The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-03
CoLoRED MEN IN COUNCIL.
Fred. Douglass Asks that Equal
Rights be Accorded.

Louisville, September, 25.--W hee
Fred. Douglass at 10 o'clock came into
Ieiderkranz Hall to deliver his speech,
he found very large crowd in atten-
dance. many white people having come
to hear his plea for his people. On
the stage besides the leading colored
men sat ex-Attorney General James
Speed. OF Lincoln's cabinet; Gen. Jas.
4 Eakin. u. S. A., retired, and num-
her Of other whites of prominence.
Douglass spoke two hours, his speech
being logical often humorous, and al
ways interesting. He sketched the his
tory of his race since emancipation, was
| frequently and sarcastically severe on
the government, and incidentally on
/ the Republican party. lie was listened
| to with interest, and received frequent
and generous applause.
Since the conclusion of his speech the
convention has in vain labored to COM
plete its organization. Too many ora
tors are on the floor, and Green, tenn |
4 porary chairman, who is. presiding while
Douglass rests from his recent exertlon,
Is unable to control them.
Since Fred. Douglass has been a free
man he has probably not been pronder
than when he walked down the hall to
, the presidents desk this morning. The
really fine looking old colOred apostle OF
, II his race was dressed for the occasion;
, his white hair never streamed in the
, wind more bravely, nor was his step
d ever firmer. He had won a victory 1t
: seemed to white and black alike here,
{ and he had a right to feel elated. White
n and black had come to hear the most
g celebrated colored man in the world
Leading lawyers, merchants, doctors
4 and military men of the white race sat
= ON the platform and on the outskirts OF
1.-The hall. It was scene to enthuse, and
= Dnllplsss felt it. He had message TO
! send to the country, and sent it in ex-
Il eeIlent form. Referring to the old days,
q when the spectre of slavery haunted the
Il land he passed quickly to those better
and brighter days, which brought free
y dom. education and enfranchisement.
Referring to the causes leading to the
convention, he said: No reasonable
.. man will ever object to white men hold
:. ing a national convention when they
nr are in our condition and we in theirs
he Examples are plentifully abundant
d where the whites have hated the blacks
hordermen the Indians; the negro tht
ad Chinese. and vice versa. We must NOV
IS a 4 people toward the goal Of prosper
itv and education. Now that we ar
- free we must, like free men, take th
n reins in our own hands and compel tn
world to receive us as their equals. I'M
- e;tv. metropolitan IN size, eosmopof
tian In ideas, Is still not free and liberia
i. enough in opinions to receive us
s. - eanals in public buildings and hotel
=, and this Is why We are now sitting
!. B national convention. We have bee
s. given numerous platforms, but We a.
still IA the same condition. w bat
81 want Is not words, idle eplthets IN o.
nraise. but actions. We have new
81. hean helped, but assistance comes frol
81. au sides to help rs in our d0WnWal
Is. course. IF We come as cart drivers
- y. servants we are received, but when
come as scholars or statesmen the col
l;ne Il raised. The c0I0red man ls
Il Impressed and abjeet race IN the enit'
: ~ eFfsfee Trades unions refused him
mission. mechanics refused him q
r-r.,,rentite. and lie Is taken when he 81
acn 81 sosne old cemetery, aud cortem
3 = e,.d despife follows him. de Is sptlfn
Aid. fron, the gates and be Is compelled
~aak i resting place Of his own II
aqs srr,linr for admission to college OF
e = ,sssrps fo Cd ducation and pFotressl9n, Z
III. 1rsea line 4 again drawn. That y VI
ue- - - here for. TO raise this line
r,aI-e Is the equals Of the whites.
are ss,.se lies more IN the deceased INA
glng nation of the Americans than p .
luids 1'aiief We are here t0 see to Is q
VIII r..sr, az os,r color, accused Of crime, 81
lave s fsir trial: that al these oatra
cap ...,a Ienrhiftps be stopped. Our p