The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-07-17
Anniversary Day.
GENERAL FORREST TALKS TO THE COL
orED PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE ON
TIE GLORIOUS FOURTH.

,nh1pCtS "a oAEA' oNS'Ao" SASVAoI GSuNS
an offering of peace"
Miss Lou Lewis then advanced to
rhere General Forrest was standing
and presented the bouquet with the
following remarks:
"l;eneral Forrest, allow Inc to pre-
.ert you this bouquet as q token OF
reconciliation and an offering Of peace
and good WILL" Applause.]
RESPONSE OF GENERAL FORREST.
Gen. Forrest received the bouquet,
and in response said:
Ladies and Gentlemex-1 accept the
flowers as q .nemento Of reconciliation
between the white and c0lOred races
If the Southern States. / accept it
more particularly as it comes from a
colored lady, for If there is any one
an Gods earth who loves the ladies
Ibelieseit is myself. Immense ap-
olause and iaughter.] This day is a
dsy that is proud'to me, having occu-
pied the position that I did for the
past twelve years, and been misun-
1erstood by yeur race This is the
first opportunity / have had during
that zine to say that / am yeur friend.
Ian here = representative Of the
Southern people, once mere ssandered
:snd mahgued than any man IN the
nation. / win say to you and to tho
colored race that the men who bore
arms and followed the flag of the Con-
federacy arc. with very few excep-
lions. your friends. have an oppor-
tunity of saying what have always
felt--that I am your friend, for my
interests are your interests, and your
interests arc my interests. We were
born on the same soil, breathe the
same air, and live in the same land.
Why, then, can we not live as broth
ersi Twill say that when the war
broke out I felt it my duty to stand
by my people. When the time came
ibid the best l could, and l don't be-
Iieye I fickered. l came here with
the jeers Of some white people, who
think that am doing wrong. be-
lieve that / can exert some influence,
and do much to assist the people in
strengthening fraternal relations, and
shall do all in my power to bring
about peace. 1t has always been my
motto to elevate every man-to de-
pres none. Applause l want to
elevate you to take positions in law
oaiees, in stores, on farms, and wher-
ever you are capable of going. I have
not said anything about politics to-
day.
l don't propose to say anything
sbout politics. You have a right to
elect whom you please vote for the
man you think best, aud think when
that is done, that you and are free
men. Do as you consider right and
honest in electing men for Office. l
did not come here to make you a
long speech, although, invited to do
40 by you. | am not much Of = speak
or, and my business prevented me
from preparing myself. / came to
meet you as friends, and welcome you
to the white people. l want you to
come nearer to US. When | can serve
you will do so. We have but one
tag, one country let us stand to-
ssther. We may differ in color, but
not in sentiment.
Use your best judgment in select
Ing men for Office and vote as YOU
think right. Many things have been
mid about ME which are wrong, and
which white and blacks persons here,
Who stood by me through the war,
can contradict. l have been in the
asatof battle when colored men ask.
ID ne to protect them. Ihave placed
ayself between them and the bullets
any men, aud told them they should
aekspt nnharlned. Go to work, he
isdsstrious, live honestly and act
ellg, and when you are oppressed
Hleome to your relief. thank you
h1iee and gentlemen, for this Opor-
Unity you have afforded me to be
NH yoo, and "a assure you that l
q With you in heart and in hand.
n'ooged applause. II NJ Q m his
print this morning a portion of
IL proceedings at the celebration of
= tesNh Of July at Memphis by the
AIesed People. The speech of Cen
"a tsstssth positively disgusting.
NNeases ~ events of the past ten
yeass - besaso NAVIGATING unless, |
Heoeoly II was the unfortunate
Il essosat which, in 1872, disgraced
9 u lo'idoe Of New Orleans. This
sea q General Forrest's is too
~ ~ repulsive to deserve are
WI aad No shall refer specially to
one Of two remarks in it. Cen
- forrest says: II am here q re.
tatave Of the Southern people"
ssleiai Forest was .egregiously mis-
be was not 'st6ere" a. the re-
g. r.! Native Of the Southern people
D ss - sae Southern people, as a mass,
- end Of the country to the
will repudiate his action" and
..ees at the negro celebration on
outth Of July. Accepting a
s.!s, n, from a negro girl, Forrest
~! accept it more particularly
y ee0e from q colored lady, for If
! z suy one on Gods earth who
= Tie ladies l believe it is myself"
q cont believe that even Long
'.s.s ever went that far.-fShreve-
Times.
Aeto not some 'sswash bucket
{ - that Forrest said above
! lingering. hunting desire for q
y pasee Of the chicken pie. For
q u We . backyard as . soldier,
j. n 4 politician. ha IA worse than