The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1884-11-26

the Democratic party Of their constitu-
tional and legal rights as citizens of the
United States that they regard the
advent of that party to national power as
the signal OF cnslavcmcnt and are
affrightcd because they think all legal
protection for them is gone
Few persons in the North realize how
completely the chiefs Of the Rebellion
WELD the POLITICAL power which Ii: s
| triumphed in the late election. 1t is a
potcntous fact that the Democratic Sen
| ators who came from the States Of the
late Confrdcracy, all, and mean all,
without single exception, personally
participated in the rebellion against the
Northern Government. 1t is n still more
significant fact that in those States no
man who was loyal to the Union, no
| matter how strong a Democrat he may
be to-day, has the slightest chance Of
political promotion. The one great ave-
nuc to honor in that section is the record
OF jealous service in the war against the
Government.
1t is &C, ,tainly an astounding fact that
the section in which friendship for the
Union in the day Of its trial and agony
is still political disqualification, should
be called now to rule over the Union.
All this takes place during the lifetime
OF the generation that fought the war,
and elevatcs into the practical command
Of the American Government the idcnti-
cal men who organized for it's dcstruc-
ton and plunged us into the bloodicst
| contest Of modern times.
have spoken Of the South as placed
by the late election in possession Of the
Government and mean all that my
words imply.
The South furnishes nearly three
fourths Of the electoral votes that defeat
ed the Republican party and they will
step to the command Of the Democrats
as unchnllcngcd anil az unrestrained as
they held the same position thirty years
before the civil war. Gentlemen, there
caunot be political inequality among
citizens Of a free Republic.
There cannot be n minority Of white
men in the South ruling majority Of
white men Mt the North. Patriotism,
sclf-rcspcct, State pride, protection Of
person and safety to the country, all cry
out against it. The very thought of it
stirs the blood Of men who inherit equal
ity from the Pilgrims who first stood on
Plymouth Rock and from the liberty-lov-
ing patriots who came to the Dclcwarc
with William Penn. 1t becomes n per-
manent question Of American manhood.
1t demands a heuring and settlement,
and that settlement will vindicatc the
equality of american citizens in all per-
sonal and civil rights. 1t will, at least,
establish the equality Of white men un-
der the National Government, and will
give to the Northern man who fought to
preserve the Union NJ large n voice in its
government as may he exercised by the
Southern man who fought to destroy the
Union.
The contest just closed utterly dwarfs
the fortunes and fate Of candidates,
whether successful or unsuccessful.
purposcly, may say instinctively,
have discussed the issues and conse-
quenccs Of that contest without refer
once to my own defeat, without the re-
motcst reference to the gentleman who
is elevated to the Presidency. Towards
him, personally, have no cause for the
slightest ill-will. and it is with cordiali-
ty ] express the wish that his official
career may prove gratifying to himself
and beneficial to the country. and that
his administration may overcome the
embarrassment which the peculiar
source Of It's power impress upon it
from the hour Of its birth.
At the conclusion of Blaine's speech
he invited the large crowd into his
house and for nearly an hour an inform
al reception was held.