Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/20

 the Government in the days of its greatest peril. There was not a rebel or a traitor to be found among them. They ask the privilege of citizenship now that slavery has been forever banished from our country. Why should the great freedom-loving State of Iowa longer deny them this right? No one reason can be given that has not been used to bolster up slavery for the last hundred years. The war that has just closed has swept that relic of barbarism from our land; let the Republican party have the courage to do justice.

“I have no fear of the result in a contest of this kind. We shall carry the election and have the satisfaction of wiping out the last vestige of the black code that has long been a disgrace to our State.”

It is notable fact that Price and Eastman, who now so warmly advocated negro suffrage, were Democrats in early years, and that this party had placed on the statute books all of the laws hostile to the colored race; while Grinnell, who now opposed the enfranchisement of negroes, was a radical Abolitionist at that period. Slavery and Rebellion had driven Price and Eastman into the Republican party and they now represented the fearless and uncompromising element of that organization which was striking deadly blows at oppression and race prejudice. Grinnell and many who opposed the Russell amendment were in favor of the principle for which it stood, but opposed a bold declaration for the reform as impolitic and liable to bring party defeat. There were also a number of Republicans who were opposed to negro suffrage while they were in favor of emancipation of the race and it was urged that they held the balance of power in Iowa politics and that this amendment would drive them from the party. Finally the roll of delegates was called and the vote stood five hundred and thirteen for the amendment to two hundred and forty-two against it, whereupon it was incorporated into the platform.

The Democratic State Convention was called to meet at Des Moines on the 23d of August and on the same day a Soldiers’ Convention was called to meet at the same place. Conferences had been held by the leaders of the Democratic party with prominent Republicans who were