Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-09-29
I,OIJSIyHIE. KY, Sept. p.

IOI-ISIvILLE KY, Sept. p.
When Fred Douglass, at ten O'Clock,
came into Liedcrkranz Hail to deliver his
speech he found very large crowd in at
tendance, many white persons having
come to hear his plea for his people. On
the stage, besides leading colored nfcn, sat
ex-Attornev General James Speed, of Lin
coins Cabinet, General James a. Eakln,
United States Army, retired, and number
OF other whites of prominence. Douglass
spoke two hours. his speech being logical,
often humorous, and always Interesting.
He sketched the history of his race since
the emancipation. He was frequently sar-
castirally severe on the Government, and
incidentally on the Republican party. He
was listened to with interest, and received
frequent and generous applause
Since Fred Douglass has been free man
he has not been prouder than when he
walked down the hall to the Presidents
desk this morning. The really hne-lookIng
old colored apostle of his race was dressed
for the occasion His white hair never
strearned on the wind more bravely. nor
was his step ever firmer. He had won
victory, it seemed to white and black alike
there and he had Il Eight to feel elated.
White and black had come to hear the
most celebrated colOred man in the world.
Leading lawyers, merchants, doctors ana
military men of the white race sat on the
platform and on the outskirts of the hall.
il was scene to enthuSe, and Douglass
felt it. He had n message to send 10 tne
country and he sent it in excellent form.
referring to the old days, when the spec
ter of slavery haunted the land, he passed
quickly to those of better and brlSnUer
days, which brought freedom, educatioLi,
enfranchisement. Referring TO the
causes leading TO the Convention ne salu
"No reasonable man would ever opJect 10
white men holding n National convention
were they in our condition and we In thelrS.
ExamDIes are abundant where whites have
hated blacks, bordermen. the Indians, nne
negro the Chinese and vice versa. W.
must move people toward the goai ol
prosperity and education. NO" tIa' W
6re free we must. like free men, take tne
reins in our hands and compel the woIio
to receive us their equals. ms cIty'
metropolitan in size, cosmopolitan IN ideas,
is still not free and liberal enough IN oPin-
ions to receive us as equois In Puoilc ~ ~puiIu-
iugs and hotels. This is why we are now
sitting in National convention. We nave
been given numerous platforms, but we are
still in the same condition. What we want
is not words, idle epithets in our praise,
but action. We have never been helped,
bu: assistance comes from all sides to help
us in our downward course. LII we come as
cart drivers or servants we are tolerateu'
but when we come as scholars or states
men the color line is raised. Inc
colored man is anoppressed ana ap]ect race
in the United States. Trade-unions refused
him admission: merchants refused him as
an apprentice. and even when ne dieS .ne
same old contempt and despite follo"s niiu,
he is spurned from the gates and conPeileu
to seek a resting-plac of his own. - n
applies for admission to colleges, OF aSPnoS
to education and a profession, the race,line
Is again drawn. That is what we are hete
for to raise this line and make MIN Cne
equal of the whites The cause lies mere