The Van Buren press., 1869-08-17
Good Advice.
WILL TUX NEGRO RACE HEED THE wARSlNo ?


The Richmond Wig publishes the
following letter writtea, it says, 10y ne
gro in Africa who has lived there nearly
twenty years. We commend it to the
perusal Of the colored men Of Arkansas.
large majority of whom need the coun'
sci conveyed to them
MoSRAyiA, LIBEdIA, Jan. ., 1869.
| have now lived in this home OF the
African nearly twenty years bat ! have
not forgotten the old scenes in Virginia.
nor the kindness Of my friends in former
years. l wish twas in my power to re-
turn for time, that my voice might be
heard by my colored brethren Of the
Southern States.
/ am anxious fsr their fate. AS | sit
here, on the shores OF this continent fill
ed with native black population, and
| look across the great waters over your
icontinent iilled With white men, / cannot
but be fearful in regard to the few mil
lions of people Of my own blood in the
South, now left to their own resources
see tide of white men pouring over
those fields which have heretofore fed
them: a tide coming from the overflow
ing population Of the Northern States
and Europe. remember how that tide
when feeble and slow, swept of the ma
! tive Indians, and now, rs it rushes in its
might, what is to shield. the transplanted
African from its waves? can think Of
but one hope for him
II, as body, the colored people OF
the South shall identity themselves with
the white people who now occupy and
hold the soil, gain their affection and
confidence, and become useful members
OF their communities, they may aoat
above the torrent and still dwell in peace
among the associations of the past; 9th
erwise they must, ia the lapse of years,
be buried beneath it, or washed, like
drift wood, into the burning zone around
the Equator.
And yet the occasional letters and pa
pcrs we receive here from the United
States tell us that political demagogues
from the North, peddling politics for
their own profit, are exciting our race to
hostility towards the whites. If they
shall become the dupes of such emissa-
ries, their fate is sealed The scattered
white men ON this continent of Africa
might as woll array themselves against
the native tribes of black men, with the
expectation of meeting anything but
destruction in the pursuit Of such folly
| feel some confidence that the more in
telligent portion Of the people Of color
will not be led astray by Adventures
who will use them while they reap any
personal profit from pretended friend
tshp, and then desert thera when they
please Bat the mass hGys not yet
had time to learn lessons Of political
wisdom, and the prospect fills me with
sadness. If could but only make them
hear me, would appeal to them TO make
common cause with the white people of
their own land, to take advice and coun-
sci from such men as have been known to
them through their lives for their high
character and honesty and intelligence,
TO seek the welfare Of the people on
whom they must depend through all time
for their own prosperity, to do no act
which shall give to the white population
just cause for enmity, and thus identity.
ing themselves with the communities in
Which the dwell, obtain for themselves
the most powerful allies against those
which threaten their very existence. Say
this much to them tor me. ). w. W.