A “war within the Union,” for their rights, seems now to be the universal policy—a war in which they will act as a unit with whatever party at the North favors the fewest possible changes from the old order of things, and leaves them most at liberty to regulate their domestic institutions in their own way.
Reid discusses the political climate in the post-Civil War South and the desire for minimal changes to the existing order.
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They should persist in this claim respectfully, but firmly, taking care to bring no discredit upon it by their own action.
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.
And it is both natural and right that colored Americans, entitled to the rights of citizens, should claim their exercise.
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.