New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-08-13
General @. o. Howard.

few evenings since party of gentlemen.
consisting of graduates, students, and friends
of General Howard, called to pay him their
respects, and to wish him a success at his
new post as Commander of the Department
of the Columbia.
When they were ushered into the parlors
Of the General they were greeted with cor.
dial reception, and a hearty shake of the
hand.
The object of the visit was two-fold: first,
to show him that his efforts-practical efforts
in behalf OF an oppressed people, both in the
field and as Commissioner of the Freedman s
Bureau were deeply felt, and should never
be forgotten secondly, to present to him a
testimonial of their appreciation of his SER
vices in the form of an ice cream set.
The presentation speech was made by Mr..
William Warning.
MIR. Warning, in an address beautiful and
pathetic, alluded to the noble services of the
General TO his country, and the colOred peo-
pie upon the field of battle. lie said that it
would be vain for us to attempt to portray
the noble services of the General in any
words of our own, for they are already linked
with the history of this country, and that
they would rebound to the honor of the Gen
eral in years TO come.
Mr.. Waring, when speaking of his services
to colored people as Commissioner of the
Bureau, said that "the same patriotic devo-
ton and Christian zeal that characterized
his services on the field of battle governed
him in the discharge of his duties as Commits
sioner OF the Bureau. That though enc
mies-enemies of the General and of the
colOred race-have sought to tarnish the
reputation aud blast the fair fame of the
General, yet he had come through these
charges like the silver before hm-pure and
unsulied.
AT the conclusion of the presentation adj
dress, the General rose to reply. He said
that if they had come without a present of
any kind the effect upon him would have
been just the same.
The fact that he, though surrounded by
enemies who had sought to ruin him, should
yet be remembered by those whom he had
tried to help. was something that could not
be overlooked.
He said that throughout his severe trials
the colored people were his friends. When
he was trying TO aid in their development,
spiritual. as well as intellectual, he always
put his theories into practice.
He said that those before him were the
representatives of their race, and that upon
them devOved the arduOus duty of correcting
many evils which slavery had engendered.
Revolutions" says he, "always throw upon
the surface the frothy and trashy, but after
while these die away and more solid matter
appears. Therefore, if the condition Of the
Southern States Is shameful to-day, after a
while, through the untiring efforts ofunselfish
men, and men of principle, these evils would
be swept away. Throughout his remarks
the General was listened to with rapt atten-
ton, and the pathos and tenderness of his
address caused many to eXclaim that they
had never enjoyed more pleasant evening.
When we are called upon to say who are the
true friends of the negro, we shall always
name those who, like Howard, have put their
theories into practice.
General Howard was bitterly assailed in
tine New York newspapers in 1861, when he
declared that he believed that the war, just
commencing, would not end until the abol-
ton of American slavery. Men did not
believe it then, but the prophetic words
spoken by this patriotic General have been
wonderfully fulfilled.
Many joined the army to render services
to their country alone, but he went to save
the country, and if, at the cost of his life, to
emaucipate the negro.
This hero Of Gettysburg we can but love.
We care not for the enemies of this one-arm
soldier. We will always remain his friend.
And no doubt he fully appreciates the fact
that in the negro he has q friend that will
stick closer than brother.
W. {. ROANE.