National Republican., 1880-10-21
COL0RED MEN AT MENTOR.
A Visit TO General Garfield by the Col
Ored Men of Cleveland.
The Problem OF the Coiored Race-The
Dangers of Slavery Living, or
in Its Dissolution.
Tho Rights and pu,Ies of the colorea Raee.

Tho Rights and Duties OF the Colorcd Race
MEEToR, ONO Oct 20.-A delegation Of go col
ored men OF Cleveland visited General Garfield
this afternoon III response to an address by their
chairman the general said
GEYTIEMEN: havo listened carefully TO what
your speakers have said | have noted your mani.
festatiOns Of applause Mt the special points in their
remarks all the timo-not now while tho speaking
has been going on, but the Time since the great
struggle for equal rights in this country culmi-
mated in war. | have studied your problem with
no little solictudc. II was difficult problem
not for you only, but for us, ana equally difficult
for the men who lately held you IN slavery. OF
all the problems that any nation over confronted
none was ever more dilhcult than that OF
settling the great race question which your exist.
cnCe upon this continent brought to our people,
and settling i upon the basis of broad Justice aud
equal rights to all. II was tremendous trial Of
the faith Of the American people, tremendous
trial of the strength of our institutions IL wGsnot
for your sake alone that the thoughtful men OF
this country struck slavery aud said u must die.
1t was certainly q good reason why slavery
ought 10 die that II wrongcd your race, but II
was on equally good reason why II should die be.
cause II was dangerous to the peace and prosperity
OF the white race and TO the stability OF the fo'
public. We are always inclined to express too
much sympathy with the man who suffers wrong.
That is right. But we ought also to express Hnx-
ious solieitude for the men who do the wrong, for
In one very important sense they are more to be
wrong-doers and shield your race from sui-
fering wrong was the mighty problem which
was solved by the abolition Of slavery Now,
war, after Lincoln had given ulteranCe TO tho
great thought that the centuries OF slavery had
committed so great sin that without the shedding
OF blood there was no remission, aud that our war
was the bloody espiation of that sin, even then,
when you were free by the proclamation Of Lincoln
and by tho amended constitution that gave you
citizenship, your problem was not solved. What
Is freedom without the intelligence TO use ii wisely?
What is freedom without Virtue and Intelligence
combined to make It, not Il curse, but u bless
ing2 You were not made free merely to be
allowed 10 vote but In order u enjoy all equality
of opportunity IN the race of life aud to stand
equal before the law. Permit no man TO praise
you because you black nor wrong
you because you arc black. Let it be uli.
dcrstood that you are feudy and willing
to work out your own material salvation by your
own energy, your own worth, your own labor
All that liberty do for you is 10 give you fair
and equal chance within the limits of the constit
don and by the exercise offs proper powers II is
the purpose of the best men on this continent TO
give you this equal chance, and nothing more.
congratulate you on the great advance which your
race has already made under libery. j have
seen your representatives In congress. one of
them in the senate, and have seen them be-
have with such selfrcstront, good sense
me new hope that all their brethren will continue
to climb up towards the light with every new op-
portunlty. will not affect TO be any more your
friend than thousands of Others. j do not even
pretend to be particularly your friend, but only
your FREUD with all other Just men, OIL that basis
and within those limitations. Whatever Can
Justly or fairly be done to assure 10 you an
equality of opportunity 1t will always be my ploas
ure to do.