The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-03

NihNAShNAgs A1b AGplltu Wudb ne SAlQ IS DelOg
brought about, and will soon culminate in his
accession to freedom and liberty in the fullest
sense. Now we have come to know that the
negroes, having minds quick to learn, with
capacities for instructon-consid their
lifelong bondage-equalling, if not SURPRISING,
those OF the Southern whites and anxious to
acquire knowledge, need a more direct and
special attention given to their intellectual
standing. Let their minds be enlarged, thus
opening avenues of usefulness TO them wherein
they can labor and gam a substantial and honest
livelihood.
Let educational opportunities be given them.
be Their trends-ior you owe them debt con-,
tracted by their opportune aid in the war
winch you never can pay-and you can never
be their true friends until you allow them their
civil and political rights; thus giving them tue
power of using all advantages for developing
and enlarging their minds with knowledge and
advancing themselves onward in the path of
civilization. Let this be done. Let the ladies
not lay aside this noble organization - the
"Freedmens Aid Associationr-as q thing only
OF the past, but let them know that its power is
more potent now than ever, and its use felt to a
greater degree than ever before. Let all work
earnestly, steadily, and patriotically for the
civilization of this race of colored brethren.
(Applause.)
The remarks of General Mussey were followed
by others from the
REV. PHILLIPS BROOKS,
who said that it was to him pleasure to engage
in the exercises OF any ireedmens meeting. He
held for their aid, to learn whether or not that
zeal and earnest spirit was manifest among the
workers and supporters of the association now,
which should characterize all meetings having
such a noble and charitable object in view. For
the question was now assuming an aspect of
great importance. 1t was to open new field
OF labor. 1t was 10 raise a race which, since the
fourteenth century, had been bound IN the
bitterest chains of servitude and in so far as it
was now exciting the attention of all, 1t had
become the GREAT test question of the times.
If we look at the past history of the freed
mems work, we will at once notice the various
kinds Of enthusiasm which tended 10 incite the
worker in the treedmen's behalf to diligence
Three SUGGESTIONS of enthusiasm each in ITS
turn advancing one step beyond the preceding,
and each engendered as the capacities and
abilities of the negro was brought out during
the struggle of the past six years. First. we
saw in the Liberation OF the slave accession to
our physical strength; we saw the possible
means of strengthening our own position,
while that of our enemies was greatly weakened.
Then we became enthusiastic in military man.
ner, realizing that the accession of the negro
power to our own would avail us greatly in
determining the conflict, Time rolled on, the
negro became more associated with us and
identified with our cause, and the rebound of
that intense hatred of treason and rebellion
caused us to love patriotism and valor in all
persons. Hence we passed through another
fuctuation of enthusiasm, which was then to
elevate the negro out OF gratitude for his in-
valuable works and labors for us.
We admired his devoted attachment to our
cause, his answering loyalty, his bold patriot
ism, and his hard struggles against the odiOus
crimes that had been perpetrated by the South.
For this we sought to give HIM our protection,
and tried to advance hin in all possible ways
incited so TO do for the deeds of vaor and courage
which he had performed. But we came to a
third thusiasm, and that was when we dis
covered that he was man. Immediately this
enthusiasm rolled down to that class which had
been separated from us by an ocean OF color,
and touched the centre of the great moral
globe. Then we first were filed with the en-.
thusiasttc feeling towards the negro, because we
had just learned that he was human, and sepa-
rated as we were from the great order of brutes.
And we were astonlshed and amused at our own
doctrine. When he opened his mouth and dis
played his ivOres, or rolled his eyes in won.
oering manner, or talked, we mutteIed to our
selves in astonishment, "Can it be that this
strange being is man." but we soon learned
that, both outwardly and inwardly, the anatomy
OF his figure corresponded with that of our own.
When we found that this curious being could
read and recte his A C's, put his letters
together, and read, we grew more enthusiastic,
and sent him books, aud sent teachers tor his
instruction, and erected schools, where his
children might be gathered in. Then, seeing
that they progressed SO finely, we would fain
leave them now to shift for themselves, after we
had placed them upon the right path, and had
given them right start. We must put all such
thoughts aside. We must so teach and elevate
them that the people of the South will of neces.
sity honor and respect them. Then the world
negroes VIII cease, and they will be forced to
recognize the lawful claims of the former slave:
and as the idea of humanity becomes more and
more familiar, it will begin to inCite reaction
in the hitherto ranking bJSomS OF the whites,
and cause harmonious feeling. We have got to
see how tar the duty OF humanity, as citizens
towards citizens, eXCltes the enthusiasm, enllsts
the sympathcs, and meets the approval of all
our people.
The interest taken ir the freedmen's meetings
ought 10 be more ditfusive and earnest. See
what the negro has commenced to do; look at
the duty which now lies plain before you,
and which bids you move onward surely and
steadily tor your own and your counuy's good.
Ii is simply the duty that we, rs American
citizens ought to exercise to one another,
| especially TO those citizens who come into our
! company asking for help. Think of the young
girl who starts from Philadelphia all alone, deny.
! ing herself all those comforts Of love and the
| association OF friends, and going into the
| South among class OF people prejudlced, cold,
and unsympathetlc, meeting with neglect and
cruel treatment. She starts out through the
| desolated fields and dismal woods to find her
| scholars; she finds, scattered far apart, coored
| families, hIled with sympathy for her hard
| ships and TRIALS; she gains the promise OF few
| scholars; but looking for place wherein to
| teach Them, she receives no aid from the whites,
! nor will any OF them board her Day after day,
| weeks, months, she tolls INCREASINGLY, to try,
in her own feeble way, to light up the dark
| ened minds OF that beDighted people, and lead
| them on 10 higher life.
Such trials aud endurance as that, voun-
taTIy imposed, should be an example to be
followed by all of you, if not within the dismal
precincts OF devastated and nearly ruined
South, at least at home, where you may aid in
tue shape OF materials and influence. The Freed
| mems Aid Association has now in operation
above 500 schools throughout the South, ave.
ra5lng each 70 scholars, making a total OF 80 00O
| under instruction at the present time. Other
societies and organizations have, III addition,
about 1900 schools, averaging so scholars
making about 10000. These schools are scat.