New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-28
Letter from Indiana.
TERRR HAUrR, IND, Dec. Is, l

winter In the vicinity OF TINS beautiful city o
the Hoosiers," and have not received the
late issues of your valuable paper. One only
needs to be deprived of few Of its visits to be
made to fully appreciate the many excellent
qualities Of the ERA.
In your issue of the Both uitimo, your Phila.
delphia correspondent informs us that Penn-
sylvania has taken the initihtory steps in
movement toward the erection OF monument
to the memory of Thaddeus Stevens.
1t is eminently 1T that Pennsylvania, whose
adopted son Mr.. Stevens was, SHOULD take the
initiatory in this movement; yet the fame Of
Thaddeus Stevens no more belongs to Penn
sylvania than does Lincoln's to Illinois. Hi.
services were national, and every colored mar
in the land should esteem it a privilege to aid
in this noble enterprise. Let the movement
be made national, and let a monument be reared
that shall testify to all ages the gratitude OF a
race to one whose life was so unsel6shly de
voted to the cause of equal rights. But while
We most heartily second this movement, We de-
not forget that the grave ofthe brave old hero
of Harper's Ferry is yet unmarked by a monu
ment. John Brown fought for the freedom o.
the slave with vote, voice, gold, and principle
and, sacrificing all that in life is dear to man
with bis hearts blood, he sealed his devotion
to the cause Of liberty. We, of Oberlin, have
of late agitated considerably the question OF
erecting a monument to his memory, and fear
By our local discussion, have thrown a damper
on the movement.
But forgetting past differences as to the
mode, i think we are all determined to devote
ourselves 10 this work until a towering monu-
ment 70 the memory of John Brown and the
noble heroes who fell with him at Harper's
Ferry shall in some sense express our appre-
citation of their inestimably valuable services to
our race. Nor do we believe that to Ohio,
whose adopted son John Brown was, belongs
his fame any more than that the fame OF Thad
deus Stevens belongs to Pennsylvania. Like
Pennsylvania, we have taken the initiatory in
this movement, aud like her We call upon every
colored man in the land who has felt the effects
of oppression to join hands with us in this
sacred enterprise. Men of color, what
say you? Shall this work go forward !?
ever may be our faults in other respects, in
gratitude finds no place within our breasts
Oberlin bias proposed no particular plan she
only hopes to get the movement on foot She
is ready to cooperate with any plan that seems
feasible. Let every State through the columns
of the ERA. speak its sentiments on this aues
ton.
The colored people of this city have much
over which to rejoice in the events of a few
short years. La the to them glorious victories
gained, for there those living, and their heads
are not silvered by age, to whom there are vivid
was "hard place for darkey;" when row.
dies stoned colored churches aud broke up
peaceable gath rings of colored people with
perfect impunity, so far as the law was con.
cerned, because the rowdies were themselves
the only competent witnesses present. Those
days are happily past, and right we'll are the
good citizens of the place redeeming the char
acter of their city.
In the Indiana State Normal School, located
here, whose magnificent buildings were erected
at the joint expense OF city and State, no dis
tinction on account of race or color is made.
The High School, with open arms, stands ready
to receive colored youth whenever prepared.
Everywhere, understand, colored people en-
JOY equal rights, save in hotels and barber
shops. Is it not burning shame on the colored
race that colored men will persist in perpetu
ating this hateful practice of making distinc
tions on account Of color, and especially
astonishing is it that they will do this 10 9
profession Of which they have complete mo
nopoly-the policy of which they could control
as absolutely as do trades unions the system
Of apprenticeships How disgusting is it tc
hear barber clamoring for equal rights and
abusing in round terms the botelkeeper who
Informs him that 1--WE don't accommodate
niggers here" who himself makes the same
response TO his colored customer? l am in
formed that we are to have Frederick Doug.
lass during the lecture season. Will our
noteis again compel him to the alternative
OF taking his meals at his room, or of seeking
the hospitality of some private citizen? And
Will our BARRIERS politely ask him "up stairs
to geta shaver" How long are we to be sub
lectsd TO these base insults !? How long ar,
respectable colored men. entering q strang,
city, friendiess and unknown, TO be compelled
by insolent proprietors Of hotels to seek shelter
at fcurth-rate boarding place in some obscure
alleys ar. L. e." has struck the key-nots
of this question, and with one voice our citizen.
second his proposition. Let US hold up the
hands of Senator Sumner in his efforts ts
secure the passage of his bill of rights.
This question of civil rights with us is 8
vital one. We, too, are ready to make tho
passage Of some such bill as Senator Sumner
the test of this Administration-the basis n
our allegiance to party or man. The time 70,
passive submission has passed. Action, deter
mined AID aggressive, is now demanded
Nothing short of equal rights, 10 the broadcast
sense of the term. can satisfy us. Letus, then
send up to Congress petitions from every par
OF this broad land that shal. not only gladder
the heart of that great and good man who's
"no'e i'ie has been one incessant battle for th
rights oil man, but shall also make as felt as
power 10 the counsels of this nation.
r.. b.
r. s.-we expect to send You a club for III
ERA soon.
Mt