The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-06-17
HOLD THE OFFICES OF THE COUNTRY,


and help to administer the Government, as
though they had never rebelled against it. What
more can we do, or be expected TO do, 20 bring
about peace and harmony? The people of the
South cannot expect ne Northern soldier and
his friends and relatives. who have suffered so
much, TO stop talking about the war and its
results so long as the Confederate and his
friends are asserting that they were right, and
that the cause for which they fought is not
lost. How can you expect the Northern sol
der TO stand quietly by and see Jefferson Da-
Wis, the areh-eonspirator Of the age, paraded be-
fore the country as a hero and martyr and
addressing his former soldiers upon every Oc-
easlon, and intoxicating in them and the rising
generation anew the doctrines that have cost
this country so much in blood and treasure?
IL is not in accordance with human nature that
we should do so. Either we were right and
the Confederate soldier wrong, or he was right
and we were wrong. That we were right has
been settled by the high court of war, and
acknowledged by every Well-meaning man
in the South, and is the universal verdict of
all mankind to-day. Then, when we are con-
scious that we were right, and equally conscious
that the South was wrong, how can they ex-
pect US to stand quietly by and see the man
who has entailed these woes and who is more
responsible for them than any other man, lion
lied and praised for the cause be took Nor
can we be expected to patiently submit to the
utterances of men, tauntingly made, who say
they are now in the house of their fathers,
and have come to stay" Would it not be well
for them to think for a moment and realize the
fact that they are back in the "house of their
fathers that they would have destroyed
by our mercy, and not through any matter Of
right?
The Confederate soldier, if he expects the
love and friendship of the Union soldier, should
be willing to concede to him that he was right
ar,1 81 :. n L
a Union soldier who has left his strong right
arm upon some Southern battlefield Let me
ask you in all candOr. Confederate soldier do
you suppose he can feel like forgiying and for
getting when you approach and take him by
his hand, and, looking at his armless sleeve
say TO him, i want to be your friend true
have shot off your arm; have made cripple
Of you for life; / have deprived you of the
means Of defense that your God has given you,
still, sir, have no apologies to make; / was
right, and you were wrong" If you expect
that, you mistake the men who rescued this
Government and saved your flag from dis
honor. The war has virtually made a new
South, and every Southern man should be
Justly proud of it. Rich in resources. with a
climate unsurpassed by any in the world, there
Is no reason why you should not be happy and
prosperous. There is but one way this can
be done, and that is by acknowledging the
results Of the war, and conceding to every man
every right guaranteed to him by the COnstitu-
ton and the laws of his country. You may
deny men their rights now,
BUT THE TIME WILL COME.
when n new generation has grown up; when
the old slaves have all passed away, and their
children aud grandchildren have breathed the
air OF liberty for another quarter Of a century,
that you will have to acknowledge their rights
No man, or set of men, living under free
Government and sharing its burdens, will when
he becomes educated in his rights suffer them
to be trampled upon without asserting them.
L say this in a spirit of kindness, believing it
to be better for you and better for the Govern
ment that this principle be recognized by the
rising generation.
1 see before me to-day some cOlored people.
and ask their calm consideration while adj
dress few words of advice to them. You have
gained more by the war than any other class of
people. Four millions of your race were made
free, and are now free men and w0men-made
so by the stroke OF the pen Of Abraham Lincoln,
backed by the loyal soldiers Of the North
With this freedom has come its duties. cares
and responsibilities. You are now American
citizens, and as such are called upon % dis
charge the duties pertaining 60 citizenship.
Let me ask Of yen 90 prepare yourselves Cor
these grave responsibilities. 10 studloas AID
Industrious, and. ~ flr az y0u can. OBJ
tain homes for Yourselves. You nos Only
owe q o yourselves. bat % your chiIaren ihat
are % follow you. Neu were oval 30 the hax
that bal aiHaTs Oppressed you. Yea we're true
% the Government thar had always consented
% the WronEs that we're hrared upon yea. And
IN place II any sonthcru man waiting q de-
Prive yea q any eoastitaiioaal r zht you may