The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-09-27
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE SOUTH.


citizens of Atlanta, Ga, visited that city on the
22d of September, and was cordially received.
In the presence of 10, 900 citizens, Mayor Ang-
Ter. on behalf of the municipality, welcomed
the President, and Gov. Colquitt for the people
of the State spoke words of hearty welcome.
The President was introduced and received
with great cheering. He spoke as follows:
MY FRIENDS OF GEORGIA: Isuppose that here,
as everywhere else, am in the presence of men OF
both great political parties am speaking also in
the presence Of citizens of both races. I quite
sure there are before me very many of the brave
men who fought in the Confederate army Zap
plausel some doubtless of the men who fought in
the Union army Iapplausel and here we are, Repub-
hcans, Democrats, colored people, white people,
Confederate soldiers and Union soldiers all OF one
mind and one heart to-day. Immense cheering.l
And why should we not be? What is there to sep
arate us longer? without any fault OF yours, or
any fault of mine, of any one OF this great
audience, slavery existed in this country It was in
the constitution of the country. The colored man
was here not by his own voluntary action. It was
the misfortune of his fathers that he was here.
think it is safe to say it was by the crime of
our fathers he was here. He was here, how
ever, and the two sections differed about
what should be done with him. AS Mr..
Lincoln told us in the war, there were
prayers on both sides for him. Both sides
found in the Bible confirmation of their opinions
and both sides finally undertook to settle the ques
ton by that last final means of arbitration, force of
arms You here mainly Joined the Confederate
de and fought bravely risked your lives heroically
in behalf of your convictions, and any true
man anywhere fail to respect the man who risks
his life for his convictions? prolonged cheers ]
And, as I accord that respect to you, and believe
you to be equally liberal and generous, and just,
feel as I stand before you, as one who fought
in the Union army for his convictions, am
entitled to your respect. TCheers.] Now that
conflict is over, my friends. Gov. Hampton re-
peated to you last night the way in which I
have been putting it since I came to the South.
There were larger proportion of trained soldiers
in your army at first than in ours. In much
larger proportion you were good marksmen and
good horsemen, and that is two-thirds of good
soldier laughter; but gradually we learned to
ride, too [laughterl, and, as some of you know,
gradually learned to shoot. Renewed laughter. ]
1 happen to know how well you could shoot.
boot, it was the case of fighting between Greek
and Greek. When Greek meets Greek, you know
what the conflict is. [Cheers.l And, more than
that, you know exactly how it will terminate. That
party in that fight will always conquer that has the
most Greeks. daughter and cheers.l It is with
no discredit to you and special credit to us, the
war turned out as it did. [Cheers.l Now, shall we
quit fighting? [Cries of eyes," "yes."l
I have been in the habit of telling an anecdote
about Gen. Scott and the statesman at Washington,
in which the statesman said that as soon as the war
was over and the combatants laid down their arms,
we would have complete peace. "No, said Gen.
Scott, lit will take several years, in which all the
powers of the General Government will be employed
in keeping peace between the beligerent non-con1-
batants." [Laughter.l Now think we have gotten
through that [cheers], and having peace between
the soldiers and non-combatants that is an end of
the war. Is there any reason, then, why we should
not be at peace forever more? We are embarked
upon the same voyage, upon the same
ship, under the same old flag. Good fortune or i'll
fortune affects you and your children well my
people and my children. [Cheers.l Every interest
you possess is to be promoted by peace. Here is the
great city of Atlanta gathering to itself from all
railroads. and say to you that every description of
industry and legitimate business needs peace. That
is what capital wants. Dscord discomfort, and dis
satisfaction are the enemies of these enterprises.
Then all our interests are for peace. Are we not
agreed about that? What do we want for the
future? 1 believe it is the duty of the Genera
Government to regard equally the interests and
rights of all sections of the country. [Cheers.] l
glad you agree with me about that I believe
further that is the duty of governments to regard
alike and equally the rights and interests of all
classes of citizens. [Cheers.l That covers the
whole matter. That wipes out in the future in our
politics the section line forever. [Cheers. Let us
wipe out in our politics the color line forever.
[Cheersl
And let me say word upon what has been done.
do not undertake to discuss defend particular
measures. leave the people with their knowledge
of the facts to examine and discuss and decide for
themselves as to them. only speak of general con-
siderations and motives. What troubles our people
at the North what has troubled them was that they
feared that these colored people who had been made
rec by the would not be safe in their right
and interests in the South unless it was by the inter
ference of the General Government Many good
people had that idea. had given that matter some
consideration; and now, my colored friends, who
have thought who have been told was turning
my back upon the men whom 1 fought for, now
listen After thinking it over believed your rights
and interests would be safe this great of in
telligent white men were let alone by the General
Government. Immense enthusiasm and cheering
lasting for several minutes.l
And now, my colored friends, let me say another
thing. We have been trying it for these six
months, and, in my opinion, for no six months
since the war has there been few outrages and
invasions of your rights nor have you been so Sc
in your rights, persons and homes, as in last
six months. [Great cheering.l Then, my friends,
we are all together upon proposition. We be-
eve and in this all these who here agree in the
Union of our fathers in the old flag of fathers,
the constitution it is, with all its amendments,
and are prepared to it fully and fairly obeyed
and enforced. [Cheers.
Now, my friends, see it stated occasionally that
President Hayes has taken the course he
has because he compelled to it,