National Republican., 1885-04-18

was brought about. The Republican party
vested them with all the rights pertain.
ing to American citizenship. The Democratic
party resisted each and every measure dc.
signed for their advancement. out OF the
differing attitudes Of the two parties grow in
tho hearts Of the African Americans nat
ural faith in the Republican party and a nat.
ural dstrust Of the Democratic party. To the
former they could trace nothing but benefits
conferred. TO the latter nothing but the name.
less horrors Of slavery before the war and a
dark and melancholy record of oppression,
denial of lawful rights, midnight harrying,
and even of awful massacres, the memory Of
which will forever lnger as dreadful stain
upon the name OF your party In the south.
When you were declared to be elected Presi.
dent, as was but humanity natural, the colorcd
citizens Of this country were overcome with
fear and CONSERVATION So widespread and
universal was their fear oftho consequences
that would accrue TO them from the su.
premacy of the Democratic party that you felt
constrained to make n public declaration Of
your intention to maintain their lawful rights
so far us lay in your power, and the journals
and leading men of your party made haste TO
tender assurances to the same effect The col
ored people accepted these assurances, and
were not slack In their expressions OF graft
tude to you,
Mr. President, in the discussion of the Irish
Roman Catholic question in the British parlia.
ment, William Pitt, one Of the greatest states.
men ever produced by England, declared that
He laid 1t down as rule that classes of peo.
pie, in fact nn entire race, might enjoy civil
rights by suflerance, but the only security for
those rights was political power" The truth of
this declaration, after the lapse of a century,
has been verified in the history OF all the civil
lized nations Of the earth. II Is not claimed,
Mr. President, that the Republican party In
dealing with the freedmen in the old slave
states, has always acted wisely.
Senator Clayton, Of Arkansas, has stated
that as an original question 1t would have
been far better to have received the confed.
crate states back into the Union on the basis
oftheir white population, and given them in
creased representation on their black popula-
tion when they gave to the blacks manhood
suffrage and protected them In It's exercise.
Had such been the Republican policy, 1t Is
claimed that every one Of those states would
have made haste to enfranchise the black
man to increase the political power of the
state in the national councils. Be that as 1t
may, Mr. President, you are called upon in
your administration to treat the subject as you
find II. Your decision Is recorded In your In.
augural address In the following words:
"In the administration OF q government
pledged to equal aud exact justice to all men,
there should be no preteNt for anxiety touch
ing the protection of the freedmen in their
rights, or their security in the enjoyment of
their privileges under the constitution and Its
amendments All discussion as TO their fit
ness for the place accorded to them as Ameri-
can citizens Is idle and Improbable, except as
| 1t suggests the necessity for their improve
ment. The fact that they are citizens entities
them to all the rights due to that relation, and
| charges them with all Its duties, obligations,
and responsibilities"
II our theory of government is correct that
the majority shall rule, any attack upon that
principle is reasonable to the government
and destructive to the rights of the citizen.
As practical question It Is your plain duty,
as Chief Magistrate Of the republic, to be-
come informed as to the truth or falsity of the
assertion, so often made, that freedmen do not
enjoy the privileges of free suffrage, or q just
accounting and payment for their daily labor.
| because OF their ignorance and former condi-
| tion as slaves. Old Spain is gradually wiplng
out slavery in her dependencies, and in Cuba
has substituted the apprentice system. The
island is divided into districts, and commission.
ers are appointed whose duty II is made to see
that the appointees are justly treated and re-
ceive pay for theirlabor. In this Spain is more
just than this free nation It is said that the
freedmen of the south are to-day, in majority
ofcases, simply seris or Vassals The question
for you to determine is now to relieve these
freedmen who are cilizens oil the republic
from the haroshlps OF the heridom 10 whlch
they have been illegally reduced. Letters are
received making inquiries as to the prospects
offered for colored men VINO might emigrate
to the west; they are discontented' perhaps
justly SO, ana want changei thal change, you
Know, ME- PRESIDENT Is not arrays reform IL
is true, they might De useu under the plan ol
local seltgoVerhmeht Dy northern enterprise
ana capltal 10 soiVe lhe problem OF polygamy
III utah py sehulhg lew huhured thousaho
oil tthem 10 that terrltory But the true poicy
is to make them contented where they were
born and reside.
Now, Mr.. President, let your Pilgrim blood
education, ana association assert itseli upon
this, the most delicate question which youl
administration VIII nave 10 treat-a question
which as you meet IL WIN, IN the eyes oi the
world, either crown WIN honor OF dlshohor yov
ana your administration iou may lail
IN many MINOR thlhss' puI they VIII DC LOT
given II you exert your power IN protecting
manhood sunrase' ana your name VIII g
down the ages llhkeu WIN that OF Lincoln II
the cniranchlsemehl' anelloIaloh, ana pro
teotlon OF an entire race OF pohuhieh ahe
bondWomen'
MI PRESIDENT iet IL Dc Understood ana s'
plainly ana unequlVocaily lhat all men cal
see Has PLAINLY as tney see the sunlight
that no man Ill the sla'eholdlng state
can receive any ihNoI iIonl you hlu your hu
mlnlstration VINO oehles 10 the negro inc 20
Hllchl rlBnb BuhIhn'eeu 10 MN ny the consul