Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-11-17
sAMBo --ovERwHELMED WITH

A good old proverb tells US that Time
is money" II advice also were money
every negro in the South would to-day be
rich as Crosus. The brightest vision Of
freedom that ever danced through darkey
brain would pale before the dazzling reali-
ty. And what an enyiable reputation for
liberality our Northern and Southern
philanthroplsts would enjoy! But, I'M
fortunately, advice is the cheapest thing a
person can give away, and that which the
poor freedmen receive is so remarkably
barren that, like debts, the more they have
the worse they are off. First, the Presi-
dent tells them that freedom means nothing
more than the right to control ones own
labor, which is very true, and very appro-
pirate. Then, every officer commanding
a department in the South, and every
commissioner Of that humbug called the
Freedmen's Bureau, generously gives the
freedmen a repetition Of the instruction,
with such embellishments as he thinks the
gravity of the case requires. Then Mr..
Greeley lays down a life chart for the
darkies, telling them to be honest, indus
trious, frugal, sober, and to acquire edu-
cation. Then the Southern journals and
politicians advise them to work for what
ever they can get, and to be good and
dutiful people. And. in short, the poor,
ignorant, half-starved negroes are COM
plelely overwhelmed with advice, coming
from every point of the compass, and from
various sources; but in their simplicity,
they can not see how 10 turn it into bread.
or how to make it available in giving them
comfortable homes. Now, this advice
business is all nonsense. 1t would be
Just as sensible-just as beneficial to the
darkies, and better for them, because
within the scope Of their comprehension,
to advise them in this way: Eat when
you feel hungry !; wear clothes when you
have any; if you see a dollar lying in the
road, pick it up keep out of Jail; work
if you feel like it; avoid being swindled /;
don't commit suicide: in short, be virtu-
Gus and you will he happy. But if those
persons who are so liberal with their ad-
vice would give in its stead something
that the darkies can use, their liberallty
would be appreciated. Benefactions to
be worth anything, should be practical.
The negroes want homes; they want en-
ployment with planters who will treat
them decently, and those who cannot be
so provided, want hoes, seeds and the rest
of the simple outfit for the working Of a
little land on shares. Give a negro three
| or four acres Of land to farm, with O little
seed corr and a hoe, and you will give
him that which is worth q shower of ad-
vice. What good can it do to teach
honesty, sobriety, frugality, and the adj
vantages Of education to a man, whether
white or black, who is half-starved and
shivering with cold: Would you read to
q drowning man a homily upon the ne
cessity of keeping out Of the water: No
doubt the philanthropists who are SO
generous with their advice. in respect to
the freedmen, really believe they are in
this way doing good, but they are greatly
mistaken. Turn advice into the practical
channel which we have suggested, and the
negroes will be forever thankful.