Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS. 191
pestilence of rebellion, you called upon your
friends, your black friends; when your star spangled
banner, now glorious, was trailed in the dust,
heavy with patriot blood, you called upon the negro
—yes, Abraham Lincoln called upon the negro
(great applause) to reach forth his iron arm and
clutch with his steel fingers your faltering banner;
and they came, they came 200,000 strong. (Loud
cheers.) Let us remember those black men in
the platform that you are about to promulgate,
and let us remember that these black men are
stripped of their constitutional right to vote.
(Cheers.) Leave these men no longer to wade to
the ballot-box through blood, but extend over
them the arm of this republic and make their
pathway to the ballot-box as straight and as
smooth and as safe as any other citizen's. (Cheers.)
Be not deterred from duty by the cry of * bloody
shirt.' (Cheers.) Let that shirt be waved as long
as blood shall be found upon it. (Cheers.) A
government that can give liberty in its constitution
ought to have power to protect liberty in its
administration. (Cheers.) I will not take up your
time. I have gotten my thoughts before you. I
speak in behalf of the millions who are disfranchised
to day. (Cheers and cries of * Go on,'
' Douglass, Douglass !')"
In Chicago January 1, 1893, on the dedication
of the pavilion devoted to the exhibits from the