Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-08-23
uv'E.YDBLL PHELLIPS' LETTER
TO THE CoLORED MEN,

-
ton, having invited Wendell Phillips to
address them on the issues of tho day, he |
replies that he had rather express his views |
in writing, and he consequently sends them |
IL long letter, written in his usual trenchant, |
convincing style. He says
You remember that in 1865 / emphat-
cally denied Gen. Grants fitness for the |
presidency. Denied by the republ lean
press, ! went from city TO city protesting
against his reelection. In private, with
Mr.. Sumner and others, l argued long
and earnestly against the risk of putting
such a man into such an office. At that
time they saw only his great merits and
supported him heartily. The defects of his
administration are no surprise to me. l
may say, without Boosting, that prophe-
s led those defects. l do not wish to hide
them to-day. l entirely agree with Mr..
Sumner as to the grave fault and intolera
BILE insolence of the administration in the
st Domingo matter. l think the frequent
putting of relatives into Office highly OBJ
jectionable, and the sad career of Webster
is warning enough against any man in
public life venturng to accept gifts from
living men. These and other defects are
no surprise TO me. The eminent merits of
Gen. Grants administration, are, Iconiess,
a surprise TO me.
His truly original, statesmanlike and
Christian policy towards the Indians is ad-
mirable, and, standing alone, is enough to
mark him statesman. His patience a.
mid innumerable difficulties in our foreign
relations is wonderful in one bred a soldier.
The aid the administration has givel to the
industrial and financial prosperity of the
country is great merit. Gen. Grants
prompt interference for justice to working
men in defiance of those about him, ella
tive to the execution Of the eight-hour law,
l shall always remember. The crime of
the republican party in toleratiug the Ku-
klux is fragrant. But the President and
| his immediate friends deserve our graft
| tude for their efforts and success in that
| matter. His services 10 the fifteenth amend
ment shall never forget. When some, e.
ven of the foremost abolitionists, doubted
and were lukewarm, l wrote TO Senator
| Wilson asking him to urge Gen. Grant TO
put three lines into his first message. COM
mending that measure to Congress and the
country. The answer came back, "You are
| too late. Gen. Grants message was finish
ed before you note arrived and the recon-
mendaGion you wish is IN it," 1t still re-
mains lamentably true that the colored
man has no full recognition at the North,
and no adequate protection at the South
shame TO the administration and to the re-
publican party! But their friends may
fairly claim that during the last three years
| Al. l.,., IT,, tl,n e.,
exercise and quiet enjoyment of his tights.
/ know the defects of Gen. Grants admin
istration as well as any man. l think, dis
trustful as / was of him, | am able to see
the good service he has unexpectedly rem
dered the nation.
But no matter for these defects. At the
most they are not fatal and events have
Ii fled President Grant into being to-day
the symbol and representative of loyalty.
The conspiracy between Southern seces-
sionists and Northern copperheads, of
which, very naturally Mr.. Greeley is the
tool, and, unfortunately, Mr. Sumner is
the indorser and I think, the dupe,-
leaves room but for two partics-those who
are for the nation and those who are A.
gainst it. l bate no jot of my brotherly re-
gard and sincere esteem for Mr.. Sumner
in thus holding him deceived. The entire
faith l have in his honesty of purpose o.
bli ges me to think him duped. The only
wonder is how this is possible when the
South is so insolent and shameless in pro-
claiming her intentions. The South has
long seen her mistake and often confessed
it. The Tribune itself makes this state,
meDt as late as June, 1871. That mistake
was TO contend for her idea with muskets
and outside the Union, leaving us the
government and taking herself the part of
a rebel. She has often announced-n the
last instance by the lips of Jefferson Davis
that the cause was not lost, and must be-
won by getting possession of the govern
ment and leaving us in the opposition.
Such is the present plot. That Mr.. Greeley
sees 1t would never prevent bis aiding it..
That Mr.. Sumner does not sc II, Is, to me,
matter Of profound establishment. At
such moment the regular republican par
ty becomes again the accepted and only
instrument of resistance, and Grant repre-
sents loyalty, as Lincoln did in 1861. do
not care for his defects, were they ten
times greater. Chatham and Junius right
fully forgot even the infamy Of Wilkes
when he stood the representative and SYM
Dol of the rights OF a British subject. Even
il accepted Mr.. Summers portrait of Pres
iGent Grant, which in some sense is true,
but in no sense is the whole truth,-I
should still vote for him against rebellion
at the balot-box, TO which disloyalty gives
all the strength, and childish credulty all
the character. To stop now for criticism OF
such faults as those of Gen. Grant, is lik G
blaming mans awkwardness when he Is
defending you against an assassin.
If Gen. Grant is set aside who is offered
us in his placer Horace Greeley. | need
not tell you my friends, what Horace Gree
ley is. We abolitionists knew him only
too well in the weary years of our struggle.
He had enough of clear moral vision to see
the justice of our cause. But he never had
courage enough to confess his faith. Ife-
vents had ever given him the courage, he
never would have had principle enough to
risk anything for an idea. A trimmer by
nature and purpose, he has abused even
an American politicians privileges of trad.
ing principles for success. But for the
lack of ability he would have been the
chief timeserver of his age. | never knew
till now any of his eulogsts 40 needless
4 and undiscrmlnating as even 10 claim tina
he was a sincere man. AS for his honesty
for twenty years 1t has been bywor(
, with us, that II would be safe TO leave you