Whitelaw Reid: “Rightly used, it enables the United States to convert the Pacific Ocean almost into an American lake.”

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

They should persist in this claim respectfully, but firmly, taking care to bring no discredit upon it by their own action.

Never was there a problem more serious or difficult than that which is now before the Nation, as to this race, whose destiny has been confided to the wisdom and honor of our Government.

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