The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1875-08-07
General Forests Speech.
From the n. O. Republican,

The Confederate General n. B.
Forrest made a short speech at Mem
phis, Tennessee, the fourth Of
July, which has greatly exercised the
evil dispositions of the Confederate
Democrats. He also so forgot his
dignity as a white man as to accept y
bouquet of flowers from Il colored
girl, who said:
"Geperal Forrest, allow me to pre-
sent this, bouquet as a token of recon-
cilliation, and an offering of peace
and good will"
This act, in the estimation of Dem
ocrats placed him on a level with
John Brown, who stopped to kiss the
child of black woman when he was
on the way to the gallows. General
Forrest said:
II accept the flowers as memento
of reconciliation between the white
and colored races of the Southern
States. accept it more particularly
as it comes from colored lady, for
if there is any one on Gods earth
who loves the ladies | believe it is
myself. This day is Il day that is
proud to me, having occupied the
position that did for the past twelve
years, and been misunderstood by
your race This is the first opportu-
pity haze had during that time to
say that | ana your friend. | am
here representative Of the Southern
people, once more slandered and
maligDel than any man in the nation.
] will say to you and the colored race
that the men who bore arms and fol-
lowed the flag of the Contederacy are,
with very few exceptions, your friends.
have an opportunity OF saying What
l have always felt-that | am your
friend, for my interests are your in
terests, and your interests are 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 us brothers ? | will
say that when the war broke out !
felt it my duty to stand by my peo-
pie. When the time came | did the
best could, and | don't believe |
hickered. l came here with the jeers
of some white people, who think that
l am doing wrong. l believe that |
can exert some influence, and do
much to assist the people in strength
ening fiaternal relations, and shall
do all in my power to bring about
peace. 1t has always been nay motto
to elevate every man--to deprcss
none. | want to elevate you to take
positions in law offices, in stores, on
farms, and wherever yon are capable
of going, have not said anything
about politics to-day. don't pro-
pose to say any thing about politics.
You have q right to elect whom YOU
please yete for the man you think
best, and think when that is done.
that You and | are freemen. Do as
YOU consider right and honest in elect
ing men for office. | did not come
here to make you a speech, although
invited to do SO by you, l am not
mucl, of a speaker, and my business
prevented me from preparing myself.
I came to meet you as friends, and
welcome you to the white people. !
want you to come nearer to us. When
can serve you | will do so. We
have bat one flag, one country; let
us staud together. We may differ ia
color, but not in sentiment. Use
Your best judgment in selecting men
for office, and vote as you think right.
Many things have been said about
me which are wrong, and which white
and black persons here, who stood
by me through the wal, can contra
dict have been in the heat of bat
tie when colole a men asked me t.
protect them. ] have placed myself
between them aud the bullets OF my
men, and told them they should be
kept unhar'ned. Go to work, be ill.,
dnstrious, live honestly and act truly,
and when You are oppressed III come
to Your relief. | thank you, ladies
and gentlemen, fer this opportunity
Won have afforded me t" be with You,
and to assure you that | am with You
il heart and III hand"
In commenting on this speech the
Shreveport Times says: . Ihe speech
;. ~. Eap.r,1 EnrraSt is uOSitlyaIy dis