New-York daily tribune., 1845-05-16
Thoughts on the colored Race.


| To ne Edt.or Of The Tribune:
AS the elevation OF the colored race is asitajed
by some at this Time, few thoughts are suggested
on the subject for The consideration OF your readers
| In surveying the moral deselall0ns of the world,
where can the eye OF the philan,hropist rest with
deeper lnteres, than on Africa and her children ,
While contemplating their degradation, rnental,
! political and moral, the thought naturally occurs,
what more can be done 10 relieve them of that
m ghty incubus, which crushes them with the dust
Much sympathy, indeed, has been evlnced, already,
| in their behalf, and something has been done 10
-xtrcate them from the thraldom in which they are
held.
But, arc these means sufficient 10 accomplish all
that is necessary, TO cause them to stretch forth
their hands unto God, and fir them ior thai free
dom and elevation which II seems 10 be Indicated,
ia several passages OF scripture, ih.y destined
u ENJOY! AR they al all commensurate with the
wants Of the sky or ninety millions who are per-
! shing for lack Ct Knowledge!
Ought not ChriSendom TO attempt some more
systematic thorough, eiiectual efforts for ,ier re
generation. that Pety and knowledge, peace and
! prosperity, may al length shine upon them; and
that the gross darkness which has enfeloped that
race for thousands Of years may, IN these latter
| davs be dlsslpaied!
Has not God most maniiestly prepared the way
for more enlarged deliberate, and efiiclrn action
/ Do not the openings and movcme his OF Providence
| ndcate that If Christians will but 90 their duty,
Ethiopia may br expected soon 10 stretch forth hef
! hands unto God
To some extent, indeed, she has already taken
this lmplorlng attitude; and her prayers have been
| heard. The wrongs Of injured Africa and her
children have been confessed by civilized nations
| The Christian world have. in measure, been
awakened 10 feel that the everlasting principles OF
| Justice as we'll mercy, demand, IN her behalf
protection retribuu0n for past wrongs, and vigorous
efforts secure to them the enjoyment oi Christian
privileges. What spectacle could be more delight
! iul, or more grateful 10 heaven, Than that oi a
Christian people manlfesing desire TO make sonls
proper restitution Tor The wrongs they have done 10
that face, by eievatng tine coored population IN
this country, and by qualifying colored men, who
are disposed 10 perate with them IN ditiusng the
blessings of civilization and Christianity throughout
thai vast continent OF Africa
That the colored people, emanang from the
same source with other nations, have capacities Tor
! taking respectable rank IN the human ldmliy,
| few al the present day, Will deny.
What means shall then be adopted for their
| elevation To this question your careful consider
alton is respectfully invited.
We do not wish to supersede any enterprises nov
in operaon nor III the least 10 interfere with their
progress On the contrary, We would gladly AID
and encourage every wish and practicable effort To
promote lhefbenevornt designs, and thus secure.
more speedily, the contamination desned by all
| phllanthfOplsis
IL we would benefit this class of our fellow men,
il seems natural lilat our cianty should begin a,
| home. They are among us. Canwe not enlghlen
and elevate them by the establishment of common
schools in all our cities and villages where they can
be found in sufficient numbers
Though schools, 10 som eeXtent, have already been
maintained. they have been rare, and numbers OF
them have been discontinued Tor want ol funds aud
teachers. To supply existing wants. II an asSoca-
ton could be formed to furnish teachers aud part
e, aItuts.
might be obtained, to. carry forward this enterprise
10 successful results, Are there net persons OF sui
icient self denial, who would gladly aid this object
An agent would be needtul 10 prepare the way, by
calling the attention oi colored people 10 this sub
| ect and by encouraging them with the expectation
that If they will contribute certain portion of the
| expense, the association will aid IN securing the
proper education OF their children. II this agent
should find in any town region, after he subject
is presented, that the inhab ants are ready TO ad
nit TO their schools coored pupils, then separate
organization need be formed. But where this is
! impraclIcable, or does not meet the views OF The
people in any place, let hun proceed 10 organize
parate establishments, and procure, II II be desired,
competent teacher.
In addition 10 efforts for giving common school
education it is proposed that academies be estab-
shed in the large cities. And may not this be
! done Immediately IN those places where common
schools have been in existence for some years
The education in these institutions may be con.
|
that condition in life for which the Providence OF
| God destined them, Agricultural, Mechanical or
| Mercantile pursuits
When any young men exhibit capacity to re-
ceive better education than that above supposed,
! and their plrV is undoublrd, let the m be admitted
INTO those Colleges and Seminaries already opened
for their reception where they may be trained for
the purpose ot benriiItng Their brethren IN this
country, IN the West Indies, IN Atrca, any other
section Ot the world 10 winch The Providence OF
God may call them
Ii is bevonA question: the interest Of the whole
community that the colorfd people among sshoud
be rendered virtunus and moral Bat this Is in
practicable, unless suitable provision be made Tor
! their instruction.
| AS thrv are IN no small degree unresraned in
their manner OF living, ii seems essential 10 The well
| fare OF the community that they should have The
restraint OF proper training, under competent
| teachers and as this training Will secure ihe ele-
vaIion OF the colcred race, Is confidently expect
| ed that they will he ready 10 avail themselves OF
any suitable provision for their intellectual and mo-
! "a Improvement
That funds Can be obtained sufficient 10 lay the
foundation OF such an enterprise cannot be known
with certainty ,l the attempt has been made. But
II is believed that the friends OF the coorcd race, III
these United States, and IN Great Britain, would
suffer any feasible plan for their benefit and edu
cation to languiSh for wan, OF adequate support
| The Christian world has too long been converSant
with their woes. and sighed too long over them,
not 10 be aroused 10 action when the Providence ot
God and the friends OF the men of color solicit their
aid.
In reply to this plan il viii be sad ha, The ten
dsncv OF II Is 10 keep up the IDEA oi Caste, and
therefore it cannot be approved. That such deep
rooted prejudIces against color exist amons. ,he
brethren OF the human FANNY. who are all o one
blo08 is sublrc, for iamenation. Still, the dill
Guilty mus, be met, and removed IN the best possible
manner Merely 10 complain OF this prejudice and
declalm against lis cruelty ana us outrage on hu-
fIll
returns: In what way can the difficulties that de-
press our coored fellow. men be removed? Some
will readily reply by making efforts TO ADMIT them
at once iuto participation IN all our advantages
and privileges. Ii no objection TO such an adms-
sion existed in the Northern States, stI II Is be-
eved that separate organizations in most cases. for
the present al least would be preferable, for The fol-
lowing reasons:
|. Because coored children, not having had the
advantages oi white children, in early HE, would
not BE- able 10 compete with those OF the same age;
and this disparity between them would have ten
dency 10 keep up the very idea OF caste which is 80