New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-08

249, and many more holding important posi-
tons in its service in different parts of tn
country. In other Departments l ascertain
corresponding gratifying facts as pursue,
the inquiry, meeting some new man at ever
step, and left it satisfied, as I think any col
ored man would be, that there has been
hearty disposition to disregard all past preju
dices and treat us in the matter of appoint
ments according to our merits. The ap
pointments to West Point, as overcoming
the army prejudices, are well known, ant
too significant to be overlooked.
PROTECTION AGAINST THE KU.KLux.
And what shall say of his enforcement
of the law for the preservation of life anC
property in the South, whereby the savage
outrages of organizations, known as Ku
klux Klans, upon an innocent and suffering
people have been so generally suppressed
What a change has come? These outrages
the burning of school houses and churches
the whipping and shooting of teachers, the
midnight murder of men and women with.
i
trary to the ideas of the country that they
hardly seemed possible in civilized land.
But by the quiet yet firm course of General
Grant in enforcing the law, thousands have
openly acknowledged the crimes charged,
the organizations stand confessed to the
amazement of all good men North and
South, and peace has come to maRy places
as never before. The scourging and slaugh,
ter of our people have so far ceased.
| History will not mistake the first and yet
humane part General Grant has performed
in this work. Have not all violence and
injustice to us ceased, it is not because he
has failed to do his duty, but because of the
prejudices and opposition of those who now
claim to be the special friends of the colored
man. And should not the good work of
peace and good will go on till every Amer
| lean citizen is known in the law and treated
| the same without regard to his color, it will
be by the fatal success of those who assail
General Grant, and would defeat his cleo
ton, and thus prevent the successful accom-
plishment of his benign purpose of per
petual union for the country and of assured
liberty and protection to every person
in it,
Indeed, | closed the inquiry thoroughly
satisfied, and believe that any man of my
race would be, with the same facts before
him. that with General Grant at the head
of the Administration of the country we are
assured, i'll due time, not only of all our
rights, but of our privileges.
Let me now come to my own personal
relations with General Grant, as we'll as my
own personal knowledge of him for have
the honor to know him well. Very much
that you have heard concerning him is true
and very much is false. He, like most pub
lie men, has been severely criticised, not
only as an officer, but as man. Here,
then, is my testimony concerning him.
During my varied public career of more
than thirty years, have, perhaps, more than
any other colored man of my times, been
brought into direct contact with our ma.
TONS great men, and taking my whole ex.
perience into account, affirm that after our
martyred President, Abraham Lincoln, and
Senator Charles Sumner, no man in high
with me upon all occasions and in all places
more entire freedom from vulgar prejudice
of race and color, than Ulysses S. Grant.
l have called upon him often, (never, how
80 g. g.
ers,) and have always found him to be easily
accessible, gentlemanly, and cordial. Like
most of You when meeting with distin
guished white persons, | was on the look
out when meeting with General Grant for
some indication of the presence in his man
ners and words of the slavery born aversion
to my race. / found nothing of the kind in |
him. You have heard that General Grant |
is man of few words, and the inference
has been drawn by his enemies, that he is |
man of few ideas. Never was an inference |
more unjust. 1t often requires more talent !
to be silent, than to speak. 1t is the merit |
of this man that he knows just when to speak,
and when to be silent. | have heard him
converse, and converse freely, and to those
who have seen him only in his silent moods
my statement will hardly be credited, that
few men in public life, or otherwise, can
state facts with greater clearness and fuency,
than General Grant.
| have often been called upon to reconcile
my exalted opinion of President Grant with
ho nt+ hat 7 Ii L. Al.
Commissioners of Inquiry to Santo Domingo
to dine with the President at the White House.
| have two nsxers to those who inquire of
me on this point. First. The failure of the
President to invite me could not have been
because my personal presence on account of
color would have been disagreeabIe to him,
for he never withheld any social courtesy to
General Tate, the Minister Plenipotentiary
from the Republic of Hayti, man of my
own complexion; and in this connection /
may state that during the war he showed
as free from Indian prejudice as
negro prejudice, by retaining upon his staff
General Eli Parker. 1t is, besides, impos-
sible that color is the explanation of the
omission to invite me, because the gentle
men whom he did invite had dined with me
daily during ten weeks on an American ship,
lnder an American flag, and in presence of
of the leading presses of the
United States, and this doubtless by the
Presidents special direction. 1t is further
obvious that color had nothing to do with
he omission, because other gentlemen ac-
the expedition to Santo Do
ningo equally with myself, though white,