Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-25
REPUBLICAN MEANNESS.
SENATOR BAYARD's SPEECH AT COLUMBIA

SENATOR BAYARD'S SPEECH AT COLUMBIA
Another thing l would like to call
your attention to is the attitude OF the
Republican party towards the colored
people of the country. There has been
meanness towards thcnegroes that meets
my most hearty contempt. They knew
the negroes were ignorant. They knew
they were weak and not able to protect
themselves, and what have they done
They have professed to be their warm
friends and advisers. They have told
them they were fit to occupy any station
in the government. They told them
they were the equals of any man IN
every respect, and what has it all come
to when the opportunity is given to
give substantial proof Of their love and
admiration l challenge any man OF
any color or party to name single col
cred man who holds an office under the
United States government by the vote
of the Northern Republican party. l
have seen much of this thing. | have
been in Washington twelve years ana
have been taxpayer and know whereof
speak. In 1870 they began to apply
TO the Republican Congress and to make
the District of Columbia what they sad
was black mans paradise, Il place
where the negro would have to work
very little or not at all and could sup
port himself by voting the Republican
ticket. Laughter.l Well, it brought
great many there, but things went on
40 that they confess themselves they
had begun. They began by destroying
The house of delegates, in which colored
men sat, and they destroyed the govern
Orship and the board of public works,
and they had spent not less than $780,
900 on the streets of that town, and that
was done by the action Of the Rcpubli.
can Congress under law signed by a
Republican president, being no less q
man than Gen. Grant himself, and to-
day and for the last six or seven years
no black man has been allowed to cast
vote in the District of Columbia anc
no white man either. Here this guar
dian of the public liberties, this part!
that sets itself up as great example
and apostle of all that is correct AM
right in the Republican government
has stricken down that right which lie
at the very basis of our Institutions
mean the right of suffrage. No maj
for five or six years past, white or black
could 90 to the polls and express hi
opnion in the District of Columbia a
to whether he is well or ill-governed
fApplause.l went down to Mississippi
in ,June, 1876, as the minority membe
of a committee of investigation. Ih
majority of that committee was CON
Dosed of Mr.. Boutwell, of Massachusetts
Mr.. Cameron of Wisconsin and Mr.. M
MILAN of Minnesota. They called u
the people to ask them whether the
had been deprived of the right to hol
office and what had been done to the'
in elections and about all their right
and had some conversation with theS
people and | wish to call your after
tion to the fact that there is not to-da
IN the State Of Massachusetts, sing
colored man holding any Office, nor
Minnesota, and therefore when they a.
down here expressing solicitude that tt
black man should have office they a
dcceitful because in their own hom
they take care that nothing of the XII
shall happen. [Cheers.] So that
think we have right on the score
common sense and justice to arralgn III
party for it's gross insincerlty III tho
very things Of which its members pr
claim themselves the especial champion