Year: 1872

| joy the privileges Of American citi-
zenship;


Ihave read carefully that elaborate
compilation of Indefinite promises of
the Philadelphia platform. and beg
to suggest that if after more than
eleven years Of absolute control of
the government, it is deemed wise to
be go prolific in platform declaration,
it is just possible that four years
longer lease Of power will be made
quate to the full performance Of the
stupendous task marked out for the
party at Philadelphia. That COM
plete and exact equality in the en-
joyment Of all civil, political and
public rights without discrimination
on account of race, creed, color or
previous condition of servitude, of
which the Philapelphia convention
gives assurance, is no doubt intend
ed as a balm for the colored voters
Of the country. and it is supposed to
have great heading influence, though
q Republican Congress, in utter con-
tempt Of this and other promises





made at Philadelphia, adjourns and
makes no sign. If this convention
was the concentrated voice of the
Republican party, speaking authori-
tatively for the President, Congress
and the people, it is incomprehensi-
bic why some Of these platform sen-
timents were not met at ouce and
crystalized into federal statute pro-
visions. l do not question the wis
dom Of this eminently capable and
respectable body, nor do I doubt the
sincerity Of these declarations, but I
can loose sight of the fact that it is
perilous in the extreme to intrust the
vital measures to other and future
Congresses, which may not in the
eternal fitness Of things, be in con-
sonancs with the Philadelphia con-
vention.


dissent from the doctrine enun-
ciated tha. the enforcement OF the
appropriate legislation made by the
recent amendment to the national
constitution can only be trusted to
the Grant administration. If the
tenure of American citizenship de-
pends upon the success of any po-
litical party and is necessarily jeop-
arded upon the periodical return of
each national political contest, then
that exalted right is more honorary
than honorable. Instead Of being
an object of just patriotic pride, it
would be a boon unsought after and
despised when secured. Of course,
I differ wisely from these absurd
premises, so antagonistic to the ge-
MUS of our institutions, and hold
that the exercise of the rights and
the employment of the privileges Of
citizenship by the colored people Of
the country depends not upon the
success of a political party which is
oftener factional or sectional than
national, but upon the better senti-
ment, broad charity and advanced
civilization of the American people
as a nation. In the light of the
limited intelligence I am enabled to
bring to bear upon the issues now
before the people of the country, I
am constrained to see in the Phila-
delphia platform q confession OF
weakness.


If any political party, after three
successive terms of the alministra-
tion of government power, has need
of such profusion of promise. evil
IDENTIFY for the purpose of securing
votes to perpetuate it's existence, it
is within the pale Of possibility that
the country will survive its defeat
and go forward to the accomplish
ment of its high destiny without the
special guardianship Of such party.


I am pursuaded that the Cincin-
natl platfarm does not differ very
widely in declaration of principles
from the Philadelphia instrument,
and that all voters, of whatever po-