The Van Buren press., 1867-06-07
THE CLovEN-FoOT AGAIN

The future Of the African race in America
Isl study, worthy Of the philanthropist aud
one that Is even now engaging the attention
Of the good men who look to his social wei.
fare. This class Of friends Of humanity, do
not stop TO reflect upon the probabilities Of
securing the African vote to themselves or to
their party. They look upon the negro as
man possessing all the qualities of human
being. but one who has but recently been born
into his new life. The mass Of them. are as
unsophisicated asa ten year old child. and
know as little Of the ways Of the world Here
they are, by circumstances forced to earn
their own living and carve out their own way
in the world, many Of them encountered with
families OF small children, without having any
ofthat experience which Is so valuable to the
full grown man who has been master of his
own actions, heretofore. This same negro is
now an integral part of our society. and is it
not our duty to see to his welfare, and lend
him helping hand; try TO assimilate him to
his new surroundings, and not cucumber his
inexperienced and untried intellect with
foolish political notions. Is it not almost
crime against society to be deluding the negro
into the silly belief that his vote and his ac-
ton will be infinitely important in moulding
the policy Of government or in saving the
country? All this this is the nearest gam
mon. and only resorted to by the mendicant
politicians who are crazy for office. and care
not one fig for the future of the negro.
A few nights ago, shielded by that darkness
loved by those "whose deeds are evil n par
Gel Of these men who so ardently love the ne
gro, assembled number of the Freedmen Of
this place, in the old church, we believe, and
made by men who probably could tell you
who Washington's father was but most as
suredly could not tell what laws are consttu-
tional or why Congress cannot repeat the
Federal Constitution, without violating sim
gle republican principle. This is the class of
men who now propose to be the Moses of
these benighted clildren Of Ham. Trying to
shape the course of this colored race, when
their own paths are not extra ship-shape-
fine models, they are to be set up for the ne
soon see through the himsy veil of hypocrit-
ical affectioa, that covers the burning desire
for self-exaltation, the feverish anxiety for
place and piunder; and the absolute absence
efall disiutcrested solicitudc for the African
race, IN America.
Let the negro put these men in Office and
what guaranty have they, that their interests
will be remembered. Some of these same men
who now are so anXions to serve the negro,
had an opportunity in 1864, but they did not
even grant the right to sue and testify in the
courts, to the negro they loved so WELL A
Legislature. which these men pronounced a
terribly disloyal body, took the initiative and
performed this plain and simple duty
to the negro as freeman. Why did these
men fail in this matter in 1864? Was it be-
cause they did not wish the negro to have an
opportunity of defending his rights of person
and property in the courts? Or, was it because
these men were careless of their rights or ig-
norant Of the manner In which their rights
should be secureds In either case the are
not worthy of the confidence ofthe Freedmen.
How will they answer this? Wont some of
our intelligent Freedman ask them to explain I?
lfthey can clear their record. then it will be
time enough for them to be crawling at the
fest of the negro and licking the dust from
his boots, for the purpose of securing his vote.
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