New-York tribune., 1885-07-24
tho Astor House at lunch time nothing else was to be
heard but talk about the dead hero.

tho Astor House at lunch time nothing else to be
heard but talk about the deaa hcros
WHAT THE COLoBED PEOPLE OWE GRANT.
The TRIBUTE OF PROFESSOR LANGsroS-A FIRM
FRIEND or THE NEGRO RACE.
pro,e.sor John NJ Langston, ex-Minister to Hayti,
srrlyed hare on WedL esday from Port Prince. To
TRIBUNE reporter he said: Let my first testimony on
coming home be tho friendship OF General Grant Tor
the negro race He has been our friend under every
circumstance, at all times No negro man knew him
better than T. No white has done more for us than
he No white man had better ideas OF the negro race
wben succeeded Lincoln President and Grant
vas made Secretary OF War dd Interim was acting In
the Freedmens Bureau under General u D. howaru as
INSPECTOR general and travelling In the South 10 inspect
the workings OF the Burepu returned to Washington
after a tour In Mississippi to find the newspapers
announcing that johnson intended ID retire Genera
Howard and make Commissioner OF the Bureau
Jobnson invited me to call upon him. He opened his
mind freely to NO. said ne intended ID remove Howard
and offered his place. H would not accept nc shiu
he would like to make Minister to Hayt Ills kindly
reception and treatment induced me to take tho matter
nader considerations My friends advised me not to
accept and tell General Howard all that had iran
sprcd. which did
In my talk with the President he had said he should
const his Cabinet and mentioned Grant especially ~
having his confidence. General Howard asked Inc 10
call on Grant aud relate these matters and ask MN 10
General Grant listened to Inc throughout with deep
interest Hisrerly 10 me begun IKE this ! am
glad Mr. Langton. that you called on me TO tax ABOUT
this subject-about General Howard. the freedmehs
Bureau and the freed people. know General Howard
to be an upright. honorable man, brave ana iathu
soldier may say that am tho father OF the Freedmen
Rureau had IL organized In the interest oil the feed
,eo,le saw them I'm my In the Mississippi
Valley and early learned their wants and necess'ues
early conclusion OF my mind that tne oa
nLA
th ose wants In fact In caring for them with The army
nror 10 Inc organization OF te Bureau. established
scheme identical with IT, When the Bureau created
appointment oi Its head was nuder cohsderg
snonld select General Howard. Talking In this way
for hour he spoke TO me In an elaporaie ana
expatiaon OF the situation rcgadei the
negro-his emancipation. his condition In the country
duties to himself aud the Nation h, probable future
views he advanced bold and vigorous When he
do Won honor They win make you The next President
In the OF the negro noininale you now nc
made President aud In every way possible advanced
NON an anecdote to illustrate how thoughtfu lie
CT us Wendell Phillips and gentlemen OF his advanced
scbool I'm .he anti slavery moy elt that m
portant that Grant in his inaugural address should
phiI,ps wrote letter 10 senator Henry wilson asking
MIN to and suggest H. which Wilson DID, ana
my address Is c5mpeted. swever. trust have not
failed 70 say proper word Win saaoe erpnass on
staiesInanIike proposition paving tbs way Tor the
IL was Grant who sent the first coloredmnn abroad
70 REPRESENT this Government and to him alone belongs
credit for sending black man 20 European lori as
United States Consul the only colorod man ever ap
pointed such "a place John L. Quhflcs student
and graduate under from the law department OF :
Howard. University. was the selccIoi. Ic died
last winter. Quarle- wanted to go to barcelona Inc
night before called with him 10 Grant that place
had been bestowed elsewhere. Grant told us 40. AN
then asked u there was not some other Place replied
all strange business 10 us ami asked; Wha
can you suggest Mr. Presidentr lie walked across the
rOom pnlled down wall map ani pointed out three
places t He can have any one OF these. ne said
Again asked for his Judgment AMI ho said Malaga Wa
the best So it decided Lest there might be dim
guilty at the Department he wrote his card
which I myself carried to Mr. Fish; You will nj once
send Mr. Quarles Consul 10 Malaga and please me.
c. just he treated all cOlored mon aho came IL
him. He gavo the finest position ever held mem
bcrship In the District OF Columbia Board OF Health
with four white By whose association became all
the General was deeply interested in the education
Bure lu that interested him the educational
When at Howard University. actlng n. president
the departments for worthy young colorol men aud
women who seeking 10 Educate themselves. He +
never failed To give such person place.
at Howard University to educate the colored pc plc
some Georgia gentlemen wanted De To go O that state
assuring that they could get me hanhrone appoint
ment Grant said would lay the whole 4
matter before the President His advice was to remain
at the University though lac frankly SAID could have
the position the gentlemen would ask for II elecie
20 take it and TO Georgia. II remained he said
General Grants hand unveiled the statue OF Lincoln
erected on'e front OF the Capitol at Washington ~
testimonial OF the race To the great ensncpator
Grant known abroad we'll as at home a. the
friend OF the ooored When he WAS on his way 10
Cuba. the nm officials Induced mo TO Invite him To
Port au- Prince. They throngcd my legation daily
while he matter under discussion. The President
~ ayii said that the Treasury 10 give
HIM "A royal reception and had dozen house. offered
for his accommodation. Owing 10 delay Ia steamers
he could not come and the expressed the deepest
won to greater degree than General Grant the respect
the love. and the sympathy OF the coorod race