The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-10-13
THURMAN TO THE NEGRO.
The Old Roman Addresses Delegation
of Co1ored Voters.


of Colored Voters.
A few days ago Judge Thurman re-
ceived a delegation of colored Demo-
Gratis, who, through w. II. Farbush, of
Arkansas. presented an address ex-
pressing thoir thankfulness for favors
from the Democratic party, expressing
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 we'll that have been described und am
described us an enemy Of the colored people.
There never was any thing more unjust in the
world. don't come from q family that Is un.
just. When my family came to this State my
grandfather brought with him all his property,
which consisted chiefly Of slaves, and he set
them all free. My father never owned slave;
my mother never owned slave; never owned
slave, nnd 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 I took care of
till he died, was boy OF about my own
age, who had been given to me by my grand
father, not Us slave, but rs n 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
tcars shed than I shed over him. But we can
not expect justice in q political campaign and
have been denounced rs an enemy of the col
ored race. deny nothing that is true, but this
charge is untrue. No man can point to u law
that had any thing to do with the making Of
or to n decision Of mine while on the bench
| that was more unjust to the colored people
than to the white, or unjust in any description,
| and defy any one to show any thing to the
contrary.
1t 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 q large majority
| voted against striking it out. The reasons
| were plainly stated and honestly maintained
| 1t was not right for ohio TO take such action
when nearly all 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 to the colored people. from that
moment they became citizens, and no man can
| say ever treated them otherwise than as Cit
| izens. [Applause1 No man can say with
| truth that have denied the equality before
| the law OF the colored people, I. stand, and
| Grover Cleveland stands, on the platform of
| the Democratic party, which pronounces for
|
color. That platform means that every man
whether by birth, by naturalization, or by the
l amendments to the constitution is q citizen
! is equal to any one before tho law. [Applausel
| 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 party. You have seen the pledges
| made. No President has ever done more ample
justice to the colored people than Grover
Cleveland and, II reelected, he will continue
to do justice to them. know him we'll. In his
intellect in his heart, in his SOUL he is n just
| and upright man. When he says any thing he
| means it, and when he has said it he stands
toit.
I am greatly pleased to see that the colored
| vote is no longer unit. have said repeated
| ly, 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 bondsmen OF the col lorcd
| 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 whites; it was an impos-
sibility In human nature without miracle.
Although slavery In the South was to be
found In Whig as well as in Democratic States,
and 1t has been called Democratic institu-
| tion, vet tho truth is the principle Of jefferson
was undermining It and it was brought to the
grave. Now, soy whatever you may think,
| write whatever you may think, there is
liberty to oil. II any people moro 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.
I know we'll the unjust claims that have been
made. I know well that 1t was snid 1t was not
to be fight OF abolition. Iknow that 1t was
said that II the Union could be preserved with.
out freeing slave they would preserve 1t on
that condition. know that Mr.. Lincoln,a great
and good man, said SO; but also know that
whom the idea entered the brain of tho radical
leaders that by emancipating the slave ind CIV
ing him the suffrage the South might be made
o solid radical South then there was sudden
md 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 o word,
party interests governed political action, and
II 1t had not been supposed by tho radical lead
ers that the political bondage OF the negro
could be made to take the place OF the ancient
bondnge. you would hnvo heard nothing OF the
Republican party having freed ,he slave.