The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-30

reply is thoroughly characteristic of the man,
and he easily vouchsafes the complete protec-
ton of the colored mans natural rights" by
the Democratic party He expresses un-
feigned establishment that any one could en-
terrain a doubt Of the friendly attitude Of the
Democratic party toward the colored man,
recently delivered from Democratic slavery
by the Republican party. He cites ''plank"
in that party's national platform, and then
pompously asks: "Can l use language that
will give stronger assurance to the colored
people that their rights, legal and constitu-
tional, will be respected and upheld by the
incoming administration The language is
all right, Mr. Hendricks, and the sentiment
is all that could be asked; but the truth remains,
Just the same, that some of the men who,
in convention at Chicago, voted for the Demo
cratic assurances given the colored men, went
back to their several States and saw to it that
the colored mans political rights were not
resurrected from the grave in which they
were buried by Democratic red-shirters, bull
dozers and assassins. This fact has not been
and cannot be truthfully denied by anybody
Democrats themselves do not attempt to deny
that colored men were not allowed to vote in
the South, where they are in the majority.
"But stronger and frmer than the pledge of
any party" continues Mr.. Hendricks, care
the constitutional provisions that prohibit
slavery, confer citizenship and guaran-
tee equality of civil and politi-
cal rights. These provisions have be-
come part of the machinery
of organized society and, being in support of
natural rights, are practically irrevocable."
The impudence and brazen defiance of the in
telligence of the reading public of Mr.. Hen
bricks are simply astounding We now have
the man who claimed fellowship with patriots
during the war posing as the Negroes friend,
blandly stepping forth, twenty years after the
storm has passed, and declaring, by inference,
that he and his party saved the Union from
dissolution, and lifted the slave out Of his
thraldom. Fortunately the facts Of history
have not been forgotten-the written record
still remains. What does it say of Thomas
A. Hendricks and his partyq
Personally, this same Thomas A. Hendricks
was one of three senators who voted against
the adoption Of the thirteenth amendment
Had Mr.. Hendricks had his way
about it. men of the color of editor Horn
would have no natural" rights that
white men would he bound to respect, and the
action of Mr. Horn in presuming to address
prominent Democrat like Mr. Hendricks
would have put him in imminent danger of
being mobbed. Hr Hendricks belongs to
that party which for generations brutallY dis
regarded every ''natural right" Of the colored
man. He belongs to that party which beat
negroes that dared assert they were human
beings, the same as white men, He belongs
to the party that tore husbands from wives,
parents from children. and children from par
ents He belongs TO the party that compelled
brutal ove1seers and masters, and that muir
dered husbands that dared cry out against the
damnable outrage. He belongs to party
that peopled the South with bastards,
begotten in submission compelled by whip and
pistol. He belongs to the party that went
into civil war to perpetuate these unspeakable
infamies upon the colored race. A nice man,
truly, for Mr.. Horn to appeal to and to give
an opportunity to parade himself as great
friend of the negrol If Thomas A. Hendricks
had had his way Edwin F. Horn would be
slave to-day. did he live south of Mason and
Dixon's line, with no security for his wife and
daughters against the barbaric brutality and
lust of Democratic owners. 1t matters little
whether the Democratic party will or will not
consent to recognize the natural rights Of
colored men. Mr. Hendricks knows from
personal experience that the Democratic party
was beaten into allowing the negro some
rights, and with all his smooth plausibility,
knows perfectly well that he nor his party
dare lay hands on the amendments made to
the Constitution despite the Democratic
party.
AS already stated, this same Mr. Hendricks
was one Of three United States senators
who won Immortal infamy by voting