Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-12-02

and mean all, without a single ex-
ception-all personally participated
in the rebellion against the national
cove 1ment. 1t is a still more sig
IL ticant fact that in those States no
nun who was loyal to the Union, no
matter how strong a Democrat ! g
may be to-day, has the slightest
chan &c for political promotion. The
one great avenue to honor in that
8 ,ction is the record of jealous S n
vice in the war against the govern
ment. 1t is certainly an astounding
fact that the section in which friend
ship for the Union in the day of Its
trial and agony is still a political
disqualification, should be called
now to rule over the Union. All
this takes place during the life time
IF the generation that fought the war
and clevateS to practical command
of the American Government the
identical men WHO organized for its
destruction and plunged us into the
bloodiest contest of modern times.
l have spoken of the South as
placed by the late election in posses
sion of the Government, and l mean
all that my words imply. The South
furnished nearly three-fourths of the
ELECTORAL votes that defeated the Re-
publican party, and they will step TO
the command of the Democrats as
UNCHALLENGED AND AS uNRE-
STRAINED
as if they held the same position for
thirty years before the war. Gentle
men, there can not be political in
equality among the citizens ola free
republic. There cannot be a m
nority of white men in the
South ruling majority of
white men in the North. Patriotism,
self-respect, pride, protection for per-
son and safety for country all cry out
a gainst it. The very thought Of it
stirs the blood Of men who inherit
equality from the Pilgrims who first
stood on Plymouth Rock and from
Iiberty-loying patriots who came
to the Delaware with William
Penn. 1t becomes the primal
question of american Manhood /;
it demands a hearing and a
settlement, and that settlement will
vimdiCate the equality of American
citizens in all personal and civil rights.
1t will at least establish the equality
of white men under the national gov
ernment and will give to the North
ern men who fought to preserve the
union, as large voice in its govern
ment as may be exercised by the
Southern men who fought to destroy
lie union.
The contest just closed utterly
dwarfs the fortunes and fate of candi-
| dates, whether successful or uusuc-
cessiul.
Purposely-I may say instructive
ly-I have discussed the issues and
consequences of that contest without
reference TO my own defeat
without the remotest refer
ence to the gentleman who
i: G evated to the Presidency. Toward
him personally have no cause for the
slightest ill-will, and it is with cor.
diality | express the wish that his Of
fetal career may prove gratifying to
himself and beneficial to the country,
and that his administration may
overcome. the embarrassments which
the peculiar source of its power i'm
poses on it from the hour fits birth"
AT the conclusion of Blaine's speech
he invited a large crowd into his
house, and for nearly an hour an in
formal reception was held, the hun
dreds of people passing through the
rooms. The greetings were especial
ly friendly and cordial.