The Portland daily press., 1862-10-29
James Brooks on Emancipation &C., in
1893.

Il cannot understand it. l cannot under
stand how man can talk of liberty and hold
another man in slavery. l should think he
would be ashamed to speak the word.
"For one believe in the ability of the ma
ton, under an amendment of the constitution,
or without, with the sanction OF the consttu-
tional metaphyscians, to rid itself of this over
shadowng misfortune. 1t would not be prli-
dent without the solicitation of the southern
States, to attempt anything Of this sort. In
time, should not be surprised if the southern
States beg for this aid from the free States
when the free States the ground of in-
terest would refuse it. 1t must be the work
ofyears, but the energies ofman and tne what
can they not dop l also am convinced that
the intellect OF the black man is as bright as
that of the white man, and that the lamp
which God has given him. can after long and
patient trimming and proper refinement burn
as bright as the lamp which God has given the
white man. The slave cannot be everything
forthwith His son may not be rid of the
palsy which ignorance has imposed upon his
father. But the sons son will improve, and
the soul will become itself again. Education
and association gradually operating upon each,
will exalt each.
IL cannot but think that the people of the
South are doing injustice to their children.
They acknowledge the danger they are entail
ing upon their property, for they cannot shut
their eyes to the fact, that the black popula-
ton is increasing upon them and that some
day or other the danger is TO be met and that
then it may be a question of life and death.
They are thus bequeathing to posterity ques-
ton to De dgitdted and a battle to be fought
under circumstances less auspicious than the
present, when they perhaps cannot dictate the
terms of settlement, SO tceH as their fdthers,
(how prohetic!) Ii is vain to disguise the
fact that the question is to be met. 1t is vain
to believe that mulatto population as shrewd
or as capable OF intelligence as the white
and a population increasing not slowly from
the habits of portion of society-it is vain
to believe, that such men will submit in quiet
to the organization OF southern society. At
least they must be elevated and made the al
lies of the whites, or be kept down by physic-
al force,-and then instructions, murder aud
desolation succeed. Now is the time, not so
much for us, as for the South to meet the
question.
1t is their question we grant. As politi-
clans we will have nothing to do with it. As
philanthropists We are ready to follow their
bidding Ii they have the enterprise they
ought to bave, or courage, or affection for their
children, they will take the bitter cup from
posterity, and share it themselves.
1t is not impossible to accomplish the broad
plans of our or ,at statesmen who have met and
discussed this subject. Nothing is impossible
that man or mind can do, TO a great nation
like ours, operating in mass, and with mutu-
al good will, aud hearty comfidance. If south
ern statesmen have the courage to brave the
question, and to risk momentary un-
popularity, they can now begin the settle
ment of an evil, the removal of vice, which
their children otherwise must settle and re-
move for them."-l Portland Advertiser, 1888
So much for Mr.. Brooks in 1888, when he
had no inducements to utter any other than the
loyal sentiments of his heart, not only ON the
emancipation of the blacks, but on their sus-
csptibility of becoming as elevated in intel
lect' as the whites, with equal cultivation.
HONESTY.