The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-01
C aTbe nm Eaects ot Freedom >,

"Information reaches us that Fedshism SER
pent or snake worship lin fact, devil worship
prevails to q considerable extent near New
Orleans, among the negroes. Fetshlsm Is
stupid kind of idolatry, universally prevalent
among the native African negroes, and consists
in giving temporary worship 60 any material
object which the negro fancy may at the moment
happen to select, such as tree, corn stalk,
sione, q post or any animal OF the earth air, or
water. But snakes, serpents, ana tue devil are
most frequently the objects OF their idolatry.
THAT the negroes ia any poruon OF this coun.
try should, 80 soon after their emancipation an1
discharge from the physical and moral restraints
imposed bv the white master, exhibt dlSposf
ton to relapse into barbarism of the most pam
fu and benighted character, Is not surprising to
those who know the negro well IN Jamaics and
other islands OF the West Indies The lapsing
tendency OF African character has very often, OF
late, been developed where the negro has been
left to himself, without the will, influence, and
government OF the white man to keep him in the
path OF civilization. Unlike other nations, the
negro does not seem to possess the internal geTm
of sefimproyement and civilization, Ike th
Caucasian races; and as soon as the prop and sup
port OF the white man is wltndra Tn nom htm
he too frequently sinks by the inertia OF his o@
nature, back into thai pit OF 6arbarism from
which The white man, with the utmost dihcul;y,
eXtricated himself Richmond lines.
The cure for the disease which has only
Eeen hidden by slavery is, according
Southern logic, to keep the black in state
compulsory Christianity. Should negr
show desire to return to the worship of
snake, their modern civilization would correct
him, not by showing the folly of such an act,
but by removing the snake, and beating him
for his ignorance. 1t never seems to have
entered into the heads of these favorers of
Improvements that all fear Of relapse could
be forever removed by the instruction of the
black. 1t is only natural that these late serfs
! should return to their native worship when
they have such an experience in the doctrines
, Of fChristianity-in the precepts and the work.
ings of that gospel whose followers taught
charity to all meu, while they murder and con-
sign to inamy the men and women Of weaker
race. Were we freedmen we would seek in
the religion of any other land than America, a
safety from future punishment. We would en-
| brace cannibalsm, we would become dervishes,
or rfetish worshippers, anything, however gross
rather than member of that church to which
| our masters belonged. We see, therefore
nothing to excite suspr'se in this exhibition
Of the Africans. With such illustrations OF
| Christianity before them as the plant
ers, they would naturally do nothing
else. Let them be instructed; let them be
shown the beauties Of our religion by the
mild teachings of good men, and then there
will be no necessity for restraining by the
whip, or the letter, those who desire to wor-
ship snakes. We wish that all were thoroughly
educated; the folly would then be evident, and
the black gladly kneel side by side with that
Christian, who practises as well as breaches
the exercise of universal good will and
charity.