New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-09-24
From the indianapolis Journal. 10Th inst J
UnyarnisheI Truth.


Governor Piuchback'. Add. ess.
Masonic Hall was crowded rs full as it coull
conveniently hold last night by very ap
preciative audience. who had assembled tC
hear Governor Pinckney Pinchback's state
ment of the condition of things IN the State
Of Louisiana. Quite a number Of the audi
ence were colored men, and they paid tbs
keenest attention throughout to the words o.
their leader.
shortly before O'Clock Governor Pinch.
back appeared on the stage, accompanied
by Mr.. W. =. Fishback and several other
prominent Republicans. Mr.. Fishback in.
troduced the speaker in the following words
LADIES AID GENTLEMEN: We are as
sembled to night on an occasion of more tlan
ordinary interest, and under circumstances
OF great importance. The historian has said
that a good nation is an irritable body, one
that feels tremor throughout all its parts
when no other part of it is seriously affected.
look in the faces of this intelligent audi.
ence, who are conversant with what is now
going on in the State of Louisiana. 1t has
been the misfortune of the Northern people
that they have not, from time to time been
advised of the true state of affairs in I.ouis-
ana. We have relied upon the statement
OF partisan papers, upon the state
ments Of persons going from the North and
casually passing through the thoroughiares
and highways of travel; but believe that
the people of indianapolis have not yet heard
from witness who has seen and who has
been part Of the work of reconstruction in
Louisiana. a great law writer has said that
the requirements of a good witness are that
he should first know the facts, that he should
be able to tell them, and that he should be
willing To tell them. We have in our pres
ence tonight one who knows the facts, and
we have one who is able to tell them, and
can assure you, from what he says to. night,
and from what his friends say of him. he will
tell you the unvarnshed truth. / now have
the honor 10 Introduce to you Governor
linchback, Of Louisiana.
Governor Pinchbach advanced to the front
oi the stage, and after explaining that the
mass OF manuscript which he was carrying
was not so large is it appeared, said:
l have been invited by the State Central
Committee Of the Republican party to adj
dress the citizens of Indianapolis this even
ing on the condition OF affairs in the South
To do that intelligently and in such man
ner as to command your attention, | shall
proceed III plain, unvarni>hed style, moth
ing eytcnuallng or setting down auyht in
malice"
The time has arrived in the life OF the ma
ton when a calm, deliberate, and earnest
consideration of the condition of that portion
Of our country is absolutely necessary; and
in order to do this, it is essential to go back
in the history of the country, to the mcmora-
bile campaign of 1860, when Abraham Lin
coin, the martyr President, was nominated
for the Chief Magistracy of our Government;
we might go back far beyond that period and
take up the struggle between freedom and
slavery, BEGINNING with the formation of the
"Anti-Slayel Society," and show how, for
half cent? =, the crisis which eliminated
in 1850 had been :, adually forming, bat for
my present purpose, il is unnecessary; il is
enough to know that in 1850 large majority
of the people residing north Of "Mason and
Dixon's line" had become FESTIVE under the
domination of the South, and viewing with
alarm the arrogant assumptions of Southern
leaders, determined to elect Il President,
not only from their section of the country,
but one who was known to be honest and more
in accord with their sentiments ond the pro-
gressive tendencies of the age.
The result of that campaign is fresh in the
memory of every man. Our honored, loved,
and lamcnted Lincoln was elected, and then
the trouble began; the Southern leaders inn
agining themselves "born to command, I" saw
the reins OF power, which they had held so
long, passing from their hands, swore that
they would not stand it, and at once set Wig
orOusly to work to put their threats into
execution. Is it necessary for me to tell
YOU, people of Indiana. what followed? or
their attempt to disrupt this glorious Union,
or of its record of bloody disaster, which cost
the nation the lives of so many OF its bravest
and best men, and SO many millions Ct
treasure: | trust not; for in too many
homes, all over this land, North and South,
the absense of loved one tells the tale, and
appeals to YOU in mOurnful silence, never,
never to forget it. Would YOU again have
this frishtfu condition of things upon you:
God forbid! Then look well to the south;
let not the cry of negro domination shut your
ewes to the true cause of the awful condition
oil society in that section.
1t is not the negro they hate, nor do they
murder him because he is a negro. In every
relation save that of politics, these people
are Kind, loving, and generous toward the
colored people 1t is the Republican party
they hate, and the co!ored men are butchered
because they are Republicans and vote the
Republican ticket.
Blinded by their passions addressing under
WRONGS, imaginary and real-for l am not
here to claim they have not suffered; their
suiferings have been great and hard to bear
in "glories tled," fortunes wasted, homes
desOiated, their southern pride, that had been
North, and was without parallel at home,
humbled into the dust, first by the overthrow
of the rebellion, then by the loss OF their
slaves, and last, though by no means least,
to have these slaves maze their pollticai
equals; all these things, however Just and
essential for the preservation OF the Union
and in accord with the march OF civil and
religious progress, have imposed much suffer
ing upon these people, and no doubt are
regarded by them as gricvous wrongs.
Smarling under these changes wrought by
the war, they have become desperate; en-
boldened by the recent Democratic victories
in the North, and the belief that the mis-
management and extravaganza OF the SOUTH
ern governments had worked revolution IN
the Northern mind against the reconstruction
measures, destroyed Northern sympathy ior
the colored people Of the South, and that the
President, who they fattered themselves was
counting their support for a third term, would
not interfere, have, through their lust alter
power and determination to obtain posses
sion of the southern State governments, been
led to the commission of the terrible crimes
that have aroused the nation and forced lhe
intervention of the General Government.
They felt confident that with the entirr
south under their control they could, WIN
the aid of the Northern Democracy, get pos
session of the General Government IN 1876.
H., tho,l- VIooyo,, sSfhav counted without