The Portland daily press., 1884-12-30
Senator Hoar on the South.
The Senator Gives Mis Views of the
Southern Question 10 the Members of the
Massachusetts Club.


The Massachusetts Club dined at Young's
Hotel on Saturday, with number of we'll
known political men present. Senator George
F. Hosr was the first speaker after the pres
ident, and after graceful introduction he
said:
GeRtlemen:
We have still this unsettled question left
this undischarged dnty before us-which an
nonnces our obligation to the 6 100000 of our
fellow-citizsns 1pon whom We have conferred
the rights OF citizenship. Those 5000 900 will,
In fifty years, be 20, 600 000-all blacks and the
descendants of blacks in this country. Now,
the giving OF these people the benefits of edu-
cation, the uplifting of them to the high and
lofty plane OF citizenship, is a cause to which
any man, or assemblsge of men, or political
party, may well be proud to devote them
selves. (Applause.) For one I can say that
such cause has never been ont OF my mind
and never sh all. (Reuewed applause.) Why,
the religion, the history, the character, the
privileges and dignities OF the men of Massa-
chusetts are all solemn pledges to conse-
crate themselves to this canse. I have
never exactly understood the Puritans' con.
ception OF the fallen soul of man a laugh,
but do understand the conception OF the
hnman seul enfraDchised, redeemed and free,
and the elevating OF 20000,000 OF our fellow
countrymen to that conception of their destiny
either in this world or the next. Now, they
tell US we have had political power in this
country for so many years and yet have not
succeeded in securing to these masses their
rights. Gentlemen, the race of doughfaces is
not extinct [laughterl, and you can read in
Boston newspapers taunts and invectves
against your candidate for the presidency, be-
cause he has presumed to renind the Ameri.
can people that the result of the late election
was accomplished by crime and violence and
fraud. | think these gentlemen are going to
hear of this evil until it is remedied, whether
it CRATES on their nerves and stings their con-
sciences or not. Loud applause. l don't
know what else is worth talking about il the
usurpstion of political power in this country by
a minority be not. Mr.. Curtis, or one of his as
sociates told Us the other day that President
Cleveland is pledged to secure justice to the
negro OF the South. Now, Governor Clevelanas
acceptance of office ia pledge to the
contrary. How can man who knows that IL
the law and the Constitution had their way,
his competitor, and not he, would be iuaugu-
rated on the 4th OF next March, aud that he
owes his four years lease of power to the sup
preston of rights in the South-hoW can such
a man say he is pledged to the enforcement Of
those rights? (Applause). We had great
deal to contend against In the late struggle.
We had to contend against those prejudices
without the mitigation of which the negro can
never be restored to his rights. Then, again,
it has taken many years to bring the North to
the idea OF using the central power. We have
been working under great difficulty aud en-
barrassment. In conclusion, l think that Sc
curing upon his continent the spirit of equaii-
ty, of right, duty and political privllege-based
as 1t is, upon reverence for the individual soul
which Christianity inculcates-will leave to
the future system of laws, institutions and
administration under which these 20, 100000 of
men shall represent the black race in the man
hood and citizenship OF this republic. This
think, Ia cause to which, young and old, we
may not disdain to renew our VOWS and to
consecrste whatever may be left to us of SER
vice or of life. loud applause)