The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-12-29
MISREPRESENTATION.

The Pittsburg Presbyterian Banner of the 22d
instant, has long article on THE Future of the
Freedman" 1t thinks that the policy which it is
best to pursue in regard to Freedmens lone of the
most perpexing problems presented in this country
for the consideration of the statesman. Even
so; and it is not the first time in the world that
people half crazy to catch the elephant have be.
come even more so to find out what to do with
him.
But the Banner says the object of its special in.
quiry is the best way to promote the negroe spir
itual welfare. Well, we are all agreed that this
should be done; what is the difficulty? 1t men.
tons two. This first is "the churches have not as
yet responded with that general and ample contri-
button of their means which is requisite in order
to bring their full power to bear upon the elevation
of this large class of our fellow-men, with whose
welfare or woe Providence has so closely connected
our OVID"
This is confession which no honest man ac-
quainted with the facts can deny, and which the
Banner and others may make up their minds to
utter in still more full and humiiating terms. 1t
will not be in this generation that their churches
will do anything respectable in this matter. The
object they had most at heart is already attained.
For the work now to be done they have little CON
Germ. When facts disprove this remark we will
print them.
But the Banner says that "a still more discour.
aging aspect of the case is that which arises from
the hostility of the Southern Presbyterian Church
to any efforts of our Church in behalf of the Freed
men,"
The truth of this we utterly deny, and are un-
der the necessity Of saying deliberately that it is
SANDER. We might demand from the author bis
authority for the allegation, were it not that he
has here sufficiently indicated it-such as it is
When he complains about not getting our Zeal
Ous cooperation in their plans and efforts, and
our declining to have "a uniOa Jet.oeen the Southern
Church and their olon we are at no loss to un-
derstand him. The plain state of the case then is
that if the Southern Presbyterian Church should
think proper to manage its own affairs in its own
way, and especially should it have the presumption
to decline going back to those who have for years
trampled, as we cOnscientiously believe, some of
the most sacred and fundamental principles of the
Church into the mire, and vented an unceasing
malice towards US, we are to be held, in the Ian
guge of the Banner, as Sin opposition" to their
efforts among the Freedmen-as "o,rayed against
them IN their efforts to spread the Gospel at ourvery
DOORS "
All this misrepresentation and folly we antic.
pated and easily comprehend it. They seem to
have two things now in view. One is to lay the
blame of their short comings and failure upon US
That they are doing very little compared with their
professions or their means, is known to all men
they are themselves obliged to confess it. And it
will be great salvo to their consciences to put the
blame away from their own doors and lay it at
ours. We beg to be excused. We know too well
who it was that blew a trumpet loud enough for
the world to hear, prOclaiming that this field was
now wide open-that it was one peculiarly theirs
that the negro ard the rest of mankind expected
them to occupy it. Very well, brethren, who has
hindered you? You say we have; but how, when
and where? You declared you were very rich
why don't you give the money? That you had
of jealous missionares-wh don't you
send them? To say that we are preventing you, is
simply to tell what is not true and you will before