The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1909-10-29

HIS POSITION STATED.
q am not concerned about social
equality We don't have that among
white people There are lots Of white
people who wouldn't let me associate
with them, if l wanted to, and there
are many l don't want to associate
with l think that is the way it is
with colored people, At any rate you
cannot by law make social equality !.
That's a thing that regulates itself |
But l do believe, and always have be-
lieved in political equality as to all |
political rights under the constitution !
and before the law (Applause.)
81 thought when the war was over
we had abolished slavery, and |
thought when we got through with
reconstruction that the Negro had
been enfranchised and that he had
been placed upon the same political
plane with the white man, and I didn't
suppose the time would ever come
when his rights so conferred upon him
would be questioned except by ire
sponsible violators of the law. Tha!
is liable to happen anywhere, at any
time, in any country or state, but we
have lived to see the time, and l am
not saying this in any spirit of I'M
kindness, when in every Southern
state, almost without exception the
Negro is practically disfranchised his
right to vote is practically taken away
from him, and just now another great
political battle that deeply concerns
you is being fought, far greater in
point of principle than is the contest
now going on in the city of New
York. | refer to the contest now in
progress in the state of Maryland,
where the question is whether or not
the right of suffrage shall be taken
away from the Negro do not know
whether they will succeed or not
do not believe they will. | hope they
will not think from what has
been told me that there are a great
many Democrats in the state of Mary
land who do not believe that the prop
osition upon which they have to
vote, taking away from the colored
man his right at the ballot box, should
prevail. think those Democrats are
likely to vote with the Republicans.
So, | am hoping you will have vic
tory, and that we will have a victory,
and that the whole country will have
victory, and that we may all con
tinue to say: Blessed be the name
of Abraham Lincoln. His work shall
not be undone. (Applause)
Now, a word to you as representa-
tives of the Negro race. have nc
doubt you have had a great many
disappointments. We all have them
but in the course of time, it may seem
J slow, it may seem long, and
it is slow and it is long, there
will come out a recognition OF
the rights of man, your rights, my
rights, eyerybody's right to stand or
the same political plane with every
body else under the constitution anC
the laws of our country. And wher
that time comes you can look back
through all your tribulation and fee
that in the great achievements YOU
have wrought there is an abundant re
ward for all the trials you have un
dergone. Therefore do not be dis
couraged. Have spirit and go forward
with hope and confidence.
Now didn't have any idea o.
talking to you so long, "a voice, Il
las not been long.) | must no
worry you. Therefore, only another
thought. A good many things ! dom
like are happening. It's not tn
steam roller, of which you spoke, t
which refer Neither do | refer t
the public service You have seen Il
( to kindly allude to that have NJ
( desire to ever again hold public OF
2 fee, but have ever had desire to d.
q my full duty as l understood it with
4 out regard TO consequences. CAP
. rlause.) | could not fail In that re
spect and be happy; and that is tn
q only desire | have now. Out OF pun
9 lie life am free from public respons1
Y bilities and cares. In that | have
k great compensation. | would hav
been glad to have continued in tn
; rublic service just at the time whel
y went outs of it, but not because
t. wanted the office have better on
2 here. ! am much more comfortabl
z, situated, and there are many thing
Il connected with it more agreeable tina
r. anything | ever found in Washington
Il "But that is all gone by. don
y know whether l shall ever again b
IS in public service; l don expect to b'
l. and don't desire to be; but whethe
S I am or not, whether live long or tn
If end comes soon, I propose to die /