Whitelaw Reid: “No man, perhaps, has more deplored the war, from which the country is now emerging, than myself.”

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.

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

Our national experience has demonstrated that public order reposes most securely on the broad base of universal suffrage.

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.