New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-21
Letter rrosn Texas.
GALvIsros. TErAs. November 20. Ia

GALVESTON, TEXAS, November ~. 1871.
To the Hd'tor Of the NesO National Era:
Sir: In view of the exceptional posi-
ton of our people, it seems to me that
we need well defined and wisely executed
social policy, adapted to our peculiar needs as
American citisens, which, while it shall enable
US to surmount the barriers with which ignor-
ance and prejudice attempt to arrest our pro-
gress, will at the same time supplement the
efforts OF the Republican party and give to its
principles speedier and more complete realiza.
ton. was reminded of this by the remark in
your editorial on "Colored Schools in your
issue OF the 9th in ,tant, that Conservatism is
rapidly gaining aseendency in the District OF
Columbia" which l think is also true Of the
country at large, if by Conservatism you intend
the sentiments of caste which still causes the
majority Of our fellow -countrymen, notwith.
standing our changed status before the law, to
regard mes asares, if not as possessing no
rights which white men are bound TO respect
at least as not entitled to their enjoyment on an
equal footing with themselves Theoretically
we are equal with the whites before the law,
practically We are not that is to say, public
sentiment even when it acknowledges the va
lidity of our legal recognition, does not give it
the Endorsement ofits approval, without which,
laws in popular government is virtually u
dead letter-oos ct praeterea nthsi. Hence,
in my opinion, the necessity for policy of con.
centration on our part, in order to protect our
civil rights against the invduous assaults OF
prejudice, and at the same time famiiarize our
selves by CO operative action with the discharges
of the social duties which the acquisition of
those rights devoves upon us. In assuming
our place in the ranks Of the army of progress,
undisciplined and uncul.ured as most of US are,
we must expect to be hustled jeered. and even
outraged, unless by our numerical local pre-.
dominance, and by discreet use Of
g That weapon frmer set
And surer than the bayonet''-
Wa arc able to disarm violence and neutralae
illwill. 1 someqimes hxrr intelligent men of
color suggest that We should endeavor to con-
stitute ourselves politically balance of power
and stand ready to throw our influence either 10
the Republican or Democratic scale, as our in,
terest may dictate. But these persons seem to
forget two things First That our true interests
are identified with the success of the principles
OF the Republican party. Secondly. Tha. the
Democratic party, no matter what smooth and
fair seeming phrases some of its buglemen may
use, is bound by the force of its innate deprav.
ity to palter with US in double sense and
whatever word Of promise it might whisper in
our ear, would surely be broken to our hope.
Until the nature of the human mind is
changed and the principles of associated ideas
eliminated therefrom, it is impossible that any
intelligent colored man can seriously regard the
Democratic party without aversion, or listen to
its overtures save with suspicion and dstrust.
Surely no class of citizens has a deeper inter-
est in the maintenance of Republican rule than
ourselves, for its mission is to transform what
Democrats consider the glittering generalities
of the Declaration of Independence into the
practical experience of our civil life t; and to
secure the chief end Of truly Democratic gov
ernment, equal and exact justice to all men.
Until this mission is accomplished, the Repub-
lican party must be, despite its shortcomings,
the party OF the colored man. But there is
much that requires to be done to make our as.
surance of civil liberty doubly sure, which
party organizations can neither help nor
hinder.
There is a wide field of endeavor in which,
until the views of prejudice shall cease to
poison public sentiment in our regard, We must
labor by ourselves, through ourselves. and for
ourselves, while the progress of civilization is
gradually developing the idea of the equality
of citizens, irrespective of color or previous
condition, from an article of political faith into
rule OF social practice. Until then, think,
there is need of that concentration of which
spoke at the beginning Of this communication,
that We may learn to rely upon each other and
to realize that in union there is strength for
until then
"Still the watch FIRE must burn, still the watch.
man must wake,
And force arms to guard, what force arms 10
take.'
NASSAU.