Whitelaw Reid: “Hand in hand with these benefits to ourselves, which it is the duty of public servants to secure, go benefits to our new…”

And it is both natural and right that colored Americans, entitled to the rights of citizens, should claim their exercise.

In this way they will surely overcome unjust hostility, and convince even the most prejudiced that the denial to them of any right which citizens may properly exercise is equally unwise and wrong.

They should strive for distinction by economy, by industry, by sobriety, by patient perseverance in well-doing, by constant improvement of religious instruction, and by the constant practice of Christian virtues.

He who has that right will usually respect himself more, be more respected, perform more, and more productive work, and do more to increase the wealth and welfare of the community, than he who has it not.