The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-03-19

when l think Of how long our fathers
were slaves, / am amazed. Why.
just think Of it! This world has
only been fit for a gentleman to live
in fifty years. Laughter. No it has
not. 1t was not until the year 1908
that Great Britain abolished the slave
trade. Up to that time her Judge,
sitting upon the bench in the name OF
justice, the priests occupying the pull
pit in the name Of universal love,
owned stock in slave ships and lux
uriated in the profits Of piracy and
murder. 1t was not until the year
1908 that the United States abolished
the slave-traie between this and other
countries, but preserved it between
the States. 1t was not until the 18th
day of August. 1888, that Great Brit
ain abolished human slavery in her
colonies; and it was not until the 1st
day ofJanuary, 1862, that Abraham
Lincoln wiped from our flag the stig-
ma Of disgrace [Great applause.
Abraham Lincoln-in my judgment
the grandest man ever president Of
the United Ststes. continued applause1
and upon whose monument could be
truthfully written: "Here lies the
only man in the history Of the world
who, having been clothed with almost
absolute power. never abused it ex-
cept ON the side Of mercy" Loud
and prolonged applause. Think. l
say. how long We chung 8 the instr
tuition of human slavery! How long
iashes upon the naked hack were the
legal ten,icr for labor performed
Think Of it! when the pulpit Of thisco
try deliberately and wilfully chang
ed the cross Of Christ into q whipping
post, Think of it.! And tell me If /
am right when 1 say this world has
only been fit for gentleman to live
in 50 years. Laughter.] l hate with
} every drop ofmy blood every form Of
tyranny. ] hate every form Of slave
~. I hate dictation-I want some
: thing like liberty; and what do I
mean by that? The right to do any
thing that does not interfere with the
happiness of another. physically.
Liberty Of thought includes the right
to think right and the right to think
, wrong. Why? Because that is the
. means by which we arrive ut truth;
and il we knew the truth before, we
: needn't to think. Laughter.] You
may say to me, how far is it across
Z this room? I saw 100 feet, Sup
pose it's 1O5, have committed any
: crime? l made the best guess 1 could.
D Laughter. You may ask me about
> anything. examine it honestly.
D and when l get through what shall i
= tell YOU. what / thi.,k or what YOU
9 think ? Laughter. What should I
J do? There is book put in my hands.
q They say that it is the Koran that
b was written by inspiration read it.
: / read it; chapter seven, entitled THE
o Cow" chapter nine, entitled the
n bee" and 80 ON. I read it. When 1
r get through with it, suppose ! think
& in my heart and in NV brain, II
] don't believe word Of it," and you
. ask me what1lo you think Of it,
r What should l say? Now, honor
J. bright: Laughter. Should Just
= make a clean bres-:: Of it and say up
e on my honor II don't believe it -
e Then il it right for you to say that
o fellow will steal [laughter] = that fel-
II low is dangerous man-he is q rob
,, Der! Now. suppose read the book
e called the bible; and read it, honor
: bright. and when / get through with
it l make up my mind that book was
!, written by men and along comes
!. the preacher of my church, and he
: saws. "Did you read that hook p
4 81 did," DO you think it is divine
= " inspired ?" I say to myself. Now.
y Il I say it is not. they will never
% send me to Congress from this dis.
. trict ON EARTH" Laughter. Now.
70 h"ror bright. what ought l do
Ought to say. Il have read it /;
:; have been honest about it /; l don't be.
y lieve it?" Now, ought to say that il
:, that is q real transcript Of my mind.
!. or ought / to commence hemmine
. !. and having and pretend that I do
= believe it. and 60 away with the re.
!, spect Of that man, hating myself for 4
cringing coward! Now which? For
7 nv part would rather q man would
! tell me what be honestly thinks, and
I, = be will preserve his manhood, / had
|. rather be a manly unbeliever than an
= unmanly believer. (Great applause,
= / think / will stand higher at the
= judgment day, if there is one. and
81 stand with IS good q chance to get my
r. case dismissed without costs laughter
!. ss q man who sueaks through Life
\ pretending he believes what he does
= not. Laughter and prolonged up.
!. plause. tell you one thing, there
= Is going to be one free fellow in this
8 world. am going to say my say.
! tell you ; I am going to do it kindly.
= I am going to do it distinctly, but ]
y am going to do it. Laughter.
Now If men have been slaves, what
= about women: Women have been
:. the slaves Of slaves, and that's .
!, pretty hard position to occupy for
. lite. They have been the slaves Of
slaves and to my judgment it took
3 millions of ages for women to come
from the condition Of abject slavery
!, up to the institution Of marriage.
:. - Let me say right here, tonight,
y regard marriage as the hottest insti
: tuition among men. Without the
= ireside there Is no human advance
|. ment; without the family relation
there Is no lite worth living. Every
: good government is made up Of good