The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-11-20
a Oolorol AIa1a 90 colorea People.

a ColorOd HTanEto colored People.
r. 81. Gain, a colored man, mem
ber of the Legislature of South Caro-
lima, and editor of the Missionary
Record of Charleston, gives some good
advice to his people. We publish be-
low, one of his editorials. Because
ne told the negroes some truths, they
threatened his life, promised to burn
his house., &C.:
What is the real duty of the color
ed man in the South under the pre-
sent circumstances? Within the past
week Wea have been the subject of
abuse by our own race more bitterly
than we ever could have conceived.
When, three years ago, we came to
this city to occupy the position of an
humble missionary, we entered into
the work of instructing our race in
what we regarded as of the emost vital
importance to their we'll being. We
entered upon the work of preparing
their mind to enjoy freedom as we
understand it. Freedom to enjoy all
the rights and inmunities Of citizens.
We were aware that the people had
just emerged from bondage and igno-
rance. We know that no white man,
North or South, could feel for them
as we who are bone of their bone, and
flesh 2of their flesh, and therefore
bound to them by ties which could
be severed only by death. We were
aware that, flushed with the new
born idea of liberty, they might go
into excuses, which would do them
more harm than good. Weaddressed
ourselves to the task Of guiding them
In the path Of peace, and at the same
time maintain their honor and dig
nifty. g.
We knew that two races were here
who had been educated differently,
and, Hf course, were unprepared for
this new change. The whites, who
had been the masters, could not brook
the liberation of their slaves with
calmnees. would have their peculiar
views, and wonld exhibit their feel
ingS on all occasions. We knew also
that the colored people could not pos
sibly understand all the momentous
questions which would arise in the
course OF Reconstruction and the po-
htical changes which were taking
place In our country. Hence we de-
parted from our strictly ministerial
work and became interested in their
political education and elevation. We
have sought to respect the preiudices
of the white while we allayed the
murmnrings of the colored people;
we have been earnest in defending
their manhood against all attempts to
wrong them by any class of men
from the North or from the South.
We have stood in the breach and
amld the hottest of the fight; we have
lived to see the establishment Of the
law OF Jnstice to all men by the cleo
tion OF u. s. Grant. and the sanction
OF the whole nation to the policy of
reconstruction. Having seen this,
we feel that onr mission is ended in
the political arena so far as parties
are concerned. We now stand as a
citizen, identified with South Caro-
lima as such, and bowing 70 the an.
premacy OF the United States. We
believe now that the colored people
in this State ought to turn their Mt
tention to business, to the agricultural
and industrial pursuits of life. We
believe that the colored men in the
South should now seek the friendship
of the whites.
We are all free and equal before
the law, and that is as much as anv
reasonable mau can wish; we know
that the whites have the superior ad
yantages over us in this country; we
know that in the contest between the
two races. the whites will be tile vic
tors; we know that our race cannot
compete with them now, if ever. The
whites have government, country,
law, commerce and all the superior