New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-23

The John Brown Monumental Association is
fourishing in spite Of the absurd opposition
which il ut first met with from few OF our
wisacres The number OF the Opposition "
has grown beautifully small of late. We are
heartily glad that they acknowledged in the
ERA their regrets for past error, and agreed to
smoke the pipe of peace.
The association is in earnest about inaugu-
rating general effort among the colored peo-
pie to erect national monument to the men,
nv of John Brown. They wish some infuen-
tial and responsible persons to take charge of
moneys contributed and superintend the rearing
of this tribute to the memory Of the sainted
lead and they have decided to ask you, Mr..
Editor, to present the case through the
columns Of the Era and thus awaken general
interest in this noble work. We want ma
tional monument, one which will speak of the
lasting gratitude and honest pride that burn in
colored mems hearts. Harpers Ferry would
doubtless be the most appropriate place for it,
Washington city the most conspicuous but
the location would be settled by the committee
"hfSh suS PoofiS $50 Nv w opPcA"s' w "'oh
you to act for US in this affair.
The college term is dragging slowly to it's
end, and soon many Of US will 60 away to teach
during the winter vacation. The catalogue
states that over 500 students go out from
Oberlin to teach every winter. Some 400 or
500 of college students are enabled to pay their
expenses here in college by teaching in the prep
iratory department, but of course no colored
student has this privilege. Nature in giving
nim black skin totally incapacitated him for
teaching the pale-faced Caucasian. The faculty
say that it is inerpedient for solored students
% teach at present, as the college can't bear
the pressure. They argue. from what they
call benevolent standpoint, that it is right to
10 small evil in order that great good may
result therefrom that is, if they permitted a
ew coored students to have equal rights with
the others it would drive hundreds of white
students from the reach of their Christian and
educational influences into the benighted re
gions of barbarism. Oberlin has done much
good in the past in educating the PEG.
pie up to higher moral grounds but her
uok va AsooiVohouA ouu kSOtm uOW tIdlio III tue
dust, her cap-sheet is no longer the head light
it once was to guide the national ship of pro
gress over moral shoals and breakers. Truly,
had Gallileo lived in Oberln, he must have
agreed with the Romish Church in its belief
that the world did not move. Oberlin is not
zealously laying hold of this great national
prejudice, as she once threw herself against
the bulwarks of slavery. Moral principles
always triumph in the end. The American
people have been slowly opening their eyes
and hearts to the wrongs of the colored people
for the past twenty years. Gradually they
have recognized his claims to humanity and
acceded him his rights; and believe if the
college would open wide its portals and make
capacity, not color, the criterion of reward the
intelligent community would eventually sus
tain them. One thing is certain, if our educa-
tors do not plant themselves on advanced f,re-
ground on the great questions of mans duties
to man. the mass Of the people will remain in
the dark valley of ignorance and bigotry
During the past few years some score or more
of colored students have graduated from this
college, yet none of them could obtain class
to teach. Doubtless many more would have
graduated here had they shared in this priv
ilege with their more favored brethren.
Burns struck the sympathetic chord of the
human heart the world over, and especially
that of the oolored people in this country,
when he said
Mans inhumanity to man
Makes countless thousands mourn
See yonder poor, o. erlabor'd wight,
So abject, mean, and vile,
Who begs brother of the earth
To give him leave to toll.
And see his lordly fellow.worm
The poor petition spurn,
Unmindful tho weeping wife
And helpless offspring mourn"
The faculty do, indeed, try to excuse them
selves by saying that lady, slightly colored,
did teach in the college at some remote period
subsequent to THE food.
This reminds me of the reply church mem
Der once made when rebuked for neglect of
religious duties. "Why," said he in astonish-
ment, Il got religion fifteen years ago" He
evidently thought it would keep forever
Yours for equal rights.
Dog CARLOS.