Affair Quote by Rutherford B. Hayes
“Let me assure my countrymen of the Southern States that it is my earnest desire to regard and promote their truest interest - the interests of the white and of the colored people both and equally and to put forth my best efforts in behalf of a civil policy which will forever wipe out in our political affairs the color line and the distinction between North and South, to the end that we may have not merely a united North or a united South, but a united country.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Reconciliation Address, 1877
Hayes pledged equal treatment for all races, aiming to erase sectional and color divisions for national unity.
In simple terms: He promised fairness for both white and Black citizens.
Support policies that promote true equality.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- post‑war reconstruction
- legislative reform
- community building
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What concrete actions can bridge racial divides?
- How can we measure progress toward unity?
Achieving genuine equality requires confronting entrenched biases.