Huntsville gazette., 1890-11-01
NUMBER 4S.

herited by mixed race, aud AT the same time
he permits himself 10 say that he attributes
whatever ability | happen to possess 10 the
Caucasian side of my parcntage. So good
logican rs Senator ingalls, should not have
allowed himself, almost in the sanse breath,
to knock down the whole su?erstructure of
his argument. Mr. ingalls, is brany and
generous man, and am surprised that these
qualities were allowed 10 forsake him on the
occasion referred to. Had he listened to the
manly side of his character he would have
hesitated TO slay with his brilliant rhetoric
million of his colored felows-citzens He took
advantage of his position on the floor of the
United States Senate to deal us bow which
we had no means Of parrying. His advantage
was great and the meauuess Of the attack
must be measured by the greatness of his adj
vantage. Had any cotored man of spirit and
ability been member OF the Senate to reply
10 his attack, Mr.. Ingalls, would not have been
inconsistent with his well-known chiva ric
qualities. But the case was otherwise.
If it be true that good qualities are not
transmissable in such unions; ii it be true
that only evil and that continually, must
descend to tbc children OF such parents, it
may we'll be asked why any of the mulattO
and quadroon children and grandchildren of
our earlier statesmen are found anywhere
outs de of the thick walls and iron-barred
windows of our prisons. Why are they walk
ing our streets and employed in our houses rs
trusted servants and stewards? Why are
they our teachers, professors and preachers;
Why are they respected and treated as gen
temen and Christians in every part of the
world except our own? o, no, Mr.. ingalls,!
Your argument will not hold. twill not bear
the test OF either reason or experience. Your
language is the language of alarm, and the
question you should put to yourself is, What
if, in nation or a hundred millions, there
should occasionally happen marriage be-
tween two different varieties of the human
family? VINO would be hurt by it? Who, out
side of the parties themselves, should give
themselves any tronbe about it? The sun
would not cease to shlue. the rain to descend.
nor the grass to grow. Men would not cease
to go TO and fro in the earth, nor knowledge
cease to increase, or the wheel of civilization
cease TO roll onward. If the country has en-
dured, during 249 years, lawless relations be-
tween the two peoples. 1t should not &C into
paroxysms of alarm over what may possibly
take place under lawful conditions.
And now comes Mr. Isaiah Montgomery, of
Mississippi, with his solution Of the pretended
Negro problem. / have spoken of him else
where, and take back nothing | have said
either of this remarkable man, Or of his re-
markable address. He has surrendered to
disloyal State great franchise given to him.
self and people by the loyal nation. He has
taken The work of sowing the nations work
out of the nations hands. lie has virtually
said TO the nation: "YOu have done wrong
in giving us this great liberty" He has sur
rendered a Eart of his rights to an enemy who
Will make this sur. ender reason for demand
ing all of his rights. He has conducted his
people TO Il depth from which they will be in
vted to a lower deep, for if he can rightfully
surrender a part of his heritage from the
National Government, he may surrender the
whole. The people with whom he makes
this deal are restrained in dealing with tic
rights Of colored men by no sense of modesty
or moderation. They want al that Is to be
had, and will take all that they can get Their
real sentiment is that no Negro shall have the
right to vote. Yet | have no denunciation for
the man Montgomery. He is not a conscious
traitor though his act is treason; treason to
the cause of the coored people, not only Of
his own State, but OF the United states.
wish the consequences Of his act could 70
confined to Mississippi, but fear this cannot
be. Other coiored men in other States daz-
zled by the fame obtained by Mr.. Montgomery
through the Democratic press, will probably
initiate his bad example 1 speak of this
Montgomery business more in sorrow thdu
in anger. ! hear in the paintve eoquence
Of his marvellous address groan of bitter
anguish born of oppression and despair 1t
| is the voice of a soul from which all hope has
vanished. His deed kindes indignation, but
! his condition aWakens pity. He had called
to the nation for help-help which it sought
to have rendered but did not-and in q mo
ment OF impatience and despair he has
thought to make terms with the enemy, IN
enemy with whom colored man can mako
1 hnf bv caprifipa Of n1Q maphODl.
| There is no need OF an analysis OF Mr.. Mont
! gomery's address. Its character is known and
1t has nothing to commend il but its abb ity
and plaintiye eoquence The logic of the
speech would have conducted magnanimous
men to prompt rejection OF the surrender,
for it was an appeal 10 all that was noble,
grateful and generous in the hearts OF Mis-
sissippians. They should have said mo,
Mr.. Montgomery, your people have been our
/ best frien is when we needed friends, and we
scorn to take from you the franchise ac-
corded to you BY the wis om and magnanimity
OF the National Government"
Ladies and gentlemen I have been re-
/ quested to say an encouraging word 10 our
! people before j leave for my post of duty at
Port-au-Prince, and If / havenot already said
such a word find it quite easy to do so now
From every view have been able to take Of
the moral and political situation Of our cause,
before and since my arrival In the country,
am hopeful. ] have no doubt whatever of tho
future. / know thar there are times in the
history Of all reforms when the future looks
dark; when the friends OF reform are imDa-
tient and despondent; when they cannot SEQ
the end from the beginning; when the truth
that is p ain to them coutpels them to reject
the honesty Of all who refuse to receive IT.
Then, too, they meet with oppo' 'iton where
they expected cooperation; treachery where
they expected fidelity. and defeat where they
expected victory. j, for one, have gone
through all this. have had nifty years OF 1t,
and yet have lost neither heart or hope. Il
is true we have been sadly disappointed in TIE
action, or rather the non-action. OF the Fifty
\ first Republican Congress The platform Of
the Republican party adopted at Chicago
\ plainly committed the Republican party 10
! some measure OF protection TO the hepubi-
I can voters of the South We had
right to expect that the pledge there
| given would find fulhllment in the ac-
| tion of this Republican Congress We have
been Disappointed, sadly disappointed Fo,-
\ lowing the advice Of new leader from Penn
h,,+ cf .ThgndeUg Stevens