The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-10-21

A Pilgrimage TO Mentor by Cleveland
Colored CitIzens. -ss

C0l0feu Cttixenb.
MENTOR, O., October 2O-A delegation
OF 250 colored men Of Cleveland visitec
General Garfield this afternoon. In re
sponse to an address by their chairman
the General said: Gentlemen, l have
listened carefully to what your speaker
have said. l have noted your manifesto
tions Of applause at the special point
in their remarks. All the time, not nov
while the speaking has been going on
but the time since the great struggle fol
equal rights in this country eliminated
In the war, have studied your problem
with no little solicitude, Itwas difficult
problem; not for you only, but for
US, and equally difficult for the men who
lately held you in slavery. OF all the prob.
lens that any Nation ever confronted,
none was ever more difficult than that Of
settling the great race question which your
existence on this continent brought TO
our people, and settling 1t on the basis OF
broad justice and equal rights TO all. II
was q tremendous trial of the faith OF
the American people, tremendous trial
Of the strength OF our institutions.
It was not for your sake alone that the
thoughtful men OF this country struck at
slavery and said IL must die. 1t was Ger.
tainly a good reeson why slavery out to
die that It wronged your race, but 1t was
an equally good reason why 1t ought to
die because It was dangerous TO the peace
and prosperity Of the white race and TO the
stability OF the whole republic. We are
always inclined to express too much sym.
pathy with the man who suffers wrong.
That is right, but we ought also to express
anxious solicitude for the man who does
the wrong, for in one very important sense
he is more to be pitied than the victim.
II q man murders you without provo
cation your soul bears no burden Of the
wrong, but all the sad angels OF the uni.
verse will weep for the misguided man
who committed the murder, and so / say
the men who enslaved your race were
wronging themselves as well as you. To
protect them from being wrong does not
shield your race from suffering. The wrong
was the mighty problem which was solved
by the abolition OF slavery.
Now, fellow citizens, after the fierce
struggle OF the war; alter Lincoln had
given utterance to the great thought that
centuries OF slavery had committed 80
great sin; that without the shedding Of
blood their was no remission and that our
war was the bloody expiation for that sin,
even then when they were freed by the
OF Lincoln and by the amend
ment 10 the constitution that gave you
citizenship, your problem was not
solved. What is freedom without
the intelligence to use 1t wise
ly? Whist ia freedom without virtue
and intelligence combined to make It,
not curse, but blessing? You were
not made free merely to be allowed to
vote, but in order 10 enjoy an equality Of
opportunity in the race OF life and to
stand equal before the law. Permit no
man to praise you because you are black
nor wrong you because you are black.
Let it be understood that you are
ready and willing TO work out your
own material salvation by your own ener.
gy, your own worth, your own labor. All
that liberty can do Tor you Is to give you
a fair and equal chance within the limits
Of the Constitution and by the exercise OF
It's proper powers. 1t is the purpose OF the
best men on this continent to give yon this
equal chance, and nothing more. | con.
gratulate you on the great advance which
your race has already made under liberty.
have seen your representatives in Con.
gress, one oil them in the Senate, and l
have seen them behave with such
good sense and Judge.
ment. modesty and patriotism that
it has given me new hope that all their
brethren will continue to climb up tow.
ards light with every new opportunity. ]
will not affect to be any more your friend
than thousands OF others. do not even
pretend to be particularly your friend, but
only your friend with all other Just men
on that basis, and within those limitations.
Whatever can justly and fairly be done to
assure to you an equality OF opportunity
1t will always benny pleasure to do.
Gentlemen, | thank you for coming
here and shall be glad to greet every ono
Of you.