On the record
There were thousands in their own ranks who did not wish the negro advanced to citizenship; there were tens of thousands who were unwilling to see him advanced to the elective franchise.
Source
gutenberg.orgEditor's note · Context
Blaine notes the resistance within the Republican ranks to granting citizenship and voting rights to African Americans.
Share
More from James Blaine
I believe that if it should pass it will receive the sanction of nineteen-twentieths of the loyal people of the country.
Another theory and another practice were now to prevail; for it had been demonstrated to the thoughtful statesmen who then controlled the Government, that every thing which may be done by either Nation or State may be better and more…
Such an opportunity would have been a menace to the public credit, and would have proved a constant source of corruption.
If you are not ready to be the Moses of an oppressed people, do not become their Pharaoh.
Other voices in this conversation
