The colored American., 1865-12-30
WHAT Is "A MAN =?


He il every inch Of him, man. On
hearing such an expression as this, the
mind very naturally asks, Why is that
particular, person said to be man
more than the great mass of his fellows.
If you look at him you may not see
noble forehead, or ma jestic mein, or an
extraordinary developed physical frame,
but to the contrary, probably, a low fore
head with carelessly arranged hair, any,
thing but majestic air about his person,
and more than probably, an ordinary
sized man. You naturally conclude from
your survey that these particular quail
ties do not make him man more than
bis fellows. You look in vain. for dis
play Of this worlds wealth, for be may
be clothed in the habilaments of poverty.
You look for handsome equipage, but
he may never have had his foot lifted
from the lap Of mother earth beyond a
common wagon. In your perplexity you
again ask the question Why is that
one said to be a man more than the
mass, seeing that personal appearance
nor wealth are necessary qualifications.
Your ear catches the sound of the still
small voice. saying that he is man
because he is hoaest 1n all h1s dealings,
charitable to the needy, would rather
injure himself than injure others, and has
peace and good will towards all men
il a word, he is a christian. You are
no longer in the dark concerning the
qualifications necessary te make man,
for YOU at once perceive that they are
moral in their nature, and not ply sical.
If is somewhat strange that the world at
large should 50 universally recognize the
man in any one displaying these last
mentioned qualifications, seeing that
physical as well as pecuniary merits enter
50 largely into the balance by which
society weighs character, Nevertheless,
he who displays the merits of a christian,
though he were as poor as the comfort
less man Of Uzz, will receive from the
men Of the world the commentator that
be is man. They nay not recognize
sordid circle Of reckless fashion, but they
will have respect and Difference for
him that one of their own fraternity never
could enjoy. 1t is very evident, there
fore, from this stand point of the matter,
that character makes the man, and not
color. And if character is the standard
Of manhood, we cannot see any just rea>
son for Withholding the titles to manhood
from any one on account of his physical
nature. 1t is not because person is six
feet high that he isa man. nor because
he has la big brow and thick
straight hair, but because he has the
moral qualifications Of a man. Why then
exclude person from this position be-
cause he has black face. If he displays
the character, the moral character of a
man with a aohate face, who, in the jud ge-
ment of bis fellows, is deserving of the
title man in its fullest sense, common
sense and justice, We surely think de-
mands that be receive the same honor
able distinction. The apSe diait of the
world declares that physical qualification
has nothing to do in the formation of
man, is it just then that this decree
should lose its force when another race is
concerned, and that race producing the
self same traits as produced by others,
but not Of the same physical contour? We
think not, and every wise man will think
with Us. 1t is well understood by all,
that governments are the creations Of
men, although il every case they them
selves do not come up to the standard of
men. 1t is also well understood that
governments are not the creations of
races Of men, for in that case, the FIVE