National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-02
Their Present Political Status in the North
and South.
Sharp Contrasts as to Their Treatment
in the Two Sections.
The Devotion They Have Shown 10 tho Union i
n War and in Peace.
Eloquent Address of Rev. G. 8. Smith, In
Chicago.


I ssry of the issuing of the emancipation
proclamation was celebrated in this city by
large gathering of colored people at the
Central Music hall this evening. Rev. Q. S.
Smith, of Bloomington. ILL.,, delivered an
eloquent address on tho political status of the
colored American citizen. After the applause
which greeted Mr.. Smiths appearance had
subsidized, he said
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: In addressing our.
selves TO the discussion of the political status OF
the colored American there at ouce opens before
us question deserving OF larger notice than
whatever standpoint the subject may be viewed,
It presents complex condition. In the north IL
Is one thing; In the south II is another. IN the
As the that Of all other classes of citizens
He has an unobstructed path TO the
ballot box and exercises his sni rage
when cast counts for one. and CARRIES
with It all the force aud meaning that attaches to
latitude so far the right and privilege of voting
is concerned, he has nothing to complain Of But
we turn from this pleasing condition to one less
favorable and satisfactory, which we approach by
asking the question: To what extentis he allowed
TO enjoy and exercise his suffrage III eleven OF the
states Of the union, called by name Kentucky,
Florida, Texas, Georgia, North and South Caro-
lima, and that hell of murderous assault, Nirgi.
G ifee eaen, soesled but forced 10
STATE oil POLITICAL nOnenUty by tnAt 1nOQprn
Moloch, a'soid SOUTH" He Is armed with the
ballot; but his opposers, with the ballot and shot
gum too; while his constitutional rights are chal-
lenged by cownrdly assassins and rebel hate. In
three states. in several congressional districts and
in many counties of Others, they are In the ma
jority; yet their political freedom is SO hampered
and restrained that their influence is scarcely
felt. This condition mas been brought about by
the determined purpose of the dominant element
In the south 10 render, SO far as possible The re-
construction measures of noneiiect by methods,
the recital of which becomes extremely painful,
aud which no Language can adequately portray,
cal arm of the colored citizens in their midst and
hedged in the approaches to the ballot box with
sholguns and missiles OF DEATH
They have tranpled on justice, violated every
principle OF right and law, aud by sheer brute
force accomplished what they could not effect by
they accomplished? a solid south"-eyery
fiber OF which is red with the blood of tho slain
victims of their hate and murderous assault, and
its every portal studded with their CHASTITY skulls
and whtened bones. Unaffected by the warnings
of the government, the outbursts of popular In.
dignation, the voice of conscience, the peaceful
tones of religion, the prayer of priests, or the en-
treaty of mans ennobhng attributes, they have
persisted in their dark and bloody waysuntil they
have made Virginia, the state tor which we had
some hope, answer TO the roll-can of a solid
south"
ton is frequently asked, "Why do the colored
Necessary, tight for their rights2' Fight? Why,
that has taken place in the History Of the nation,
whether occasioned by the appearance of for
eign foe, or the uprising Of an enemy at home, the
Coored soldier has heroically bravely borne his
part of tin battle in the republic defense Bunker
Hill, New Orleans Fort Wagner, Fort Pillow, and
ahundred or more other places tell in Silent but
eloquent speech the story of his loyalty and yaor
The one crown of glory that the colored American
can lay claim to is that of loyalty to his country
flag even though, for him, it has had more stripe
The south is indeed solid. Solid against the
genius and mission Of our socalled free repub.
t,,pt All Ian a
rights of man; solid against free speech; solid
against popular governments solid against the re-;
suits Of ne war soid o agans! ME freedom aud
rights of those who, when the nation hung in the
scales Of civil strife, while all around was he ard
the booming of cannon. the rattle of shot and
she'll the clash of bayones, the painful shrieks of
the wounded and dying, rushed from the cotton
fields, the cane brakes, the rice swamps, the slave
pen, and the auction block, shouldered their mus
kets, and following the light the northern star
the brightest OF all that burns in the vaulted
heavens snsShed victory from the laws Of defeat
ana planted them III triumph on liberty's uni
versal throne; aud that flag which they helped to
Save should now be their protection. In times of
war they fought to defend and project the nations
life, and in times of peace II Is the duty OF the M
ton to defend and protect them. But II is said
that the government is powerless to interfere in
these matters that these wrongs must be righted
by the states. This is favorite argument with
the apologists of southern despotism, especially
when the country is free from the excitement of II
national campaign. Now, assert upon the au
thOrty of the best writers on the science OF gov
ernment, that the end or object of government Is
enforce ITSELF since liberty and justice are con.
stlluent elements of legitimate government.
Blu am not satisfied TO rest here. adyancs a
step and boldly assert that government that a. =
kn0wleiges itself powerless 10 maintain the lib
erty Of its citizens aud protect them ia tue pace.
full and unrestrained exercise OF the rights and
privileges wnich II processes to accord and guar.
anteo TO them, is unfit to live, and ought 10 per-
ish beyond the memory of God and man. / care
nolhily about the so.caled rights of states when
my liberty is jeopardized and my constitutional
privileges trainped OH and denied Tor II is not to
The state OF which l may be citizen that | look
for help and redress. but to the government--the
power that created the sate-the great force that
controls all the springs and wheels of our national
concerns; and which requires OF me, as my II ST
laws and allegiance TO its flag. The authority and
power OF the nation is supreme, that Of the states
The time has come for us to prove earnest and
persistent in our demands that the liberty AID
citizenship of all the people shall be II reality and
l.-lt sham. To me liberty will always prove
mockery, and universal suffrage lie so loJg as
anywhere in this great land there Is found q Sill
sect, who is not allowed free aud untrammeled
access 10 the ballot box, aud the Judgment and
CHOICE which his ballot expresses sacredIy regis
deprived OF the rights pertaining TO the citizenship
state, is TO be u Samson shorn of strength aud
robbed of sight. In the name OF all the force and
meaning and value Of the royal prerogative en-.
bodied in the digniied, ennubling, aud blood
purchased title OF an American citizen,
i
ernment-not the government OF the "rcd shrtI'
of South Carolina, the budoZers' of Mssls,ippi ,
or the midday asSassins of Virginia but the NV
eminent Of the United States of America, founded
by the consent of the people, according TO II form
oftheir own choice, and for their defense, p.Olec
tiOn, und well being-Ihat they shall b. made Sc
cure In the exercise of their political rights. From
the great heart of the nation, through the arteries
oil lis majesty and power, there must be Sent out II
sufficient amount of loyal, patriotic, vltuliZlug
sediment and force " break the last cora Ot
sOulhcrn political despolisin ana lift up from be-
meath the feet Of bourbon tyranny int the SUM
light OF free political activity, us GENIAL and in
VigOraling as that which makes the citizen on the
pra ries OF Illinois look VITA PRIDE upon his cOuu
lry's lHg, nearly u million citizens, whose only
brand OF dishOnOr Is that they dark, anu whose
only crime is that they choose to bc republicans,
Secure 10 all The people OF the SOulha tree ballot aud
II fair count and inc head nnd body OF southern
bourDonsm may Wag the lnll oil us political aero
bats III the north as much MS II pleases but every
time they start toward Washington they VIII find
the way blocRadcd by the triumphant republican
hosts.
The colored voters of this country have followed
the fortunes OF The republican party with an UNI
paIallglvd degree OF loyalty aud stcHdlnslncss.
we have answered every r,ll call, ma ready
responded TO every sound of the tucsln OF political
warfare. In our Journcyinss with that party We
have been as constant and determined as was
Ruth In her journeying With Naomi DER Muab'S
plains. We nave snid TO that party: "WhilheT
thou gOest we will gO;" and AS the result OF our
known aud unmarked graves, tho victims of TIC
cruel aud damning hate OF the enemies of uniYer-
sui suffrage aud popular rights.
For, TO me, the protection Of the humblcs citizen
IN all the land is matter OF greater importance
than the success OF any political party But here
rises the "Banquo ghost of state rights agun
The union armies, at the command OF Il rCpubll.
Gun president, invaded the states and put down