Year: 1870

great leadeT as was our w Ililam LlOyd


Garrlson--eyen he could not have
stricken off three millions of chains. if
the madness OF John G. Calhoun and
the Rebellion had not helped him. /
stand here to- day to thank God for the
providence of the treason Of Andrew
johnson. When we trace our pathway
up to this grand gaol Of the Fifteenth
Amendment, it is astonishing through
what marvellous proyidences we have
! picked our toilsomo and dangerous way.
At last we stand on firm footing. At
last the nation adopts the promise Of
the original abolitionists of 1888; when
they met in Philadelphia they pledged
their honor and their means TO secure
to the colored population of the United
States all the rights and all the priyi-
leges which belonged 10 them as men
and as Americans Fellow-citizens,w we
have disbanded that society. Do you
ask me why? We disbanded it because
the United States of America adopted
our promise and made it her own; be-
cause the Constitution Of the American
Anti. Slavery Society was absorbed into
that of the United States, and to-day
the nation itself pledges all its physical
and moral forces to protect you in the
rights and privileges which belong 10
you as men and as Americans


tell you, colored men, if'you want
to be respected don't you ever let man
who, through mistake or ignorance, or
intention, do not care which, has ever
done an act or given vote to sustain
an anti-Negro law or any movement
whatever; if you know a man in public
who has ever voted to keep the word
"white" anywhere except in paint, who
has ever given countenance to the dis
tinction of color in street car or thea
ter, or lyeeum, or a library, Or hotel,
or hospital, or Legislature, or anything
else, who, with his eyes wide open,
knows the difference between black and
white, if you ever forgive him, ever
permit him to repair again to political
life, if you ever forgive them, | write
you down traitor to your own race. -
[ Applause Forgive him before God
on your bended knees, cherish no malice
against him. | am now speaking of
the necessity of your political opposi-
tion, and if this were the last speech |
shall ever make in the presence Of a col
ored man, if these were the last words
ever TO issue from my lips, | would wish
them to be just what am making them
to-day. Never forgive at the balIot-box.
[ Applause II you know a man who
i'll yonder Legislature, from ignorance
or heedIessuess, has given vote that
was unjust TO black man, because he
was black, no matter if the very next
year he does as much for your race as
Charles Sumner and Benjamin 2 But
ler ever did, never forget him. Let
every white American understand that
Francis Jackson-and that is a name of
which FaneuiI Hall is hardly worthy to
hear the sound-kept a book, in which,
during his long life, he recorded the
name of every Bostonian that had by
his vote or bis action OF speech opposed
the right, and when such a man reap
peared on the surface of affairs the
faithful watchman opened his record
aud there found an entry against him
Mothers, you may forget the name of
your first born; children, you may for
get the multiplication table, but while
your race stands as it does to- day,
mothers never forget the name Of the
man in political life who has either ig-
nOrantly or maliciously given a vote
against your race. Charge your sons
and husbands when they go out to vote,
90 out also with firm determination,
no matter what his party or name may
be, if be has once voted against you,
strike his name from American politics
and bury it as completely as if he was
40 feet under the Rocky Mountains
We did as much for you in 1920, lat the
time of the Missouri compromise. i'll
could have 10000 men and take them
down to Georgia, and if they would
take such an oath, | would have every
white man there CHASING up their line
age, and tracing black man among
his ancestors. Laughter | would
like to see the politician who would
stand on this platform in the presence
of 6, 900 Irishmen. and talk to them of
paddles. Why his political associates
would remove him over to Sommerville
Immediately. Laughter. BE you as
unforgivipg as the Irish orthe German,
and there will never be politician spell
Negro with two g's. 1t is serious ad-
vice am giving TO you. Doyou want
to walk the streets of New York with
no dread of a mob 7 Do you want every
hotel open TO you2 Doyou want none
of your friends TO send their sons to
France to be educated Do you want
all tie opportunities for freedom and
for safety which belong to citizens7 1t
is all yours. 1t is all on the back of
the ballot. Forget no man if he has
ever crossed you, aud if he has the inn
pudence to ask you for his ballot, refuse
il to MIN. Oh mothers, bend over
your cradles aud teach this to your
children; young girls make your low
ers pledge themselves to this before
you say yes; fathers, when you send
your sons out to seek their fortunes,
give them all the virtuous counsel that
father can give son; bid them to be
temperate, to be industrious, to be hon
| est hut hid them whaiher slpenin0 or