On the record
Clearly enough, few Union men in the South, who have political aspirations, can be safely expected to advocate justice, much less generosity, to the negro, or severity to the Rebels.
Said by
Whitelaw Reid
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gutenberg.orgWhitelaw Reid: “Clearly enough, few Union men in the South, who have political aspirations, can be safely expected to advocate justice…”
Editor's note · Context
This statement captures the political realities faced by Union men in the South regarding their stance on race and reconciliation.
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More from Whitelaw Reid
And it is both natural and right that colored Americans, entitled to the rights of citizens, should claim their exercise.
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.
Ordinarily the simple performance of duty is so blessed of God, that men who live in the doing of it, are the best off, in all respects, even in this world.