The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-12-22
FACTS AGAINST FICTION.


population. He first undertakes to tell what their
former condition was under slavery, and then what
it is now and what Northern Presbyterians should
do for their evangelzatiOn
The impressions entertained by the writer In re-
gard to the material upon which the missionary is
to work are all taken not from the sable but from
the sunny side. +" Here are few extracts:
''Iu their deep poverty, they have set high
value on the knowledge of letters. They are am
bilious in the pursuit of learning-all elasSes-al
ages They are eager for schools, and, when OBJ
tanned, they and their children press into them
They will make the utmost effort and greatest sac
ri6ees in order to attend and be taught. The an
mails Of no other race on record exhibit such marked
evidence of an Unsuitable thirst for knowledge.
In connection with this he represents them as
prOdigies of industry and economy, and as con-
sequence that they are, as to worldly things, in
very thriving, hopeful condition.
In spite of all, they have succeeded, subsisted,
have supported themselves quite as well as the
poor whites; in many eases, tar better. They
have acquired land in small parcels, and are IN
fair way to get q livelihood. Some have already
obtained lucrative positions and are on the road to
fortune. NO race, in their condition, could have
done better. They are to be commended.
Next their moral and religious dispositions are
referred to in glowing terms:
They welcome the preaching Of the Gospel
Through all the long night OF their former bondage,
the only light that beamed upon them was Gods
Word, dimly shining at the best. The preacher of
that Word is sure of a kind reception, an atteL
tive hearing, and grateful appreciation of his Ia
bors They are neither infdes nor skeptics. =
Their emotional nature is easily reached by Gospel
truth and yields readily to the claims of our holy
religion. Nowhere, and among no other people,
may the faithful missionary expect greater success
in winning souls.
"These four millions are literally waiting for the
teacher and the preacher.
All these things being just so, in the mind, or
at least the imagination of the amiable writer the
language used in his first sentence was quite natu
ral-"A peculiarly inviting field of labor is spread
before our Church at the South-none more so in
the world-none more promising. 1t demands i'm
mediate attention. it calls for speedy and liberal
expenditure of capital and labor.
Whatever allowance must be made for the airy
Sights in which this article deals largely,-as we
shall have to notice further-we are happy to
agree with him as to the importance of the field
and the duty of his Church to do great deal of
work for it. How far practice has equalled pro-
ession during these four years in which, according
to his own account the way has been 50 fully open,
is a point which DR.. Hatfield modestly keeps out
of view. Perhaps stranger may be permitted to
wiring these shy, retiring virtues OUT little be-
fore our remarks are closed.
A very prominent feature Of DR.. Hat6eds arti-
/ 4 l.. l. he
all sunny side, just about what they ought to be,
the white people in the South, on the contrary
are, in his view, just the reverse He tells US that
the feeling of the former owners towards these
slaves is one of prejudice, jealousy and bitter
hate"
Every candid, intelligent man in the South
knows this statement to be untrue. That amid
such vast and turbulent social revolution, and
amid so much to engeuder mutual hatred-foment-
ed as it has been by horde of emissares from the
North, and some of them under the garb of minis
ters of the gospel-it would bea miracle had there
not been some manifestations of this kind. New
York is all place of pure affections-is it2 No
body hates nobody there-do they? Every body
loves every body there-dO'nt they? mot to
speak of the quantity of 'free-love" they can
throw in ertra Now we repeat-and could if
necessary produce every species of evidence to at
test the truth of what we say-that what this
writer here alleges is untrue and is, In its nature
a SANDER. The prevailing feeling on the part of
the white population in the South towards the ne
groes is not one of hate but one of compassion and
kiudness-as it always has been. On this, how
ever, we shall not dwell
Next we are told that-''the Freedmen are look
ing to the North-the land of the free-for help
in their day of need. They have need OF teachers
by the thousand" "Our own Church should en-
ter upon this work with energy and ZEAL We are
under peculiar obligations" &C., &c. Far be it
from us to dispute the fact Of these obligations
No one knowing anything of the past history Of
DIR. Hat6eld's church-their thorough Abolition
ism-can deny the immense claims of the negro
population upon them. Long and loud have been
their lamentations, these many years, over what
they declared to be their cruel fate bitterly have
they denounced Southern people as pretty much
world without souls harsh, unfeeling, who held
the slave as "a mere chatteP'-for that was their
choice phrase. From all such things one might
have concluded they would be as eager to carry to
these poor thirsty souls the water of everlasting
life, as David was to quench his own thirst when
be ''longed and said, Oh that one would give me
drink of the water of Bethlehem, which is by the
gatel" When the war closed it might have been
supposed, from their tremendous resolutions, that
this Church would pour Quits treasures like water,
and send down to this open field and these benight
ed people, hundreds of its preachers, full of apOs
tolic ZEAL Sober your expectations, dear reader.
They meant no such thing. No doubt there are
many pure-minded people of God among them
having the Spirit of Christ, and who would desire
with much of the meekness of their loving Master
to bless aud save the poor negro, as much as they
would the soul of any other poor sinner. Not so
the mass of them. Their zeal for him never went
any further than to steal him from his MASTER
Their work is now done. Why, just look at the
report this great Church made last spring to their
Assembly. Instead of sending teachers By the
thousand" what do they tell us2 1t is curious
chapter: The Nel0 York Evangelist of June the
10th, has an editorial headed, "At Work Anoag,
the Freedmea." Let US see if the performance is
equal to the promise of this title. After noticing
the fact that heretofore they had suffered their
benefaetions to be scattered among various assoca
tons, in such manner that it could not even be
told how much they were doing in this line, it
adds, with an air of triumph" But the reproach
is now done away Our Home Mission Committee
have taken hold of the work firmly, and are prose
cutting it vigorously. The report covers only
period Of six months, yet in that time they have
made their influence felt IN a 'oide field "
And now, after all this parade, what do we find
actually done? Nine preachers stcty schools and
about one hundred teachers The amount of
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