The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-27
HON. SPENCER BLACKBURN
Responds to the Toast "RcpubIican-
ism the Hope of the south"

HON. SPENCER BLAN
Responds to the Toast "RcpubIican-
ism the Hope of the south"
Hon. Spencer Blackburn, of North Caro-
lima, followed Mr. Cousins, responding to
the toast. "Republicanism the Hope of the
South" Following is the substance of Mr.
Blackburn's talk: Il hail from a section
which in the past has not contributed very
largely to Republican success. Our friends
the enemy-have certain little innocent
inconsiderate methods by which they make
congressman and other officials to their
own liking, not always selecting them in
accord with our views. There are a few,
however. in portions of the South who run
the gauntlet of Democratic opposition, over
throw their machine and win by the viii of
the people. Their credentials are author
lied by public opinion and warranted by
human freedom sealed and delivered in
defiance of Democratic fraud and intimi-
dation.
II am here this evening as a Southern
Republican. to join you on this banquet
occasion in paying tribute to the memory
Of the immortal Grant. i am happy tina.
this occasion presents and that l am so
fortunate as TO be your guest. Mr.. Reed
once said: To be privileged is splendid, to
be a free man is glorious. but to be an
American citizen is magnificent To that,
inspired by this occasion and the history
of our party l wish to add. and to be a
Republican is ineffable pride
''Since the we have virtually but
one issue in the South. That is long since
obsolete except in the mind of the design
ing politician and the unfortunate voter
who can be deceived by him / speak adj
visedly, and have no inclination upon this
occasion TO speak harshly. but as "A South
ern man whose every interest is i'm the
South and it's welfare whose environment
is there, whose early association and ten
der memories are there whose future ca
reer and final resting place will doubtless
be there. beg TO plead for the consider
alton of matters which tend to the material
development and ultimate welfare of my
section; instead of lingering mid the
bleached and brOken-bOne skeletons of the
dead.
WAR UNFORTUNATE.
1.-THE war was unfortunate and it's raw
ages fell severely upon us. It's consequences
appalling and it's memories not in
vting But why cling unrelentingly to the
unfortunate past and brood over our mis-
fortunes? is there nothing in the vast
range of human thought that can appeal
to the boosted intelligence of the Democ-
racy except bitterness and hate? Is there
no question lofty enough to appeal to the
opposition with sufficient force to distract
their attention from the decayed carcass
of negro domination? Must the gaunt spec.
ter of blasted hope and thwarted ambition
stalk IN grim silence forever above the
sepulcher of the lost cause?
I'VE were swallowed up in the whirlpool
of Charlottesville and the maelstrom of
Gettysburg and went down with the storm
Graded nation that fell The North was
wounded, the South crushed. The great
masses went reluctantly into the struggle
fought Valiantly men who ever drew
sword or died in unsheathing it. Who was
right it is not my purpose to discuss 1
wish rather to get away from the old
scenes that make new wounds. The great
mind o. the lamented Grady saw the light
and his generous heart approved of it, Bos-
tons classic banquet hall still reverberates
his eloquent words i'm behalf of a nearer
relation between the North and the South,
but his dream has not yet been fulfilled.
we have heard much in the last twelve
months from our Democratic friends from
the South upon the rights of the Filipinos.
They have dwelt at length and most
pathetically upon the pitable condition of
the inhabitants of the Philippine islands.
The number is not few who have de-
nounced in scathing terms the Republican
policy OF endeaVOring To suppress the re-
bef1lOn in that archipelago. They have en-
Flarged time ard again unOn the superior
virtues and lofty intelligence of Aguinaldo
and his followers Of half-breed barbarians
and asked over and over again that they
might be left to work out for themselves
their own system of self-government. That
is their policy toward the MOngOlian In the
Philippine islands the opposite side of
the earth from us in which they have no
interest and 10 whom they have no debt of
gratitude. while i'm the South at their own
homes they indulge in repeated eXcoria-
ton upon the Ills. the vices, the immortality
OF the old ex-slave who stood with the
patience of Moses sentinel in the silent
cabin or guard at the chamber door during
the four years of the conflict for their con-
tinuance In slavery, and cared for the
wives and children of the Southern soldiers
who were then in the field stalking their
lives for his continued servitude.
DENIED RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
while the Monaghan on the opposite
side of the globe elicts their tenderest SYM
pathy the old ex-slave and patient friend
who has been their associate for more
than one hundred years and absorbed all
the advantages of civilization from the
greatest race in the world, is denied the
right of suffrage, as granted under the
Constitution which each member of Con-
gress has taken "a solemn oath TO support;
and the shambling form of the ex-slave
cropping in the shadow of stifed freedom
Is the scapegOat upon whom must be
shifted all the sins OF the Southern States.
L beg leave 10 say that as long as the
settlement of that question is left TO the
Democrats Of the South, long will We
have its continued agitation: for without
resentatives who occupy seats in the, halls
of Congress and draw their annual salaries
with no seeming object but TO object TO
Republican legislation. would be no longer
in evidence
I'm the Republican caucus, during the
present session of Congress, / opposed the
resolution presented by the distinguished
representative from your State-Mr. Crum-
packer-fOr the reason that l did not con-
ceive IL 10 be the proper remedy for the af-
ncuon from which We are suffering To
reduce representation in the South meant
the loss of two members from the State of
Missouri, two from the State OF kentucky.
before the seating OF Mr.. Morse, two from
the State OF Tennessee and two from the
State OF North Carolina, losing 10 what
Republican representation We had and leav-
ing the Democracy the full quota which
they now enjoy. BY reducing the repre-
sentation as provided in the Crumpacker
resolution, the Democrats would have been
enabled in each of the several States men,
toned To have SO redistricted as 10 have
made each State solidly Democratic. AS
! conditions now are there are certain To-
c2lftiez An these several States xxhara tho