The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-28

%. HON, HENRY WILSON.
Wa published til lOtler of this gentleman
to Secretary Rawllns on the olght-hour law,
aud w did not at the time nnd tho space TO
mao such comments as this important
paper would seem to demand.
Without doubt the millions Of Americans
who have read this timely letter viii affirm
that the Senator is clearly right. Thoro Is o
prevailing disposition on the part Of account.
ing officers and heads asDepartnents to sOt
aside the laws Of Congress In instances
where both the spirit and letter OF the law IL
too plain to admit Of doubt
Mr.. Wilson, in this capitah Eer, has eS-
hausod the subject, and made the matty so
plain that no ono eau hereafter disputsG to
what was the intention Of the law.makors In
the promises.
We cannot dismiss this subject without
saying few words personal to the Massa-
chusetts Senator himself. There Is ono re-
markablc characteristic Of Mr.. Wilson's
mind, character and purpose which stands
forth In strong contrast to that Of most pub
lie men. lie Is true to his convictions
OF truth and dutyi and upon all questions
which make for the interests Of humanity,
he Is ever true and firm as tho noodle 10 the
pole. For more than thirty years Mr.. Wilson
has been the unaiuchlng advocate Of the
rights and liberties Of man as man, whether
black or white; and in tho darkest and most
perilous hours Of the conflict, he has always
stood firm, the uualnGhing advocate OF JUS
ticc TO all men.
There is no public man In this country
who has flirer and cleaner record than he.
All honor TO Henry Wilson, say we. He Is
the friend of humanity, aud has the courage
and manlincss to stand for the right agains,
any and every odds.
Mr. Wilson has the sagacity always Il
speak bis great words at the proper time
and never speaks amlss.
His speech In Bangor, Maine, at the open
of the last Presidential election, was Timely
aud opportunc utterancc. It was the key.
note Of the campaign.
So now, when the rights Of tho laboring
man were trembling In the balance, he come
to the rescue, and by his lncontrovertibl'
logic and good sense vlndlcates his cause ant
makes all clear. lie Is the workingman'
friend.
Appointment Of Coiored Meu 60 Omo
The administration of President Grant
distinguished from all that have gone befor
il by one fact, which attracts the attentlo
of all observers; VIC mean the appointmen
of colored men to office. Truly, acts speal
louder than words. While no amount o
superlativc pretence can equal this demon
strative fact, by this one act the partition
wall between races is broken down.
The colorcd man could vote before, bu
now he holds office at home and abroad-ii
the Departments, In the diplomatic service
in the reconstructed and unreconstructe,
States. What more can be asked in the lin
of change, If not reform'
Before the election II was thought b,
some that Grant was not radical enough
He said little, thought much, and made n
high sounding pretenslons. His friend
said he was tall right" The people ha
faith in him, believed he was honest, loya
and true. He was elected, took the oath c
office and went forward in the discharge {
the duties imposed upon him with good Ia
tentions; and, as succeeding events hay
shown, with a resolute determination {
administer the Government and execute tn
laws of Congress (that coordinate branch,
of which we heard SO much aforotime,) 4
the spirit in which they were enacted.
1t Is undoubtedly upon this assumption
as the principle Of right and privilege 10 sc
forth in the civil rights law and other law.
that he has acted in making these appoint
ments. In doing so, thus far, it Is we
known that the selections made from thi
heretofore prescribed class are meritoriou
and creditable in all respects.
1t is true this first distinctive lnnoyatlo
upon an old and long-petted prejudice strike
the mind somewhat oddly at first; but, llk
many other things belonging to the oil
regime to which we have been accustomed
(but which have passed away never 10 r,
turn,) We shall probably forget 1t when "
get used to the new order Of things. tn
novelty of the change will be unseen. tt
question of race will subsidei while tn
other and more imposing one of merit W
rise above all. The public mind will to-
Its opinions down to this standard. Then '
shall hear no more of those distinctions
class and race which have SO long induenc,
the policy of the Government in this respec
Starting back eight or ten years ago
seems impossible. Nevertheless 1t Is pa
pable, existing fact of to-day, that noel
contradiction. Almost ere we realize 1t '
find VIC have reached the grand aspiration
which poets have sung but have never four
until nova democratic republic.
Personal.