Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-30
lCoMMuNICATEp |

Editors Herald: Will YOU do me
the favor to publish in your valu.
able paper the following sugges-
lions:
lam now an old man, and love
my race and color, and have hoped
TO be ofsome service to them. For
the purpoee of trying to do some
good, l left my native State and
came TO Mississippi. Unlike most
of my race l vas born free, and
have had some few advantages that
most Of them have not had. l can
read my Bible, thank God, and write
a little, and had hoped when Iclme
here TO be Of some service, but have
come to the conclusion that | am
not needed, and think of retuIn ming
soon TO my old home. Before | 60
I wish to make a few suggestions
for the consideration OF the people,
both black and white. First, they
ere entirely too prosperous and
happy, and something must be
done to bring them down TO their
proper level. Now, l will give you
my idea of the best means to be
used to bring about this very de-
sirable object.
Iwoulds suggest the establishment
Of one or two stores In each neigh
borhood all over the State, and let
each merchant keep constantly 0
good supply Of the cheapest and
meanest whisky he can buy, and
give 1t to the cOlored people freely
to make them drunk and induce
them to spend every dollar they col
raise for that which will not benefi.
them, but will enrich the mer.
chant, aud If by this process boil
black and white become drunken
sots, neglect their business, mis-
treat their wives aud mothers, rails
their children in ignorance, vice
degradation and want, make then
inmates of brothels, jails, poo
houses aud prisons, or SWIM
them upon the gallows. So mucl
the better-thsy may not feel quit
so happy aud enlightened as the,
do now, but "when ignorance
bliss It's folly to be wise The sys
TEN suggested is we'll started, lie
gentlemen and ladies of influence
members Of the church, take hold o
this thing and push on the GOO
work, they will make the bushes
respectable, and will encourag
those that are TO be degraded i
their downward course till the.
land "where no good negro ough
to CO."
have heard it said that there ar
a few silly old men in the count.
who are trying to get up temper
ance organizations In some Of tn
neighbOrhoods. l am told 1t !
really amusing to see the old me
gathering round some old waste o
forsaken house like antedeluvian
or old fogies, then issuing forth |
the evening like bats or owls
"They will not hold out" is tn
prophetic word on every tongue
Now let those who discountenanc
this temperance movement be o
the alert ; prOphesy for this, or tha
one. 10 fail: throw temptation /
the way ; have sweet cider, wineI
cordial, ale, lager beer and brand
peaches ever ready, and these TEN
perance men may be disappOinte
In the hopes so fOndly nurtured 1
their bOs0ms : that they may be th
agents in Gods hands to proven
many young men who are now &C
Der from ever becoming drunkard
and cause many wives an
mothers' hearts to rejoice at th
reclamation Of their husbands an
sons.
This must not be permitted. Ii
the people rise up as one against 1t
let ladies and gentlemen, member
Of churches, throw all their inau
enOo against this p~erniCious scheme
Break down this movement In th
canBe Of temperance, and d0uh
mot we cen succeed Ia having
much larger delegation Of paupeFI
afail hlrdnp and aprison rats" tha
Wa hege ever before supported.
VteT respectfully