Owyhee semi-weekly tidal wave. [volume] (Silver City, Owyhee County, Idaho Territory) 1868-1869, 1869-04-16

gone South TO recruit his health. writes 10 :
his friend the following christian-like views /
of what he saw in that country. +
GREEN LAKE STRING, FLORIDA, |
Feb. q, 1863 |
DEAR Mr. LANE Ii is very often difficult .
to disprove what is asserted boldly and in
general terms to the disadvantage OF others.
In such cases, we can suspend our judgment
until we obtain the information necessary TO
form correct opinion. Such has been my
position in regard to the colored people of
the South, and | resolved on the first oppor-
tunity that presented itself to visit them, and
TO Judge for myself Experience taught me
TO dIsbeleve many things said against them,
both on account of the source from whence
they proceeded, and the unworthy contempt
and upchristian hatred manifested towards
that oppressed people.
Before emancipation, we were told that |
they were not fit for freedom. But we were |
mover told when they would be fit. A person |
Is not fit TO read till he learns, nor to practice
most callings till he is taught | remember
an aged clergyman who, in speaking against
their freedom, used to say with great gravity
and show of wisdom, - A person ought not
| to 90 into the water till he knows now 10
swim y IL was sad to see his juniors laugh
| ing at the obstinate stupidity of old age, and
vel they were as obstinately stupid and preJ-
| diced on that subject as he was, or as any
one could be.
| And now. after all the observations could
| make. and all the Information ! could get l
| have no hesitation in saying that they VIII
| use the franchise just as intelligcntly rs ahe
| same class of persons in New York
| I WAS once very well satisfied with freedom
for the colored people without the rlght 10
vote. But an esteemed friend convinced me
that they could not without it, protect them,
selves in their rights. Now | am satlsned
| that the franchise is absolutely necessary ior
them: and that in a Republican Government
| il ie more necessary for poor man than II
is for the rich. II makes him respect him
self and makes others respect him. With
nut il that Difference which soOthes the hard
Iot of toll would not be paid him The states
| man the LAWYER the divine and the polisi
clan would never erect their rOstrums in the
sIuIns Of our cities and become the school
moi H. - - I"''orfng classes il they hac
II was predicted tnat the negroes would com.
North and take away the employment Of IN,
whites. But they Gid not come; and vet IN,
iatality OF the prediction did not stop the
mouths of the prophets Of evil.
They next fUretold that they would mt
work, and that we would be taxed 10 suppor
them in idleness. Well il they had a littls
idleness for the years OF toll during which
they supported aud kept others in idlepess
il would be Only just compensation. and
would like to see little of it, if only 10 show
how it was enjoyed.
But the fact is that most OF the labor done
here is performed by them. and they are ins,
as willing as other people to perform an hon.
est days work for fair wages. II treated
kindly, and paid fairly, we would hear very
little of those troubles between employer and
employed. which annoy us so much at the
North and which tend to disturb the other.
wise quiet aspect of the South. If living
:. permanently al the SOUTH | would not wish
for more industrious, obedient, respectful
and patient laboring people. They are as ca
pable as any other poor people Of learning
any trade that may be taught them. There
are even now many very good carpenters.
bricklayers and blacksmlths among them.
We constantly hear people talking of their
!. ignorance, and yet tind them equally as in
teIligent as the same class Of people at the
N North. or as the laboring population of the
old world It is true that most OF them can
not read or write But could this be expect
ed when it was equally crime to teach them
= as il was for them TO learn. Thank God, 1t
is so no longer They are now pretty well
supplied with good schools. which are well
- attended and the testimony Of their teach
S ers who are white. and many OF them ma
- tives of the South is that the children are
= dociIe smart and intelligent as the same class
Of white children If the parents had been
: educated the children Of course would have
greater facilities and helps in learning.
| understand that the Freedman.s Bureau
: is 10 he continued for some time longer for
educational purposes; and ! am very eiaa oi
| il for then the education OF the coiored pee.
pie will be placed beyond the possioiiliy Oh
failure. -, -,
. | spept few days in town here, OF a
nonulation of more than 5000, IN which
there Il no school for white children TINS
shows how education has been attended 10
in The mast who, that loves his kind, would
| not be glad that slavery--the common enemy
ofeducaton, morality and lndus'ry--is ueaui
feel so happy that dealt il some oioWs anu
helped TO kill it, But is II not snameiui iof
men to call them ignorant, when liley ule
all they could to keep them IN ignorance
Would it not be cruel TO degrade nlai ana
then to upbraid him with his degredauong
Would it not be heartless 10 rob man ahu
then to reproaeh him with ms poverty
| Would 1t not be shameful TO strip man ol
| everything and then to laugh al bis naked |
ness The English prohibited by law .le m GU cu /
ucation Of the Irish, and then called lhelh !
ignorant
The Anglo-saxon race in the slave states I
did the same to the negroes, and the lrish /
| approved and sustained it. How strange,
| But oppression does not teach justice auu
| far play even TO the oppressed, and tyranny
is the worst school that man was ever placed
IN to learn the virtues that ought TO adorn
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