The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-04
Yson Drsc elmer

| hEditors Dispatch: Having read the pro-
ceedings, of the; meeting of:our colored
friend held Friday evening lasD, published
in your paper of Saturday, endorsing the
| Presidents policy, allow Inc to express my
great pleasure thereat. They have the ring
of the true metal about them, and augur
well Tor the future. Indeed, this is the be-
ginning OF the era OF good-feeiing. kindly
lrelations, and prosperity that are in store
for US. Owing their liberties, their rights
as citizens, and everything held dear by
freemen to the generous action OF the
Republican party, it was but natural
that the colored voters should have stood
by and upheld that party even after these
issues ceased to be vital. 1t was simple
exhibition Of gratitude for favors re-
ceived, and was right. because natural:
But "there is time for all things"
No party in the country now wishes to de-
prive the coored citizens Of any legal right
to which they are now entitled by law. All
parties now agree that the negro is citizen
in the full acceptatlon of that term, and, as
such, entitled to all the rights and privileges
appertaining thereto. st. Louis and Gin
cinnati are alike and equally emphatic on
this point, and Wade Hampton does not and
- Nichols dares not dispute it. This
point being settled, then what have we
longer to quarrel about? Verify nothing;
and this President Hayes recognized from
the beginning and determined to act upon.
I rejoice, therefore, to see that our colored
friends are beginning to comprehend the
situation in all It's full force and to act
upon it. We all needed experience.
Education in our new relations TO eaeh
other was absolutely necessary. The Whltc
man needed it and the black man needed it.
| hoI III.
Let us now try to have peace. There has
been too much attention bestowed upon the
possession OF Office, and especially by our
coored friends. There are certain num-
Der OF offices to be filed, and somebody has
to fill them. But offices are not created for
individual but the public benefit, and there
fore should be filled only by the most ex-
pcrenced, ablest, and best OF our citizens.
II every Federal office in Virginia were
| filled by q colored man. there would not be
more than one in hundred provided Tor:
Ninety and nine OF the hundred would
have to dig, and delve, and labor for q
living precisely as they do now, and
as a race they would be no better OF
then than now. No, my friends, it Is OF far
more importance to your race, and to me,
and to every other citizen, that peace should
reign throughout our borders-that the
| IullllCl alu ih'i Sb"''o W..
manufacturer, the artisan and laborer, in
all crafts and trades should prosper than
that any class or party should hold office.
And for this reason l bail this meeting as
the harblnger of the better time coming.
Let more meetings of the kind be held
throughout the State. The Presidents pol.
icy will prevail, because it is timely and
right. Human nature in the South is the
same as elsewhere. This question Of rights
once settled, the color-line wiped out, and
the States RENTED to their places, IN the
full possession OF all their faculties, rs CO.
equals in the Union, and this country will
enter upon degree OF prosperity hitherto
| only dreamed Of. And our colored fellow.
citizens will feel proud to have contributed
to the attainment OF this great end. Let Us
do right. and trust to Providence for re-
suits. q. h. GTLaEE.