Huntsville gazette., 1883-10-27

q oilities to pass the measure OF all meas
nj es the Force Bill. but you VIII remember
who caused its d{feat.
In reference td the question OF gratitude,
granting that FREEDOM came as military
necessity would that relieve us from being
grateful to the Republic an party. The
next question iu mind is what ;cieated the
necessity, and what party was ,instrumen-
tai through believe in Divine agency IN
bringing about fhe results growing out OF
this necessity. Mr. Lincoln was 1.-THE candl-
date of the Republican party admitting his
views upon the slavery question. The
pressure of tie slavery question caused
the organization OF the Republican party,
and nominated ,Jno c. Freentont as its
candidate for president Although defeat
ed and receiving heavy blow by the Dred
Scott discussion they maintained their
ground and fnally elected Mr.. Lincoln,
who still held it is true his fofmer convic>
tons on the Slavery Question: | presume
it is upo this ground we base bur non obli-
CATION. But Upon the other hand suppose
the friends Of freedom had lost sight OF the
Negro and granted hearing :to the COM
missioners from the seceied States 10 he-
gotiate an adjustment of hll questions
| RIOWluR Oul fYlO oCPoioStch - SS
| States Congress was strongly republican
and while it Had done beforef the hearing
was asked, everything to qufl the appre-
hension of thF slave States, II was in their
power to hayb Nationalized Slavery as MIR.
| Lincoln chaYged Stephen A. Douglass with
attempting to do. But q conference was
refused. And matters assuIaed their orig
inal status. Hence the military necessity.
What was ihe status of the Negro after
the war, was! mot every StatP constitution
the same in effect as beforS! How many
were there Of the cOlored people capable
after reconstruction in the South OF assist
ing in charging the orga1lc laws OF the
states? 1t not ouly requiref great lnteiiec'
buf vast deal of moral courage to fathel
state constitutional provsiots which would
put the Negro upon proper basis OF sui
lrage We have been taugHt to be grateiu
TO the parta The illustriohs Douglass ha'
partly learn Ed ul our lessoA. On page AL
History of lis life, speaking in reference
to suffrage be says the matter was takel
out Of the hapds Of colored delegations ant
mere individual effort and became a par
of the polict of the Republican party. and
President Grant with ohar4 4cteristio nerve
and clear perception of jsstice promptly
recommended The great ansendment to the
constitution, by which coloted men are to-
day invested with complete citizenship, the
right to VOTE and be voted for.
Many otter words CONVEYING gratitude
can oe founl u in his valuable work. A book
every American should read as o part OF
American History.
| thought that it would Ie the purpose
of the Convention to exhibit the real ne
cessity for educational helE, that far from
being composed Of NUMEROUS politicians,
the school master, the preacher, the trades
man, and farmers from among our race,
would lend their talents AID experienced
advice toward some line of action for the
future guidance of the race;
But that it would be composed of some
who know the President failed to appoint
to office, and OF course prsjudiced in the
beginning, was far from Ihy expectation
and in many instances the mass of our
people. | do not deny the business of our
cause, but do say as is said above that |
thought,
general appeal in consequence OF the
great amount of illiteracy, would be made
without reference to party or politics.
Another noticeable feature! worthy of at
tention is the absence from such repre-
sentative assembly of some of the most
prominent Ihen in the country. Where was
Bruce. Pine hback, LangstoD, Turner, and
others Of honorable distinction What
could be the cause of their .absence? Are
they unmindful of the necessities Of their
race, and deserve, as l presume, was in
tended for them the taunt indicated by the
great speech.
The Hon. Fred Douglass IS, no doubt, a
leading man of the race, aad whose fore
sight and judgement is entitled to national
consideration. Still, like any other indi-
vidual, he may sometimes a%low his infex-
ible will to over balance his good judge
ment. am free to say that the speech con-
tains innumerahle truths.
There are any number of Republicans in
the party WHO use the Negro for objective
means, and also act in the same manner as
Democrats SO far as this being a white
mans COVER nment is coueerned, while
there are OF hers who will: make things
equal according to merit and worth.
Is MIR. Dou glass speech misunderstood
1t may be possible that 1 have failed to
catch the inspiration of it. lit nhy be that
its meaning is "that whatever bpligatior
we owed the party, has BEEN }lfiiciently
paid, and We must be credited fifth set
tlement for our former loyalf." The
great body Of facts upon the question OF
labor, euacot.ou ana political ed llality can
not be gainsaid. Yet cannot Ne that any
breaking off from the p.rty !wJlli nate
rally help US in tbs South. q ,caliy we
may be able to make friends .44iividually,
especially when we concede tlfs they ale
our best friends. and Tor inS llce, me
day we pass Drug estaDIliI ucut taat
keeps u soda fountain, and II 4ke app lica.
tion for d-arlght, to be t! 1--WE don't
sell to ris3er,i Don't let u|( (ecrlve our.
selves
I feel sore veFy often aud appreciate
the manhood and indepen@7nce' Of Mr..
Douglas, but ,fr. Doualtvs + Il differ
ent sphefc from lie rest of,a' mass i his
illitera;o brethsFn in the jlHtl. and he
might yet in his old days be i great bless
ing to toe race if he wo'lld como SJuth III
live among them the last of his, days and
reflect upon the yoTth tie. light of his
knOWletlra