The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-04-02
a rev word. 90 orr CoIored People:


By the census of lsGO we had in this
county only 226 persons of the African
race. OF these 100 We're slaves. We
have row, we suppose, colored popu-
lation Ofat least five hundred in this city
alone. The original stock was liberal
ly reinforced ffom the interior during
the war, especially from the Valley of
and the truth of history COM
pels us to say that the foreign admix-
ture has not been disadvanlageous to
the home nucleus in our opinion. 1t
is fair to say that generally speaking,
and considering all the circumstances
or their antecedents and surroundings,
the negroes of Wheeling are a reputa-1
bic class. They are about as we'll be- |
haved as other people and seem to be
even II they are not provi-
dent. And it is on this latter point that
we desire to say word for their good.
The respectabilily of any class
OF people in community de-
ponds very materially on their thrifti-
ness, or, in other words, on their in
dustry and economy. These two ele-
ments or characteristics, either in the
individual or in any society or class OF
individuals, are always respected, and
are the sure forerunners of power and
consideration among men. II is the
man who works and saves, that The
community regards as one of its useful
and reliable members. Such men
nearly always make unexceptionable
watched, for he it Is who is drunken.
worthless and vicious. The IMPROVE
deucs OF colored people as a class is
proverbial. Many of them work
steadily, but save nothing. They
spend their earnings even faster than
they acquire them, And their OUTLAWS,
too, are often very foolish, and wholly
useless to their comfort. This habit
Is no doubt an incident, in large de-
gree, to their former servile position.
Not owning themselves, and having
scarcely any guaranty OF their personal
safety from one day to another, even
when free, there was very little en-
couragement to labor and lay up their
earnings for ga rainy day" Now,
their status being radically changed,
this unfortunate habit should be as
speedily eradicated as possible. Being
just Us free as other people to enjoy the
rewards of labor, with no one daring
TO modest or make them afraid, our
coiored people should realize at once
that their hope for themselves and their
children, and their whole race. lies in
the disposition they may show to labor,
to save, to be honest, temperate, clean
Iy, and in all respects decent and re-
spectacle.
We have been very much Interested
and instructed by reading recently
some facts and statistics in regard to
the cclored population OF Philadelphia
and Cincinnati. Without pretending
10 quote in detail we may say that the
showing made in the papers of those
cities as to their wealth, industry and
growing responsibility is well calcula-
ted to foster the hope that n spirit of
emulation will be Awakened in the
whole race throughout the country.
The per centage OF crime among them
Is small. They figure very seldom in
the police records. and when they do it
is more generally for theft than for
violent crimes Schools and churches
are increasing among them in those
cities and in few instances these in
stitutions have attained n pretty high
grade OF intellectual development.
What Is especially encouraging and
commendable OF them as IA class is
their desire to learn to read and write,
and the progress of the newly en-
franchised in this respect is be-
yOnd all previous expectations. We
hear from all who are looking after the
welfare of this class In our own midst,
that this fact is true OF them here as it
is everywhere else. They are making
very decided progress. This is the
case Rs regards both old and young OF
both sexes. Somehow they have real
lied thus early that "knowledge is
power" and that the great secret of the
dominancy OF the white race is in it's
superior mental attainments. The am.
bitiOn OF the blacks, therefore, Is to
approximations near and as fast as posi-
BILE to this elevated status that heretofore
has been so hopelessly inaccessible to
them. And in so striving they can
rest assured that they have the good
wishes and sympathies OF every genuine
man and woman in the community.
Ignorance is the bane of society,
either among whites or blacks.
1t Is the foe OF all that is
good and prosperous. Education is
the foundation stone of the public and
private veal. According rs one man
Possesses it more than another, in that
proportion is he capacitated to exert
more influence and command more re-
sPect.
We say, then, to our colored people.
that their constant effort should be to
raise themselves in the respect OF the
white race, who are now looking upon
them very critically. They have a
great deal of prejudice to overcome, and
it can only be removed by patient and
persistent industry and frusality in
their modes OF living. 1t should there
fore be their first effort to go to work at
something, no odds what, and TO be
sure that they live within their means.
Those who have children should, send
them to the school that has already
been started, and TO do this it will be
necessary for the parents, in some in
stances, to redouble their diligence and
economy. Those who are earning more
than living should put their savings
ut interest every week In some one of