National Republican., 1883-10-23

not trust themselves. They appeal to the
supreme court for assistance. They wish to
be barricaded by q constitutional amendment.
Such people can be described only in the lam
puage Of Walt Whitman. They arc the 81 inns
mutable grnnitic pudding heads ofthe world
In this country all rights must be pre-
served, all wrongs must be redressed through
the ballot. The coored man has, in his care
and keeping, part of the sovereign power of
the nation, At the ballot box he is the equal
of judges, senators, and presidents, and his
vote, when counted, is the equal Of any other.
He must use this sovereign power for his own
protection and for the preservation of his
children. Tho ballot is his sword and shield.
II is his political providence II is the rock
on which he stands, the column against
which he leans. He should vote for no man
who does not believe in equal rights for all.
lie should not be mislcd by party cries, nor
by vague promises in political platforms He
should vote for tho men and for the party that
will protect him-for congressman who believe
in libcrty--for judges who worship Justice
whose brains are not tangled by tcchncal-
! ties and whose hearts are not pGtriliCd by
precedcnts, and for presidents who will pro-
tect the blackcst citizen from tho tyranny Of
the whtcst state. AS you cannot trust the
word of some white people, and rs some black
people do not always tell the truth you must
compel all candidates to put their principles
in black and white. OF ono thing you can
friends. The humane, the civilized, the
just, tho most intelligent the grandcst, are
on your side. The sympathies of tho noblest
are with you. Your enemies arc tho enemies
of liberty, of progress of justice The white
men who make the whito race honorable be-
licve in equal rights for YOU Stand
by your friends. Do not hold the re-
publican party responsible for this de-
cision unless tho republican party indorses
| IL. Had tho question been submitted
| to that party, IL would have been decided
| exactly the other way-at least hundred to
one That party gave you the thirteenth,
fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments. They
were given in good faith. These amendments
put you on u constitutional and political
| equality with whto men. That they have
been narrowed in their application by tho
supreme court is not the fault of the republi-
can party. 1t Is not for me to give you ad-
vice. Your conduct has been above all praise.
You have been rs patient Us the very earth.
| You have been law abiding and industrious.
You have not Extensively asserted your rights.
You have been modest and forgiving. You
have returned good for evil. All can ask
is, that you continue to do as you have done.
Educate Your children. Strive to make your
selves independent. Work for homes. DO
not be satisfied to work simply for others
work for yourselves. Labor to become the
masters of yourselves.
In conclusion, Col. Ingersoll said he saw
no reason why the white man should hate the
black man, but If the tables were turned we
would have cause to do 3d.
"They do not ask for revenge. They sim
ply ask for justice. They are willing to for
get the past--willing to hide their scars
anxious to bury the broken chains, and to
forget the misUries and hardshps, the tears,
.and agones of two hundred years.
"The old issues are again upon us Is this
a nation? Havo all citizens Of the United
States equal rights without regard to race or
color? Is it the duty of the general govern.
ment to protect its citizens? Can the federal
arm be palsied by tho action or non.action Of
q state?
"Another opportunity is given for the
people of this country to take sides.
According to my belief the supreme thing
for every man to do is to be absolutely true u
himself.
Gall consequences, whether rewards or pun
ishment, whether honor and power, or dis
grace and poverty, are as dreams undreamt
| have made my choice. / have taken my
stand. Where my brain and heart so, there
/ will publicly and openly walk.
Doing this is my highest conception oi
duty. Being allowed to do SO by others Il
liberty.
"If this is not now free government
if citizens cannot now be protected, Ii
the three amendments have been under
! mined by the supreme court, we mus
have another; and if that fails, thel
another. And we must neither stop no
pause until tho constitution shall become {
. perfect shield for every right of every hdnlat
being beneath our flag"