The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-09-29
DAY DISPATCHES.
Fred Douglass Speech in the
Colored Convention.
O'Donnell the Slayer OF Carey
on Trial.
A Ringing Speech by Fred Doug
laSS

| LOUISVILLE, Sept. 25.-This was a
proud day for Fred. Douglass. He
walked down the hall to the presi-
dents chair, dressed for the OCCASION,
and the white hair of this fine old
| man streamed in the wind more
bravely than ever before. His step
was firm and the victory was his own.
Lawyers, merchants and doctors had
assembled to hear the most celebrated
cOlOred man in the world. Douglass
felt it. He had a message to send to
the country and sent it in excellent
form. He referred briefly to the old
days when the spectre of slavery haunt
ed the land; and then passed on to
those better and brighter days which
brought freedom, education and
enfranchisement. After referring
to the causes leading to the conven-
tion, he said: Now that we are free,
We must, like free men, take the reins
in our own hands and compel the
world to receive us as their equals"
They had been given platform, but
idle words would not suffice; action
was needed. When the colored race
come as Cart drivers and servants they
are received, but never as scholars
and statesmen, and they were to-day
an oppressed and abject race. The
Trades Union refuse the coloret
man admission, mechanics withhold
apprenticeship and when he dies the
old hatred follows him to the grave.
The race line debars him from COL
leges and professions. They were
here to raise the lie and make him
the equal of the whites. They were
in convention to secure fair trials for
cOlored men and see that all these
Outrageous lynchings be stopped.
Their business was to organize for
their rights and the redress Of their
wrongs. Continuing, he said. "Some
say we should not hold this conven-
ton as it menaces the Republican
party; but parties are made for men
and not men for parties. MY hat was
made for my head not my head for
my hat. II parties do right, stand by
them, but when they d. not, refuse
to uphold them. The principles laid
down in a platform are known, but it
was for them to follow no party
blindiy.
When l speak to an intelligent man
for five minutes I forget all about
color. l only know about political
equality. l never was politician
began nv career as pleader for
the aggrandizement OF my race, and
am not afraid to tell what | think
Ot all kinds of equality. This stamp
ing out of the black Republicans in
the South has been done in the face
Of the Republican party, and this con-
vention should implore Congress
for The execution OF justice
and also for the abolition
of this most detestable state OF
affairs; to make the constitution
practically what it is theoretically.
There will be an end to all this pnllu-
tion Of the ballot box. The New
York Eoening Post makes a great
mistake when it says: "Be patient;
you have seen twenty years of bond
age" Continuing, Douglass said.
"Other office holders are afraid of our
aspirations. We do aspire and will
continue to do 50. We have heard
the voice of Jacob and felt the
hand of Esau. We shall never
cease to be despised and
excluded class as long as we
are shut out from political
preferment. We cannot ignore the
fact that to this is to be attributed
the degradation Of the race. Elevate
one OF our class to the Vice -Presiden-
cy, or to Il position in the cabinet, and
our equality shall have been estab-
lished.
We are not prepared for this yet;
but let us TO aspire to those positions
which we can fill. 1t holds lnself
evident that na ION made up of ali
varieties shou d not be governed by
one class. When there is a ruling
clas- there is a subject class; and
when the day comes that this nation
is governed by one class it will CEASE
to be government Of the people, for
the people and by ,he people.
The above is but bare outline of
a long and eloquent address. The
speaker was generously applauded.
At its conclusion a delegate from
Louisiana moved that the address be
adopted as the address Of the conven-
ti0n and sent to Congress. This mo-
tiOn Was almost unanimously adopted.
Then came a scene of confusion. On
a motion to appoint a committee on
further organization, for hours the
dispute went Gu. Holland, Of Wash
ingtOn, pre- .ided, and Douglass vainly
sought to bring order out uf chaos.
Finally a call of States Was had and a
committee on organization appointed
by States. 1t resulted, after anotaer
long delay, in the selection of long
list of vice-presidents and the ap-
pOlntment OF committees on civil
rights, education, rules and addresses
to re Ort Tomorrow. The cOnven-
ton then took a recess.
Death by an Accidental Shot.
CHICAGO. Sept. 25.- Shortly before
one O'clock this afternoon Lyman
Blair. o. the long established and
heavy grain commission firm of Blair