National Republican., 1885-08-09
GENERAL GRANT AND THE CoLORED
AMERICAN.

Editor NATIONAL REPUBLICANS:
He kept all his promises to the colorcd
citizen he made as fur us possible, under
the circumstances, his hopes and desires
vcritablc rcalizntuns.
Apparently the only man among the
grcatand influential citizens nsorourcountry
who understood and comprchcnded the
condition, character, wants, possibilities,
future relationships of the newly cman-
cipatcd classes as regards their changed
status in the body-politic, General Grant
seemed to he from the very beginning
our single statesman, who, without pa
radc or show, hesitation or doubt, stood
prepared and ready to open yet more
widely the great aims of The nation to
welcome such classes to the cordial en-
brace of the people whose armies under
his leadership, had given them freedom.
Hence, when made President, he was
quick to give their more prominent men.
even official recognition in signal, memI;
orablc manner He even to this day has
been our only Chief Executive who, in
dispensing the honQrs and ex,oluments of
our foreign service, has deemed it wise to
appoint and continue u cOlored Ameri-
can citizen at an European place as one
of our consuls.
I Indeed, General Grant is the American
statesman TO whom especially belongs
the honor of inducing the colored citi-
zen of the United States into national
official life. One colored man only in all
our country had enjoyed the proud emf
nencc of having his name mentioned,
but without accepting place, in connec-
ton with civil official position under the
Federal Government anterior to his first
election to the Presidency. But ut once
on taking control of the National Adj
ministration he proceeded to recognize
the citizenship and consequent political
responsibility of the colorcd American,
so far as practicable by calling him, as he
did other citizens, to exalted and re-
sponsiblc home and foreign positions
The number of such citizens called to
foreign consular and diplomatic places
to positions in the revenue and postal
service, especially in the Southern States
as well Us those called To clerical and
tions in the several departments of the
Government, ut the capital, is well known
to have been large and important. All
honor TO the sagacious and fearless states
man, who, in 1869, could so brave and
control the absurd preiudiccs Of his
white fellow-citizens in general as to ad
vance and sustain his colorcd, as indi
Gated, in high, responsible, official life
Such honor belongs to the dead hero
whose courage had been demonstrated
and immortali2ed on bloody battlciicld'
made glorious by his defense of ON
Union, and in noble, manly utterance ii
maintenance of those Republican prin
ciples in whose full-orbGd light he vindi
Gated complied cnfranchi5ement, incIAd
ing the Use of the ballot, for the once en-
slavcd of our country. In displays Of hi'
native, personal courage and wisdom ~
regards the matters named, Genera
: Grant will ever command the admirl
ton and commentator of his country
men and mankind. At the tomb of thi
paragon of immortal chicitains and states
; men, whose hands are not stained will
the blood of his fellows, as his magniii
cent reputation is not dwarlcd or sulliC,
by duty neglected or omitted, II grateful
united people, without distinction o
race or nationality or former condition
proud Of this their greatest son, who ever
in the midst of his most transrcndcn
distinctions was not iorgctiul or inattcn
tive to the interests and claims of tn,
humblcst classes of the Republic, thos
Just redeemed ont of the scvcrcst bond
age, applaud his noble, generous, hcroi
conduct. JomN MERGER LNNGsroN.
WASnINGToN, .l"g''A s, 1855.