Speech #500047709

Chiefly. however. the flexibility of the negro vote as an element in politics owes itsorigin to the profligate and corrupt chtarneterof those who meet in conventions to dispose of its nominal control. The recent R.-publicau State convention which was held at Washington Artillery hall brought to the front all the oldtime traders and tricksters who could squeeze tlmemselvei into a delegation under ainy pretext whatever. and. as their elitiods. objects. and aims were intuitively understood by all. even the dullest. they failed to effect an organization having anycohesive power orstrenth. A niumber of thebettersort of intelligent and independent negroes. like Martinet. boldly proclaimed themselves Democrats and in favor of the election of General Nicholls from the beginning. * * * And now. when the Southern people. stricken by losses in battle. by poverty unprecedented in the history of the world. are rallying around the great central ideas of constitutional government. building railroads. starting furnaces. building up great institutions of learning. doubling. as in the State of Louisiana in the last five years. the number of schoolhouses in the State and the number of teachers in the State. reducing governmental expenses. inviting foreign imnmigratio and immigration from our countrymen in the Northwhy will Senatorb here. merely for political purposes. endeavor to excite the animosities of our former slaves and disturb the peaceful relations that are being knit together between the white people of the South and the negro people of the Southwhy. for political purposes. will they put in peril these growing interests of a new civilization when they know that the white people of the South have a problem to solve which is unique in the history of civilization? Not the abolition of slavery in Rome. not the abolition of vassalage in the Middle Ages. not the emancipation of serfs in Russia. not the graduated and compensatory form of emancipation in the West India Islands. not the conquest itself of India. none of these furnish an analogue to the vast problem which in the main must be settled by the white people of the South and by the colored people of the South. It is true. sir. that on the surface of society occasionally there is a ripple df disturbance. true. that there are individual wrongs by white menagainst the negroes. and by the negroes against the white men. but the great body of the population reposes solidly upon those sentiments o religion and charity. of goodwill and patriotic endeavor. that constitute the basis upon which the structure of every enlightened goverument must rest.