The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-27
Fred Douglass Speaks.

LOUISVILLE. Sept. 25.-When Fred
Douglass, at 10 o'clock, came into
Liederkranz Hall 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, be-
sides leading colored men, sat eX-
Acknowledgement James Speed, of
Lincoln's cabinet; Gen. Cas- a. Eakin,
of the United States army. retired,
and number of other whites of
prominence. Douglass spoke two
hours, his speech being logical and
often humorous and always interest
ing. He sketched the history of his
race since their emancipation and was
frequently sarcastical,y y severe on the
government and incidently on the
Republican party. He was listened to
with interest and received frequent
and generous applause. After the
conclusion of his speech the conven-
tion labored in vain to complete its
organization. Two many orators were
on the floor, and Green, the temporary
chairman, who presided while Doug
lass rested from his eXertion, was am
able to control them.
Since Fred Douglass has been a
freedman he probably has not been
prouder than when he walked down
the hall to the presidents desk this
morning. The really fine looking old
apostle OF his race was dressed for the
occasion. His steps ere never firmer.
He had won victory, it seemed. to
white and black alike there, and he
hnd right to feel elated. White and
black had come to hear the most cele-
brated colored man in the world.
Leading lawyers, merchants, doctors
and men of the white race sat on the
platform and outskirts of the hall. 1t
was scene to enthuse, and Douglass
felt it. He had message to send to
the country, and he sent it in elegant
form, referring to old days, when the
spectre of slavery haunted the land,
but he passed quickly to those better
and brighter days which brought free
dom. education and enfranchisemt mt.
Referring to the cause leading to the
convention he said: mo reasonable
man will ever object to the white
men holding national convention,
were they in our condition ana we in
theirs. Examples are abundant where
the whites have held back border
men, the Indians, the negroes. the
Chinese, and vice versa. We must
move as people towards the goabof
prosperity and education. Now that
we are free we must be freemen and
take The reiDS in our hands and COM
pei the world to receive us as their
equal. This city, metropolitan in
size, cosmopolitan in ideas, is still not
free and liberal enough in opinions to
in hi n.
buildings and hotels. This is why we
are now sitting in national conven
tion. We have been given numerous
platforms, but we are still in the same
condition. What we want is not
words-idle epithets in our praise, but
actions. We have never been helped,
but assistance comes from all sides to
help us in our downward course. Ii
we come as cart drivers or servants
we are tolerated, but when we come
as scholars or statesmen, the color
line is raised. The colored men
are an oppressed and abject race
in the United States. Trades
unions refused him admission. Mer-
chants refused him as an apprentice,
and even when he dies the same old
contempt and despite follows him.
He is spurned from the gates, and
compelled to seek resting place of
his own. If he applies for admission
to colleges, or aspires to education
and profession, The race line Is again
drawn. That is what we are here for
to raise this line and make US the
equals of whites. The cause lies
more in the diseased Imagination of
the Americans than in the firm belief
that we are here to see to it thai
men of our color who are accused
of crime shall have a fair trial
that all the outrageous lynchings be
stopped. Our business is to organize
for our rights and for redress of our
wrongs. Some say we should not
hold the convention, for it means the
Republican party. Parties are made
for men, and not men for parties = my
hat was made for my head, nUT1ny
head for my hat. If parties do right,
stand by them; but if they do not
uphold their principles laid down III
platform down, down with him..
Follow no party blindly. We haze
learned how to talk, and let us speak
for ourselves. About civil rights,
every man is sole proprietor and lord
of his own house, but when place is
opened ID the public everybody reeog-
nized as citizen has right to enter.
This does not make men equal. Tai
ent and intelligence are always tri-
umphant.