Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-09-30
<Os.ORED MAN ON THE SITUATIO,
Plain Words of Fred Douglass.

At Republican clam-bake at Old Orchard
Beach, Me-, a short time since, Fred Doug
lass was present. On being called to speak
he was received with tremendous cheering.
Il come here" he said, ''not SO much to
make speech as to be seen OF men. nave
been assured that it was necessary to have at
least one negro at this show. l know moth
ing of the great financial question. What
can tell YOU of an economical administra-
ton? What do know of national honor
Not only a negro, but formeriya slave, never
having had days schooling, 1t is a wonder
that can say anything to you. l know notn-
ing, though once the president OF bank. l
know nothing of currency, though one thing
l know-that this is no longer slave coun-
try, that no slave can be seen in this land
from the rising of the sun to the going down
thereof. The bloody stress OF war is now
over, and the black man is free. The cOun-
try is safe unless by your votes you give it
back again into the hands Of that party that
nearly led it to destruction. | come before
you 10 make an appeal for my race, over
which great danger impends. beseech
you to shelter US from the storm. The COL
ored people of the South in case of Demo-
cratic victory, apprehend their utter extinc-
tion. All the malgn elements of the old re-
belhon are being stirred up in the South, and
they propose to drive us forth as Spain drove
| forth the Moor. They tell you enough has
been done for the negro. l tell you all you
can do for the next fifty years will not atone
for the wrong and oppression OF two hundred
years. The Hebrews took jewels away from
Egypt; Russia gave lands to her serfs. But
the four millions of slaves had no jewels and
no land. They were turned loose among
people who hated them. The old master has
ITo%4 I:o A md ri u.
sands OF them. But despite neglect and des-
titution they have increased We negroes
are permanent part of the country. Who
are the black people who ask your protection?
They were the only loyal people to be found
south of Mason and Dixons line during the
war. Atfliction taught appreciation of us
when the front of the loyal army was melt
ing away like the snow in early summer, when
the recruiting sergeant was marching up and
down your streets, foot sore and weary, call
ing young men and strong men to 60 to the
front and fill gaps made by rebel powder,
when every village in the North was draped
in weeds of mourning for your sons. When
the fate Of the country trembled in the bal
ance you called upon this class. Abraham
Lincoln-Father Abraham-called, and we
came full two hundred thousand strong, and
with our strong iron arms and fingers clutch
ed the musket, and side by side with you
marched upon the ramparts of the enemy and
gave victory to the Republican party We
are now exposed to the hate generated by
chagrin that this people caused the defeat of
the Confederacy. We entreat you to know
something in the world dearer than questions
of currency or party, to stand by and save
us few years more, until the old rebels die
out and wehavea chance to present ourselves
to hands unstained by treason