New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-25
HIGHER PAINS,

Pain is the condition of progress. We
rise from lower to higher state of being
only through suffering. 1t is so with in
dividuals and nations, and there is no es-
cape. This fact has been very happily
expressed by the author of "Felix Holt, the
Radical when, in speaking of the new
conditions which befell au "old-fashioned,
wool-packing'' English village, "complicat-
ing its relations with the rest of the world"
she says that they awakened in it that
higher consciousness which is known to
bring higher pains
Such is precisely the condition Of the
colored population of the South. We con-
fess that emancipation, bringing that
population, suddenly, too, into new and
strange relations with the rest of the com.
munity and the nation, has brought also
new pains. We would not disguise the
fact. But that fact is the result of a general
law. In some respects the blacks have
come to experience new difficulties and
anxieties. Grave responsibilities have
arisen. Instead of dependence upon
aRother's will has come the necessity for
self-reliauce. Those who once had their
thinking and planning done for
them must now know the. pains of
thinking and planning for themselves.
And this no easy task. But the pains in
volved are higher pains, indicative of birth
into higher life. When the mother eagle
takes her young brood out of the nest
where her warm wings had sheltered them,
and her care had provided for them, and
bearing chem one by one aloft shakes them
of and compels them to try their own pin
ions, the first sensation, we may suppose,
will be that of fear. But through this
dread of falling comes the consciousness
of being able to go alone, and the little
birds just now screaming with terror for
the first time learn to soar. Would We
have the colored race rise TO higher con
dition, they must be thrown upon their own
resources made to depend upon themselves,
and thus know new and often sharper
pains than ever before, Neither they nor
we need be alarmed at this. The plant
the tree is the result of rupture of the
seed. The germ bursts through its envel-
opments into higher vegetable life. So
with animal existence The child is born
into new world, into new conditions,
through pain. These arc the pangs Of birth,
and the child's first utterance is a wall.
But the only chance for growth, progress,
manhood, Immortality is through those
pains. They are higher pains.
So every successive advance in the scale
Of intellectual and moral life is through
the new pains Of inward .aud outward
struggles. We must toll If we would rise.
We must grapple with difficulties if we
would grow strong. All the truly great
and good Of past ages have become such
through successive stages Of conflict. And
this is equally true of peoples and nations.
This fact needs to be pondered well by
those who are but too ready to see in the
suffering, struggling condition Of the col
OTed race an argument against freedom.
Such oroakers ought never to have been
born. Better had they saved their mothers
the pains Of paFturition and themselves the
infants vail, for these pains seem to have
been lost upon them. The fact is the col
ored race are passing through the pangs of
new birth, birth into higher manhood.
Let them alone. Don't predict their speedy
death, their relapse into baTbarism. They
are not being born downward, but upward
Give them time and helping hand and
they will surely rise. Don't laugh at their
rude mistakes. You who doomed them to
ignorance ought TO be the last to do this.
Pardon their awkwardness, if you see it, in
the new business of legislation. Some so.
called wiser people have blundered sadly in
that way. AllusiOns may be unpleasant,
and we forbear.
We think that these people, all things
considered, are doing remarkably well.
They improve with experience. Schools
are eFectiDg wondelul changes in due
time the fall results will appear. A nation
l0as born in day, SO far as deliverance
from slavery goes, but ii takes more than
q day to bring whole nation Of slaves mp
to the full stature OF manhood
The emancipated class should ponder
these facts; sometimes they are disheartened
at the actual fruits Of freedom. They were
looking to leap at onee into condition Of
case and plenty; they are anding their
mistake. Instead Of what they looked for,
are new palms, new snxieties, new burdens,
new cares. Perhaps some, like the eman-
cipated Jews, almost sigh for the tiesh-pois
of Egypt. But they should know that
every upward step involves new pains. If
they believe shat 10 rise, 10 be men, Is better
than to eegetate, 20 Be things, thea let them
cheerfuily, asnfully submit to the inevita-
bile conditions Of progress. Let them be
patient, diligent, earnest, courageous, hope
ful; let them trust in God, and do right
and their success Is certain. Let them re-
member that God helps those who help
themselves.
"0AEPET-EAaaERs.u