The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-04-24
A Word to the Colored People.

A Word to the Colored People.
In our issue Of August Sth, 1866, We
talked to the eolored people as follows, for
which we were called '.foolish" by some Of
the ''over wisc." Now that suffrage has
been given the colored people, we repeat
the advice given them, andagain urge upon
all classes the necessity of harmony, in or
der to defeat the deyilish schemes of the
radicals for our destruction. And most
earnestly do We appeal to the intelligent
whites to allow no foolish prejudice tokeep
them from impressing the truths given be-
low, upon the colored people.
In few words we will try to state the
case to the colored people. You are here,
part of the great body Of the Southern
society, and you have several questions to
ask yourselves. LIST. Who are you and how
did you get here? I'd. Who brought
you here and sold you, and who has taken
care Of you since? Sd. What is your
true policy for the future? In answer to
the first question you know you are black,
a negro, and that your forefathers were
brought by force from Africa, land of
darkness aud barbarism. To the I'd, We
can answer that the immaculate and free
dom loving Yankees, Of New England,
Kidnapped you and brought you here, sold
you to Southern men, and then set up a
howl about the brutality Of Southern
slavery" after these same Southern States
forced them to abolish the ''slave trade"
in 1903, sorely against their will-for it
was very profitable. These Southern peo
pie took your forefathers, ignorant and
naked, and by their kindness, patience,
Judgment and love for you, brought you
to your present state of civilization, which
no other portion of your race has reached.
In return you gave them your labor, and
that you loved them was shown by your
noble conduct during the war. Circum-
stances beyond your control freed you
from the restraints heretofore put upon
you, and an all-wise Providence allowed
this same Yankee, who sold you into sla.
very, to free you-not for the lone Of you,
but to CRAFTY has Internal hatred to the
Southern vhites-your friends.
Such is the true state Of the case? you
have accepted the freedom forced upon
you by Radical Yankee hatred of South
ern men and no one blamed you for it,
any more than they would blame school
boy for taking holiday, when the teacher
is barred out" And what are you to
do? All +! there's the rub-your DISPOSE
tons and education prompt you to do
right prompt you to cultivate friendly
feelings with yourbest friends, our people,
but foolish people among us, and design.
ing Yankees, tell you to carry out the
same spitea Radical Yankee will always
have. They urge you to believe that we
are no longer friends and they are-and
the promptings Of vanity make some of
you agree with these poor creatures
Now look matters square in the face
You are here forever unless you die out
like the Indians, as the Yankees predict.
How to do your part for society is the
question. 1t is to trust year white PEG
pie; to be prompt and energetic to com
ply with all contracts; to work and study,
and make up your minds that only by
hard work and by trusting to the kind
and afectionate feelings of those who
raised you, can you exist on this Cont
nent. Do this; show yourselves worthy
of the position you are placed in, as you
heretofore showed you could be trusted.
and your future is clear before you-al-
ways recollecting the great fact. the posi-
tion Of the honored and respected of your
class exemplifes, that s'you must respect
yourselves to be respected Listen not
to fools or worse, who tell you about So
cial equality and all that, for that's
your ruin and determination. Be honest,
be faithful; make yourselves necessary to
the community and the devilish schemes
Of the Radical Yankee to ruin the Coun-
try, through you, will be thwarted and
your race saved.