The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-10-04
THURMAN TO THE NEGRO.
The Old Roman Addresses q Delegatio
OF COlOred Voters.

Of COlOred Voters.
A few days ago Judge Thurman re-
ceived delegation of colored Demo-
Gratis, who, through w. H. Farbush, of
Arkansas. presented an address ex-
pressing their thankfulncss for favors
from the Democratic party, expressing
a belief in the division Of the colored
vote as for their best interest, and
stating firm belief in the election of
Cleveland and Thurman. Judge Thur
man greeted them warmly and spoke
as follows:
GENTLEMEN: am greatly obliged to you for
this call and still more for the kind and Just
sentiments that have just been read here.
know well that have been described and am
described as an enemy of the colored people.
There never was any thing more unjust in the
world. don't come from family that is un.
just When my family came to this State my
grandfather brought with him oil his property,
which consisted chiefly OF slaves, and he set
them al free. Ny father never owned slave;
my mother never owned slave: never owned
Q slave, and would not II could. Now might
also say was raised among colored people,
One OF the most intimate companions Of my
childhood, and one whom 1 took care OF
till he died, was boy OF about my own
age, who had been given TO me by my grand
father, not as q slave, but as playmate and
companion TO take care OF me. being older. II
ever one child loved another that boy loved me
and loved him. and never were more sincere
tears shed than l shed over him. But we can
not expect justice in political campaign, and
have been denounced rs an enemy of the col
orcd race deGy nothing that is true, but this
charge is untrue No man can point to law
that had any thing 10 do with the making OF,
or to . decision OF mine while the bench.
that was more unjust to the colored people
than TO the white. or unjust in any description.
and ! defy any one 10 show any thing to the
contrary.
II Is true that in 1867, before the suffrage for
your people had been adopted, when the ques-
tion was in Ohio and in Ohio alone, whether
the word white should be struck from the
constitution /, together with u large majority.
voted against striking IL out. The reasons
werc plainly stated and honestly maintained.
II was not right for ohio 10 take such action
when nearly sll the other States were acting
otherwise. That reason urged against such
action, but from the moment the amendment TO
the Federal constitution was adopted which
gave suffrage 10 the colored reople. from that
moment they became citizens. and no man can
say ever treated them otherwise than AS Cit
liens. Applause. No man can say with
truth that ! have denied the equality before
the Law OF the coiOred people. I stand. and
Grover Cleveland stands, on the platform Of
the Democratic party. which pronounces for
equal rights for all. without regard to race or
color. That platform means that every man
whether by birth, by naturalization, or by the
amendments to the constitution is q citizen
Is equal to any one before the law. fApplause. !
White and black stand on the same founda-
tion, and all are equal before the law.
Now, you have studied the platform of the
Democratic rarty. You have seen the pledges
justice 70 the colored people than Grover
Cleveland, and, II reelected. he will contin ue
to do justice 10 them. know h IN well. In his
intellect, in his heart. in his soul. he is a Just
and upright man. When he says any thing he
means II, and when he has said il lie stands to H.
am greatly pleased to see that The colored
vote is no longer unit. have said repeated
~ in public and IN private. have said every
where, that since suffrage was conferred on the
colored people, the Republican managers seek
TO make political bondsmcn OF the color ed
race When they ceased to be labor bondsmen
the Republican leaders intended they should
become political bondsmen, and they knew
that WAS impossible in human nature without
bitterness among the VIII tas: il was an impos-
sibility In human nature without 4 miracle.
Although slavery in the South was to be
found in Wing as well as in Democratic States,
and II has been called o Democratic institu-
tion, vet the truth is the principle OF Jefferson
WAS una eEulinlng IL 1nu IL was DfouSnt 10 inc
grave. Now, say whatever you may think,
write whatever you may think. there is
liberty to all. II any people more than an
other have reason TO be thankful for this
declaration it is those who have lately been
set free. don't underrate the men who helped
know well the unjust claims that have been
made. / know well that 1t was said it was not
to be o fight OF abolition. ] know that 1t was
said that IL the Union could be preserved with
out freeing y slave they would preserve It on
that condition. know that Mr.. Lincolu,a great
and good man. said SO; but also know that
when the idea entered the brain OF the radical
leaders that By emancipating the slave and civ.
ing m tho suffrage the South might be made
solid radical South then there was sudden
and wonderful growth OF philanthropy. and the
men who but lately had been Willing TO see
slavery Indefinitely prolonged became the
earnest advocates Of abolition In word,
party interests governed political action, and
II 1t had not been supposed by the radical lead
ers that tho political bondage Of the negro
could bc made to take the place OF the ancient
bondage. you would have heard nothing OF the
Republican party having freed the slave.