Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-09-26
FRED DOUGLAS.
THE OLD MANS TRIUMPH IN THE
LOUISVILLE CONVENTION.
An Address Full of the Spirit of His
Younger Days-Tbe Convention Finally
Fully Organized, Though Delayed by the
Confusion of Many Takers,


Younger Days-Tbe Convention Finally
Fully Organized, Though Delayed by the
Confusion of Many Takers,
LOUISVILLE, Sept. 25.-Since Fred
Douglass has been free man, he has
probably not been prouder than when he
walked down the hall to the presidents
desk this morning. The really fine look
ing old apostle of his race was dressed for
the occasion. His white hair never stream
ed in the wind more bravely nor was his
step ever frmer. He had won victory,
it seemed to white and black alike here,
and he had right to feel elated. White
and black had come to hear the most cele-
brated colored man in the world. Lea d
ing lawyers, merchants, doctors and mill
tarv men of the white race sat on the plat
form and on the outskirts of the hall. 1t
va,a scene to enthuse one, and Douglas
felt it. He had a message to send to the
country and he sent it in excellent form.
Referring to the old days when slavery
haunted the land he passed quickly TO
those better and brighter days which
brought freedom, education and enfran-
chisenent. Referring to the causes lead
ing to the convention he said mo rea-
sonable man will ever object to white men
holding national conventions, when they
are in our condition and we are in theirs.
Examples are plentifully abundant where
whites have hated the blacks, border men,
the Indian, the negro, the Chinese,and vice
uersa. We must move as people towards
the goal Of prosperity and education
Now that we are free we must like free
men take the reins in our own hand and
compel the world to receive us as
their equal. This city,
metropolitan in size, cosmopolitan
in its ways, is still not free and liberal
enough in opinions to receive Us as equals
| in public buildings and hotels. This is
| why we are now sitting in national con-
vention. We have been given numerous
platforms, but we are still in the same
condition. What we want is not words
and epitaphs in our praise, but actions.
We have never been helped, but assistance
comes from all sides to help US in our
downward course. If we come as cart
| drivers or servants we are received, but
when we come as scholars or statesmen the
color line is raised. The colored man is
an oppressed, an object race in
th, United States. Trades unions
refused him admission; mechanics
refused him as an apprentice, and
everywhere he sees the same old contempt
and despite follow him. He is spurned
from the gates and compelled to seek a
resting place of his own. Il ne applies
for admission to college or aspires to
education or profession the race line IS
again drawn. That is what we are here for
to raise this line and make the blacks the
equal of the whites. The cause lies more
in the diseased imagination of the Ameri-
cans than in firm belief. We are here to
see to it that men of our color accused of
crime shall have fair trial; that all these
outrageous lynchings be stopped. Our
| business is to organize for our rights and
| for redress of our wrongs. Some say
that we should not hold this
| convention for it menaces the Republican
party. Parties are made for men and not
men for parties. My hat was made for my
head, not my head for my hat. If parties
do right, stand by them, but when they do
not uphold their principles laid down in
! platforms, down with them. Follow no
party blindly. We have 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 any
place is opened for the public, everybody
who is recognized as citizen by law, has
the right to enter. This does not make
men equal. Talent and intelligence are
always triumphant. When speak to an
intelligent man five minutes forget all
about color. Now about political equality
I never was politician, began my career
as a pleader for the aggrandizement
of my race and am not
afraid to tell what think
about all kinds of equality. This stamping
out of the black Republicans of the south
has been done in face Of the Republican
party. This convention should implore
congress for the restoration of Justice
and for abolition of this most detestable
state of affairs. Make the constitution
practically what it is theoretically and
there will be an end to all this filth of the
ballot box ana to all injustice of the color
line. The New York Euening Post makes
a great mistake when it says, "Be modest,
you have been but twenty years out of
| bondage" These Office holders are afraid
of our aspirations. We aspire and will
continue to do so. 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 polit,
zeal preferment. We cannot ignore the
fact that to this is to be attributed the de-
graduation of the race. Elevate one of our
class to the vice presidency Or to position
in the cabinet and our equality will have
been established. We are not prepared as
yet, but let US aspire to these positions
which all can fill. We hold it self evident
that a nation made up of all varieties
should not be governed by one class.
Where there is ruling class there is sub
ject class and when the day comes when
this nation is governed by one class it
ceases to be "a government of the people,
for the people, and by the people,
The above is but a bare outline of
long and eloquent address, spoken with
an earnestness which showed the faith of
the speaker in the destiny of his people.
The applause was generous enough to suit
the most exacting.
At conclusion delegate from Louisiana
moved that the address be adopted as the
address of the convention and sent to
congress. Several amendments were
moved and rejected and the original mo-
tion was almost unanimously adopted.
Hhnx, -