The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-21

colored people. stand, and Grover Cleveland
stands, on the platform Of the Democratic party.
which pronoupces for equal rights Tor all, with
out regard to race or color mat platform
means that every man-whetnsr oy oirth. oy
naturalization, or by amendments to the Con-
stitution citizep-is sQual to anyone before the
Law. [Appiause.] White and black stand on
The same foundation, and Gil are equal before
the law.
''It 10 a little over a century since the Declsr-
ation of Independence was made-ll2 years ago
the Declaration was made Then over ali
ChristeDdom slavery prevailsd; even IN Engiand
1t had not been legally abolished. Ii was every
where, in name aud in fact Now. there Is no
slavery in Christendom, unless 1t is In brazii,
and there it has lately been abolished. Slavery
IL at an end. What, from the Eerfs OF Russia,
from the serfs in Germany. from the men VINO
were practically slaves In France, what Was IL
broke the shackles2 Next to religion, II was the
declaration made by our fathers 10 l1ib, that
what did it. 1t IS IDEAS it is thoughts that gov
ern the world No more will We have poor laws
while We have good thoughts.
Now, you have stndied tho platform or the
Democratic party. You have seen the pledges
made. No President has ever done more ample
justice to the colored people than Grover Cievs-
land, aud IL reelected he will contiuus TO do
justice to them. know him we'll. In bis in
tellect IN his heart, In his soul. he is just and
upright man. When be says anything he means
81 am greatly pleased TO see that the colored
vote is no longer a Unit have said repeatedly,
in public and in private; have said everywbere
that, since suffrage Was conferred on the col
ored people, the Republican managers sbk to
make political bondsmen OF the coiored race.
When they ceased 10 bs labor bondsmen. tho
Republican leaders intended they should become
political 6ondsmen, and they knew that was i'm
possible In human nature without
an impossibility in human nature without
miracle. Therefore, have said the way to 10.
cure your rights and TO secure the rsspeet OF
all 10 10 cast Your votes a. the white msn cast
theire-accordine to the measure before yof- IL
the freedom which you have enjoyed will be
traced to the Declaration in which Jefferson.
the father of Democracy. wrote the words tree
and equal All since has come from ths Ideas
in the Declaration OF Independence Although
slavery Ia the South was to be found in W big -
well as IN Democratic Ststss. and 1t has been
called Democratic institution, yet the truth 10,
the principle OF Jefferson WAS undermining 10.
snd it was brought TO the grave. Now, say
whatsver you may think, write whatever you
may think, there is liberty for all
Ii any people more than another have reason to
be thankful for this declaration, 1t 10 those who
have been lately set free. don't underrats the
men who helped. know we'll the unjust claims
that have been made. know we'll that it was
said it was not to be fgAt for abolition. /
know that it vas said that IL the Union could
DO preserved without freeing . slave they would
preserve it or that condition. know that Mr
Lincoln, great and good man, said 30, but
also know that when the ides entered the brain
Of the radical leaders, that by emancipsting the
slave aud giving him the suffrage. the South
might be made o solid radical South,
then there WAS . sudden and wondsrful
growth Of philanthropy, aud the men who but
lately had been willing to zee slavery
indefinitely prolonged became the earncst advo-
Gates OF abolition. In word, party interests
governed political action. ana il it had not bser
supposed by the radical leaders that the polt-
teal bondage Of the negro could be made TO take
the place of the ancient bondage, You would
have heard nothing of the Republican party
having freed the slave.
81 did not intend to make a long speech. and
/ thank yon for your call and your attention. IL
you will vote as your judgment dictates, show
that you think aod form correct judgments by
your deeds, by your votes, by your speeches
and by what you write, then ycu will enjoy the
same consideration a. others Once more,
thank you"
Tho Judge spoke with ease, and after Q cor
dial handshake the delegation departed.