The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-11
CHAPTER XII. The Union League Organizes.


 The Union League Organizes.
 The silence was presently broken by 2
 very clear and distinct voice, which Nan and Gabriel recognized as that of the
 stranger whom they had overheard talk ing to the Rev. Jeremiah.
 Before we proceed to the business that
 has called us together" said the voice, 'it Is best that we should come to some clear understanding. l have nothing to lose except my life, and nothing to gain but the betterment of those who have
 been released from the horrors Of slav- cry. Very few of you know even my name, but the very fact that I am here with you tonight should go far to reas-
 sure you It is sufficient to say that represent the great party that has given you your freedom. That fact constitutes
 my credentials"
 Bless God!. exclaimed the Rev. Jere- miah, piously. The stranger had very smooth and pleasing delivery The lam guage he employed was far above the heads of those to whom he spoke, but his persuasive tone. and his engaging manner carried conviction. The great majority of the negroes present were ready to believe what he said whether
 they understood 1t or not.
 My naine,' he went on, 'is Gilbert
 Hotchkiss, and I belong to family that has been striving for more than genera ton to bring about the emancipation ot
 the negroes. My father worked until the
 day of his death for the abolition of slavery: and now that slavery has been abolished, I, with thousands of devoted women and men whom you have never seen have begun the work of uplifting | the colored people in order that they may | be placed in a position to enjoy the fruits | -n R--. . ge arAnn work. and all we ask is the active CO., operation and assistance of the colored people themselves"
 These were the words of Mir. Hotch- kiss. the philanthropist; but now MT.
 Hotchkiss, the politician. took his place. and there was an indehnable change In the tone of his voice.
 There is no need to ask he said, 1 "why we do not. in this great work of
 uplifting the colored race, ask the assist ance of those who were lately in the
 rebellion against the best and the great est government on which the sun ever
 shone. It would be foolish and unreas- enable to expect their assistance. They fought to destroy the Union, and they
 were defeated; they fought to perpetuate slavery, and they failed. More than that, there is every reason to believe that they
 will refuse to abide by the results of
 the war. They are very quiet now, but
 they are merely waiting their opportunity. With our troops withdrawn and the Re- publican Party weakened by opposition, what is to prevent your late masters from placing you back in slavery? Could we expect anything less from those who
 have been brought up to believe that slavery is a divine institution?" You hear dat, people?" cried the Rev. Jeremiah.
 You can not help believing" continued MT. Hotchkiss. that your former mas ters would force the chains of slavery on you if they could; all they lack Is
 the opportunity: and if you are not care- | full they will find an opportunity. or make one Slavery was profitable to them once, and it would be profitable again.
 There Is one fact you should never for | get said the speaker warming up little. Ut is a most stupendous fact, namely: that every dollars worth Of nronertv in all this Southern land has been earned by the labor of your hands | and by the sweat of your brows. It has been earned by you, not once, but many times over. The lands, the houses, the
 stock, and all the farm improvements are
 part of the fruits of negro labor; and
 when right and justice prevail. this prop erty. or a very large part or It, VIII be yours"
 This statement was received with de- | monstrations of approval, one of the au-
 dIence exclalming: You sho' is talkin' | now. boss!'
 But how arc right and justice to pre- vail? Only by the constant and continued
 success of the party of which the mar tyred Lincoln was the leader. The mis-
 sion of that party has not yet been full filled. First. 1t made you freedmen. Then it went step further. and made | you citizens and voters. Should you sus- | tain if bv your votes it will take another step, and give you an opportunity to reap
 some of the fruits of your toll, as well as the toll of the unfortunates who pined away and died or who'wer starved under the infamous system of slavery"
 "Ain't 1t de trufer exclaimed the Rev. Jeremiah fervently.
 We have met here tonight to organize
 Union League" continued Mir. -Hotch- kiss. ''The object of this league is to bring about unity of purpose and action among it's members to give them oppor- tuoities to confer together. and to se- cure A clear understanding. No one knows what will happen. Your former masters are jealous of your rights; they will try by every means in their power | to take these rights away from you. They will employ both force and fraud, 1 and the only way TUT you to meet anu i overcome this danger Is to organize. Ten men who understand one another and act together are more powerful than a hundred who act as individuals. You must be as wise as serpents, but not as 1 b.ryrIess as doves. Your rights have | been bought for you by the blood of thousands of martyrs. and you must de- \ lend them. If necessary, arm yourself. Yea, if necessary apply the torch.'' There was a certain air of plausibility l about this harangue. a degree of earn | estness. that impressed Gabriel. and he does not know to this day, whether this iu-informed emissary of race hatred and
 sectional prejudice really believed all | That he said Who shall judge?
 HotehIiss brought his remarks 10 close and then proceeded to read the con-