Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-04-29

10 MN though he were Leagues away, ana
through all the nights of those dark years |
that weird system OF communication was
kept up all over the Southern States so
that without telegraphs or, printing
presses, or even an alphabet, these poor
slaves talked together across counties and
States, sharing in each others sorrows
and cheering each others souls.
And when the war broke out 1t was
often the black men who had the fullest
ard earliest information, slave, would
carry the news of " Massa Linkum's vic.
tories q long way ina nighti he had
learned to run with heavy tidings,- but he
cauld alnsoet fly when he had such good
news tell. - p
'Auothernotlceabl thing about the pro.
cession was the prominence given in IL
to the Union. There were veteran SOL
diers who fought for the Union, there was
the pageant of dusky maidens, one for
each State of the Union, there were
" Brothers of, Union" with their banners
and longii of carriages full OF "Daugh;.
ters of Unfon," and the flag of the Union
was everywhere in-the procession, as was
doubtless an honest and sincere love for.
the Unions-r. - n
The politics Of these people are not
doubtful !. they believe in liberty and
union they made a glorious record To-
this effect during the war, and who shall
say they do not, now deserve a place
among the citizens of the Uniont -
They were our allies everywhere and
our friends, ,elways. A poor fugitive from
Andersonville, skylking along at night,
would stop and hide, at the sound Of ap.
proaching osteps, until convinced that
the strangerswas Of the same color as the
niaht, andthsn he, would come out and
ask his " way. A negro" was to our boys
synonymous with "a friend" and now
that the war is over, letus not be ashamed
to own our friends, to stand by them in
their new relations and instruct them in
their new duties. They have had train
ing for citizenship which rs unequailed |;
they have been taught by torture and
tears what it, is to be a slave; and-they
know, as we never can know, what IL is to
be free; aud for this reason they are.to be
re led upon in the use 0t the ballot IN
time of peace, or of the rife in time OF
war Liberty reinforces itself by making
citizens OF the black race, for by instinct
born of sorrow they will be true to lib,
+ And now think With shame Of the
record Of some of our own color, as. COM
pared with that of-the- negro, in. the war.
There are men among us who We're trai1
tors then whose hearts were with our
enemi es amour struggl6 for hie; ho did
not thank God for Union Victories, or
work and pray for our armies when-they
suffered defeat. Yes, white. men at the
North have made sucha shameful record
| for themselves, and yet these men and
some of their i'll hammered sons, had the
efirontery to laugh at that procession, and
suotf at the new citizens OF the nation. +
There was Sunday School ip that pro-
cession. Now Sunday School signifies
| two things,-religion and edncatlon.- =
The most of us4have obtained our re-
| ligion by means of education, but the
| black race iR,this country hive been re-
ligious without education, Their faith,
50 simple and undying, in spite OF genera
tions of Mating for answers to then
prayers, seems to have been a special IN.
I spiration -ofthe Spirit of God aud thelr
faith has saved them Their religion was
wild and ftfit of superstition, but it was
hearty, and founded Upon few simple
truths which they had learned while
some white men read the Bible III thell
hearing. ~
The grace.of patience they possessed tC
a great degree, and for spirit of forgive
ness under Injury, there is nothing in
these days that equals theirs. They hay'
fox Genturiespraye for those who perse
cuted them; when smitten- on the.cheeF
they have turned the other also, crimes
have been committed against them habit
Iually and continually which-a white maj
feels justified in ayengiug by murder, ant
yet they have endured aud waited, alway
sustained bya great trust that Jesus would
send them tteliveTance. 1fthis Were.a re
yengef1l people, what horrors wouldhaun
the dreams of those enemies of this rae
by whom they have been SO long out
, ragged? They have am occasion torVen
geance that might well make their forme
masters trembe but no one fears then
unless it be alcertain class of politician
who are anxious about the effect of tn
negro vote upon their prospects forotlict
They are peaceable, because they ar
Christians-very ignorant Christians,
is true--but tried in the furnace and nc
, found wanting.
And there were the bells ringing OF
their joy at the new era. The negro ha
alwaJ been jolly, happy fellow in spit
, of his miseries. A special dispensaNo
, of Joy and buoyancy Of spirit seems by
? merclful Providence 10 have been give
? him, and but for this he must have pei
ished under the weight of his woes. Hit
erto, in this nation, bells have rung Il
! everybody but hin-now he has chin
, of his own. The nation hears it, and goa
s men rejoice in the sound the world hea'
( it, and Christendom echoes back the mott
v in songs and praises to God for Ills, ne
' gospel of liherty;' heaven hears TIT
t heaven where so many OF their sab
brethren found the free land; the heayc
S where so many of our sons and brothe
went, when they laid down their livt
q fighting Gods battles the heaven Whel
q every eye brightens, and every voice h;
If a song of Joy at the news Of Gods grei
9 work for his other Israel, race deliyert
o from slavery, ga nation born at once"
e And now at last, at the end OF th
# strange line, comes old Father Mic
a demus, or one very ike HIM, VINO seen
s to have been walked from the gum-tre
Y according to the song, and to have con
0 forth to assist in the great jubilee. Z,
Il A resurrection indeed-a new birth
d. here. Let us rejoice before the Lord +
e day; and from this grand deliyerance
/. His people, let US take new courage tn
Y the time shall come when all nations shs
y find the new life, the liberty of the Go
y pei, and all the ends of the earth shall s,
g the salvation Of our God.
DNN'-S'NfA
d offer devout Thanksgiving to the Lord
5. Hosts for the event which our negro.cil
G zens have so recently celebreted.- +
IS knows howto carry on. the world bett
o than we, and this providence of His
no less divine and less glorious than Il
d bringing of Israel out of Egypt, whiC
d we read so reyerently in our Bibles. l.
k us, then, rejoice with our colored brethre
q ard be exceeding glad and while we 81
T. this new race marching under the column
d of our temple of liberty, let us stand
to give them welcome, and more, lei
II give them schools and lands, and churc
@ es, and trained teachers, and ministers
e religion, that they may become intellige
is and prosperous among us. Long tin
.s have they waited for the, Lord; at leng'
n He has come to save them. They do W.
T to rejoice, for in God'sggood providcn
n the days OF their mourning are ended, al
Q the occasion of their Joy is a pledge
V Jehova to us all that iniqlity shall not
a unpunished, but that those who trust