New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-29
Letter from Wendell Phillips tO
the COiOred Citizens OF Boston.
Boston, Mass, August =, 1872.

With great respect, we are, yours very truly,
| Rev. Alexander Ellis, Rev. J. Z. Shreeves,
! pastor of Joy street George L. Ruflin,
church, j. Il. Andrews,
Lewis Hayden, J. r. Watson,
Serg't G. l.. Mitchell, James NJ. Trotter,
| b. ID. Jackson, j. n. Clarke,
Charles L. Remond, Peter II. Mott,
j. 5. Sidney, Richard S. Brown,
James d. Ruflin, William c. Nell,
Buell. Smith, Thomas Downing,
Elijah w. Smith, S. A. Hancock,
James I. Still, Nathaniel Springfield,
Johnny Wolf, Darius NJ. Harris,
$. Il. johnson, II. L. Smith,
+. George Biddle, James McFarlyn,
Robert johnson, Abraham Hughes,
Peter l.. Baldwin, G.. F. Grant.
John II. Coker,
SwAMPsCOTT, August 9, 1872.
GENTLEMEN: You ask me to address you
on the questions involved in the canvass be-
tween President Grant and Mr.. Greeley. /
thank you for the confidence implied in your
request. Among you see many who have
| been workers with me in the anti-slayery
cause for years.
| My residence here makes it nconvenient
for me to attend public meeting in Bos-
ton and indeed think 1 can state my views
more satisfactorily in letter than in public
|
communicate with you in this way, rather
| than in the one you suggest.
| Of course, the first thought that occurs to
| you and me just now is that one of your best,
ablest, and most watchful friends, Mr.. Sena-
tor Sumner, advises you to vote for Horace
Greeley, and believes that your rights will be
safe only in his keeping. l touch with rev.
erent hand everything from Mr.. Sumner. l
can never forget his measureless services to
the anti-slavery cause and to your race.
Whenever read his words read them over
Swallowed by the memory of his early and
entire conservation to the service of impair
tial liberty of that zeal which has never
tagged; that watchfulness which has seldom
been deceived; of that devotion which has
so rarely shrunk from any sacrifice, which no
opposition could tire and no danger appal.
From such a counselor I venture to differ
with great reluctance, and only after mature
elaboration. l should hate to publish my
dissent if l were not sure that l was right
and that he was wrong; that the occasion
was very important, and his mistake one
which leads to fatal results.
My judgment is the exact opposite of Mr..
Summers. / think every loyal man, and es-
pecally every colOred man, should vote for
General Grant, and that the nation and your
race are safe only in the hands of the old,
regular Republican party.
Some may ask how come to think thus,
when was one of the few loyal men who
protested, in 1868, against Grants nominal
ton, and seeing that have so often affirmed
that the Republican party had outlved its
usefulness.
Gentlepen, the reasons which led me to
my present opinion, in spite of my former
views, ought to give my Judgment more
weight with you. am forced by late devel
Opments to my present position.
You remember that in 1868 emphatically
denied Gen. Grants fitness for the Presiden
cy. Derided by the Republican press, went
from city to city protesting against his cleo
ton. In private, with Mr.. Sumner, and 9th
ers, l argued long and earnestly against the
risk of putting such Il man into such an office
At that time they saw only his great merits
and supported him heartily. The defects o.
his administration are no surprise to me.
may say, without Boosting, that l prophesiet
these defects. / do not wish to hide then
to-day. l entirely agree with Mr.. Sumner a,
to the grave fault and intoerable insolencC
of the Administration in the st. Doming,
matter. think the frequent putting of rela
tives into office highly Objectionable, and tn,
sad career of Webster is warning enough
against any man in public life venturng t
accept gifts from living men. These ant
other defects are no surprise to me. The
eminent merits of Gen. Grants administra
ton are, confess, a surprise to me.
His truly original, statesmanlike, ant
Christian policy toward the Indians is adj
mirable, and, standing alone, is enough t.
mark him a statesman. His patience ami,
innumerable difficulties in our foreign rela
tons is wonderful in one bred soldier. Tn,
aid the Administration has given the indus
: trial and financial prosperity Of the country
is a great merit. Gen. Grants prompt inter
, ference for justice to workingmen in detianc,
of those about him, relative to the execution
of the eight-hour law, shall always remem
Der. The crime of the Republican party il
tolelating the Ku-KluX is fragrant. But tn,
President and his immediate friends deserve
. our gratitude for their efforts and success il
that matter. His services to the fifteenth
amendment shall never forget. When some
even of the foremost AbOlitonists, doubte,
, and were lukewam, wrote to Senator vii
l son asking him to urge Gen. Grant to pu
. three lines into his message, commenting tn,
, measure to Congress and the country. TIL
answer came back. on are too late. Gen
Grants message was finished before you
| note arrived; and the recommendation yo
wish is IN it," 1t still remains lamentab
true that the cOlored man has no full recogni
ton at the North and no adequate protection
in the SOuth-shame to the Administration
stuo W tuC hcpuullCtu party Dut incl
| friends may fairly claim that during the las
three years the negro has steadily gained il
: the safe exercise and quiet enjoyment of hi
rights.
; l know the defects Of Gen. Grants admin
E istration rs well as any man. 1 think, dis
E trustful as was of him, am able to sec tn
: good service he has unexpectedly rcnderc
, the nation.
8 But no matter for those defects. At tn
E most they are not fatal; and events hav
| lifted President Grant into being to-day tn
symbol and representative Of loyalty. tn
, conspiracy between Southern secessionist
4 and Northern copperheads, Of which, yer
, naturally, Mr.. Greeley is the tool, and, un
: fortunately, Mr.. Sumner is the indorser, and
=. think, the dupe-leaves room but for tw
parties-those who are for the nation an
those who are against it. l bate no jot @
\ my brotherly regard and sincere esteem for Nj
Sumner in thus holding him deceived TIL
entire faith have in his honesty of purpos
= obliges me to think him duped. The onl
wonder is how this is possible when the Sout
is so insolent and shameless in proclaimin
: her intentions. The South has long seen he
r mistake and often confessed it. The Eiba'l
itself makes this statement as late as June
1871. That mistake was to contend for he