National Republican., 1882-09-18
John MERCER LANosroN.
sketch OFFS Noted Srnn who VIII s'ump
Virginia for the Coalition Movement.

Virginia for the Coalition Movement.
To the Editor Of THE REPUBLICAN,
In all ages and among all races there have been
found true representative mon"-born leaders
but possibly In no age nor TO any race has there
been given truer, abler, or moro perfect repre-
sentative man than the 100000 OF American
negroes find in the person OF the Hon. John Mercer
Langston. Born to the humble estate of n slave,
yet blessed with strong mind and an indomitable
VIII, he has gradually risen until he stands to-day
M acknowledged peer among the strongest aud
,ns,sscd nIgnest minds OF the present @ age as ds
without labor, cost, and sacrifice on his part. Ho
mas nevertheless more fully than any other one
among us demonstrated the possibilities Of his race,
for which he bears the strongest regard He hos
seen them In all their various stages Of growth,
AS SLAVES AND AS FREEMEN.
not alone in this but other lands; and OF no man
he mourned, aud ~ their liberation hath he re-
lolced. For several years MI. Langston was the
in this capaciiy he visited nearly every State I'm in
the Union, establishing schools and otherwise
making the best interest of the frc edman con-
large majority of the young colored men who to-
day are successfully engaged In business pursuits
TINT their first lessons Of self,respect and self
reliance were received from him. Nor has he
been forgotten by those whom he has so nobly and
ably served, for he stands to-day by common con-
sent ITO less than by natural and acquired ability
the champion, the acknowledged leader of his
race.
MR. LANGsroNs FIELD OF USEFULNESS,
however. has not been confined within, the
American citizens; he has by his ripe scholarly
attachments, sngacity, and craftsmanship been for
tne last twenty five years conspicuous force in
the entire country, and 1t is to his great influence
no less than TO his clear, forcibc, eloquent, and
unanswerable arguments from stump and ros-
trum, in large measure that the Republican
party owes Its existence is a dominant party inl
more than one State. 1t is no depreciation oi
| hat anfQ fn.c YFtnr
largely sought for IN the political field and none
more freely given than his, und-it Is fact worthy
his post Of duty in lhe II Republic of Hayti his @ ser
vices have been asked by the leading Republicans
OF several States of the Union, among them Yir-
glnia, penn'ylvnnia, lndiana, nhd Ohio, in all OF
which he has rendered heretofore services of the
highest order. He has accepted the invitation OF
the Readjuser State executive committee
OF VIRGINIA TO SPEAK
at Lynchburg, Farmvlc, Petersburg, Norfolk,
Richmond; Fredericksburg, and other prominent
places of the Old Dominion and he will make
himself felt without ooubt Nor have his labors
been confined to the political field alone, but as an
educator and an executive officer he has been
called TO fill many positions OF trust among them
University, aud subsequently that of vice presi-
dent aud acting president of the same institution
aha ~ + very largely ae to ns ne m
He al lso served for seven years as prominent
member of the board of health of the District of
Columbia, and as its attorney, at the same time
acting as chairman of It's most important COM
mittee on ordinances. resgnng finally his position
on the board when rendered the distinguished
position now held by him us minister resident and
consul general of our government
TO THE REPUBLIC OF HAYTr.
The honors and duties of these several positions
Mr.. Langston has maintained and discharged in
handsome manner Is there not some position at
home TO which he can be called, where his inlu-
ence and ability could be more fully used, not
only to the benefit of his race, but to the good
of the entire country? We think there is and
We would suggest that of the several distinguished
and able men whose names have been proposed
for Commissioner of this District none would
meet the requirements of such position more fully
than would tho Hon. John Mercer Langston,
whose large influence might be also otherwise en-
piOyed as indicated. OBSERVER.