Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-15
THE EVENING STAR.
SHEET.
Speech by GEN. Garfield.

HIS REPLY TO COLoRED DE!EG ALTON.
"A coiored delegation visited Mentor yesterday
and waited upon Gen. Garfield at his home
The delegation was composed OF r. II. ELLIOTT
samuel Lee and d. r. Srraker OF South Caro-.
una; Henry f. Curry, OF Texas; James B. Deve-
,eana, OF Georgia; George "; Price, jr.. Geo. L.
Mapson. James w. Hood, John A. Leary, j. W.
harris, Steward Ellison OF North Carolina On
1elIg received by Gen. Garfield in the parior
MI. Eiliott. the spokesman addressed him. con-
graduating him upon his election, and express
Ing the nope that he would be guided by d.
VINE WISDOM In securing all American citizens
me dressings OF equal laws and just adminisIra-
OF the condition OF the colored people of the
south, where, he alleged they were but citizens
In name, and not In fact He said In many
localities the rights Of majorities were Illegally
ana Wontoniy Subverted by the tmperious Will
OF interruptions minOrfties. through the infa.
nous use Of fraudulent tissue ballots, falsica-
!lon or registry books and election returns,
IorciDle ejectment from the polls by armed
MODS and the refusal 10 many instances TO
hold elections at precincts wnere the m4Iorify
or the voters are republican. The speaker next
took up the educational question AID ure ID ira
imROr aIce.
Gen. Garfield, In reply, thanked the dele,a-
tlcn 1or the kind expressions OF their chairman
az expressed his deep interest In all that had
Deen SAID about their wrongs This h1Eaver
was not the time nor the place t. indicate ANY,
Thing as to what he should have to do or SLY
n} and oy IN an Official way. He noted partic.
uiaI1y, nevertheless the remarks OF Gen Elliott
as 10 the expression OF majorities by minor
Ties In some localities of the south aud said:
III thlS De so, why Is 1t 80? Because q trained
man Is two or three men In one in comoarlson
YIN an unframed man, and outside of pol
mes and outside OF parties that suyge, tion
IS full-brimful OF significance; that the
way 10 make the majority always powerful
over the minority Is TO make It's members as
framed ana intelligent as the minority ITSELF
mat brings the equality Of citizenship, and no
law can confer and maintain In the long run a
,.d lnat Is lot upheld with reasonable de-
gree OF culture and intelligence. Legislation
ought TO do all can. / have made these s,,p
geslOns simply to Indicate that the education
u your race. La my Judgment, lies at the base OF
me mai solution of your great question, and
mat cannot be altogether In the hands of state
or national government. The government OUGHT
10 90 ali II properly can, but the native hunger.
ing ana thlrSt1ng for knowledge that the Crea-
t0r planted In every Child, must be cultivated by
inc parents t these children to the last possible
people shall reach out and grasp In the darkness
lne nanoS OF the government extended to help,
and oy that union of effort the two will bring
What mere legislation alone cannot Immediately
VI gllng. L rejoice that You have expressed so
strongly and earnestly your views IN regard to
the necessity OF your education. have felt tor
years that that was the final solution"
MT. Elliott then introduced Bishop Hood as
tne bearer OF an address from the board OF
bishops OF the African NJ E. Zion Church.
the congratulations OF the church, having a
following of more than half million OF peopIe
expressed confidence In his 1ntimation to do
Whatever can be done to redress the wrongs of
me col0red race, and promised him the con-
tinued prayers OF the church for his successful
administration Of the government.
General Garfield replied: 'Please return my
thanks to the board OF bishops for their kind
expressions and suggestions. After what |
necessary ~