The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-03-26
Pollard OH the Negro.

The great fire eater. F. A. Pollard. the
Southern historian of the war. has come
out in Lippincotts Magazine, for April, in
an article on the present status of the
negroes Of the South which cverturns all
his heretofore published and preconccived
theories Of the negro's capacity for improve
ment. We give few extracts from the
article. Let those who hold to Polald's
discarded doctrine read. They cannot de-
ny his honesty, OF ability, or opportunities
for gaining correct knowledge. The only
conclusion to be arrived at is that truth has;
converted him. Mr.. Pollard says:
''That his former views of the negro were
wrong: that the results of emancipation eS-
pccially have been the reverse of his expac-
tations-a surprise the force of which he
can neither resist nor contain. So keen has
been that surprise that from the very in
tensity of it the writer is moved to commu-
nicate it to the public. He feels more like
exclaiming, a discovery than writin. in
any more deliberate mood of the proofs he
has obtained concerning the rev condition
of the negro. 1t is that this singularlV
questionable creature has shown a capacity
for educatian that has astonishcd none more
than his former masters: that he has given
proofs of good citizenship which are con-
stantly increasing: that his development
since emancipation is 4 standing surprise
to candid observers among the Southern
whites themselves: that his condition since
then has been, on the whole. that of pro
gresS. and in the face of difficulties that
would soen have tested and broken down
that progress had it been Fictitious or dis
honest: and that. so far from being sta
tiQnary barbarian or a hopeless retrograde.
the formerly despised black mali promises
to become Il true follower of the highest
civilization. a new object of interest to the
world. and an exemplary citizen of the
South
THE negro has been seen to accept his
great and sudden gift OF liberty with 4
Sobriety and moderation that history will
lie surprised to record. since. it is without
example, so far as l know. of Il people TINS
surprised by change of condition as radi-
cal as can be possibly imagined whose for
time did not hurry them into some excuses.
What a promise there was in the negro was
Immediately shown WHEN he accepted with
out violence, and even without vanity. the
gift of freedom: going into his new place
with afacility of adaptation 1T which we have
not yet ceased to wonder. taking up with
quiet thanllfulness his new career: and even
so little disturbed ty the cpaceit of his new
condition that to-day it is the common tes-
timony III tic South that the white people
suffer no more from the inSolenc,. of the
blacks than they did in the days et ,i1yery
History owes here an eXtraol binary tribute
to the negro for his conduct on an occasion
SO trying. He has accepted his liberty
with a self possession, Il decc.aln and farl-
ity that some of the most culti .atco and
polite nations might envy in an emergency
where such good fortune had been imposed
upon them. The promise which lie has
given i'll conduct wise and moderate |
believe he is now fulfilling ~ his steady
improvement in his new condition: and
that, too, in the face Of tlifirulticS which
have put his capacities OF dtvclopinn kim
self to the sevcreSt test. In short, the ne
gro in the South is fulfilling the cxpecia-
tions of his friends: surprising those who.
wishing him well. had yet ptifullv dis
trusted him in his new career: and .iying
the very best answers to his detr;r,.tnrs il,
those quiet proofs of progress which make
but little noise Of Sclf-assertion. but against
which no misrepresentation. no matter. how
violent and persistent, can long prevail
= = :: :: :: !: =
Notwithstanding his disadvantages of
nature and all other disadvantages. ana
they are many the negro has shown since
his emancipation an industry that is extra.
ordinary; that is constantly. daily in"gcls-
ing, both in volume and discipline: that
has supplied him with comforts that he
never knew before: that has enabled him
to build churches and found charitable in
situations of his own; that has kept him
better clothed than he was in his former
condition; and that exhibits its results to
day in the vast bulk of the agricultural
products of the South
How the negro nerves himself to such
ill-paid labor, how he works so generally
under conditions SO hard, is rather the won
der; and | must confess to admiration of
the resolute industry which thus make the
best of the situation, and does whatever
the hands find to do. The results which
he achieves out Of these scanty wages are