The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-04-12
"FREEDMEN'S VILLAGES"
Good Advice from Greeley.
From the New York Tribune, April 6.
PETTING NEGROES.
recent Washington dispatch says

recent Washington dispatch says:
''There is, at the present tin Q, very large
population of eolored refugees in and around this
city. 1t has been estimated as high fifteen
thousand. They are in needy condition, and
aid from abroad to the Freedmen's association
here would be thankfully received
Doubtless there SICK wounded, crippled
insane, idiotic, paralytic and superannuated ne
groes well whites about Westinghouse
say nothing OF very young orphans-who need
charity and should have it. "The poor We have
always with you," and no Christian will deny or
evade the duty of contributing literally to their
relief War, too, is fruitful source of devasta-
ton and anarchy, whereby thousands through no
fault of theirs, are suddenly deprived not only of
subsistence but of the means of earning apy-
Let all give freely who can there will be ample
want and suffering after benevolence has done
its best.
But we do most earnestly protest against the
gathering of negroes, or whites, in vast aggrega-
tions of paupers-whether called freedmens vii
lagos or something less plausible-and undertak-
ing to feed clothe, shelter and educate them in
good part by aims. 1t is a gross imposition TO
attempt this-an uni st tax on the charitable
and grievous wrong to the beneficiaries 1t
has pleased God TO make labor the fundamental
law of human existence, and We firmly believe
the law benefcent or it would not have been en-
acted. You do not benefit any human being
whether white, black yellow, by contriving
that ne SNAIL IlVe lOIy on tue products OF others
labor on the contrary, you do him a very great
injury. Root, hog, or die I" is natures man
date; whatever opposes or seeAs to evade it is
atheism, and must result in evil.
We know well that many blacks are poorly fit
ted for freedOm-as, indeed, many whites are
But all coddling and pampering, and guardian
ship, tend to perpetuate some of the worst abu-
SEES of slavery. Let every freedman woman
understand at the very outset, "You free to
plan, and bargain, and work, and save for your
self Lean upon no one, but take your destiny
into your keeping. Go to work if yeu can only
obtain fifty cents per day, take that, and save
half of it wherewith to make your way to some
locality where YOU can do better" Better work
for your board only, than beg board clothing and
shelter altogether.
just now, the rudest and commonest labor is
in eager and general demand. A freedman
/ though burdened with a family, can find work
shelter and food, if he only will. We need to
/ grow a great crop this year and farm hand.
| are scarce ana command very high wages. Let
| US, then, have general breaking up of contra
| band camps and frecdmen's villages, an let ey
| cry one 90 to work where his labor is most need
| ed. lfthere be fifteen thousand negroes in and
around Washington who want work for fair wa
ges, let the fact be duly advertised and WAY
opened to- obtain their services, and they will al
soon be planting corn and potatoes from Norfolk
to Bangor. This is the true way to improve Their
needy condition )" and, if the Freedmen's asso-
citation want help to find them employment, vi
are on hand to give it.