must flatter
and lie. to compass his ends ; who must bear
| with this mans caprice and that mans scorn
must profess friendship where he hates, and
respect where he contemns; who is not al
liberty to appear in his own colors, nor to
speak his own sentiments; who dare not be
honest, lest he be poor ?''
But of these men, whom love of self sc
claringly characterizes, say it is we'll We
arc without them. Lord Mansfield truly
said in the House of Commons in TIT, thai
''there is something implanted in the breast
of man so attached to self, so tenacious o
privileges once obtained, that in such sit
uation, either to discuss with impartiality
or decide with justice, has ever been he'll
the summit of all human virtue"
It Is true, beyond doubt, that this Govern
ment is OF the people, by the people, and fo
the people. In the people rests the sover
eign power and this is another reason WIZ
it is altogether meet and proper that we as
semble tonight to discuss subject pertain.
ing to the people. 1 would gladly see mel
and women, old and young, the lovers o
liberty and equality, black and white, dis
cuss this subject night and day. At you
firesides, at the altar of devotion, from tn
pulpit ard on the forum let the subject 0
civil rights be discussed until all men ART
equal before the law.
II is somewhat gratifying to know that il
discussing the question Of civil rights to
night we are only to deal with the justic
and expediency Of one or two of its clause
as considered, and not Of the justice or con
st;tutionality Of the entire bill since this ha