New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-30
Letter from Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, November %, 49,


II is surely not from dearth Of news, but
solely from pre-occupation, that l have not
written to you for weeks. Probably in no city
in the Union, your own excepted, have the
colored people greater interests at stake than
here. Our number is large, cur public men
intelligent, sagacious, and alive to their po-
Htical interests; but Notwithstanding all this,
we have hitherto been rather passive in the
assertion and maintenance of our rights. This
policy is changed. We propose now to De
aggressive This spirit is the legitimate 'ruit
of the assassination of Cato 1t shows itself
in the determination of such public men as
VIM. Whpper, Isaiah G. Wears. Stephen Smith
U.B. Vidal. Jacob G. White, James W. Pur-
nell, aud ]. F. Needham, to start an active
crusade for the assertion Of our political rights,
and the attainment of our civil rights in com
mon with other citizens of the Republic. The
meeting first held with regard to Mr.. Catto's
murder, was a meeting of the citizens gener-
ally Another meeting was held on the llth
instant by the colored people, meeting which,
/ trust, unlike most of our meetings and con-
ventons, will result in something else than
mere words and resolutions. 1t was an en-
thusiastic meeting. The resolutions, written
by friend Whipper, were logical, farreachiug.
comprehensive, and profound. The speech of
Mr. Wears lin all probability the ablest colored
debater in the country was just the speech to
be made. send you both, hoping you will have
space in which to publish them. They are valu
able because they foreshadow policy which
has already begun to be carried out. Its fruit
will be seen in the future. We have also taken
the first steps towards the erection of suitable
memorial to the memory Of Thadieus Stevens,
the grand old "Commoner," whose services to
our race can never be adequately appreciated.
An association is already formed, aud is care
fully but surely going about its work. The
work, it is true, belongs particularly to Penn
sylvania, whose adopted son Mr.. Stevens was,
but in reality it devolves upon all the colored
people of the country.
If the spirits of the illustrious dead derive
any pleasure from the contemplation of pos
thumous honors, or from the gratitude of those
who survive them, and ftly value their services,
then, certainly, the heart of that grim hero who
fought for us with voice, vote, gold and prin.
ciple, would be gratifed with tribute to his
memory from the colored people, We have
now the promise of four or FIVE lestures from
distinguished men in behalf of the object.
The cad news Of the death of Lieut.. Governor
Dunn has reached us. The greatest, in my
opinion, since Banneker died Hitherto the
cOlored men have not had that golden thing,
opportunity. Banneker was superior to it, like
bis Industrious and BY no means more brilliant
compeer, Bowdi,ch, "who without guide
threaded the starry maz,s of the heavens -
To Oscar j. Dunn it was given to have
both the opportunity, the ambition neces
sary to strive after it, and the ability
to seize it-a fortunate, rare combination
given only to first-class minds Independent Of
the political issues involved, the fact that the
acknowledged leader Of one wing of the Re
publican party in Louisiana was a man Of our
race, one who had been advertised as slave ir
his youth, who had acquired wealth, and had
risen above the mere hack politician, while
the leader on the other side was another
colored man, equally gifted understand, wa.
the brightest augury for the future of our race
Well may the New York World, with Me
phistorhelean sarcasm, speak of this grea,
man as a loss to the Republican party of 9
probable nominee for the Vice Presidency
With Mr.. Marble or George Ticknor Curt.
this remark was bitter sarcasm; with US, re
Numbering Mr.. Dunn, and confident in the
future, it was by no means a remote proba
bility. Mr.. Revels in the Senate was an acct
dent, and we are lucky in getting off with 81
little damage. Alcorn will soon replace hi,
shadow with his own half-rebel substance. A
Lieutenant Governor in South Carolina, -wher,
we ought to have had long ago Governor ant
O. United States Senator, is no triumph at all
A Douglass accompanying an expedition as
guest. when he was as competent as any membe
of the Commission to be one Of them, is a guas
compliment of well-meaning Administration
but Judge OF the Supreme Court of Soutl
Carolina, o United States Minister to Hayti
Dunn placing his heavy hand, controlled b,
a big brain, on the turbulent masses of blacl
men divided, and white men who did not loy,
him, and bringing them together and wieldin,
them as he thought best-these are cbeerip
signs Of the times which ought to give us coul
age.
We have experienced great pleasure here i
reading in the Chronicle of November 7th,
believe, the very able article of Mr. ID. A
Straker, late of Howard University, on tn
Equalization of Property" 1t is one of tb
most compact and conclusive arguments it ha
been my good fortune to read for some time
Just such an one as | would have wished {
write, did / possess the legal aeumen of on
promising friend. l don't believe the grea
Wendell himself can answer it. In these day
CT generalization aud DECENTRALIZATION lew
elry-veneer and thin plating, it is refreshin
to see little substance behind theory. Mact
rirtWe! That's the way 10 the stars
We have heard that Senator Sumner contem
plates introducing his supplement to the civ
rights bill during the coming session. 1t occur
TO me that We should hold up his hands a
Aaron and Hur did those of Moses, until n
sun OF oppression has set. How can we do thi
better than by sending TO Congress. say by th
middie OF January, petition from every par
OF this country, which shall contain the name
OF every colcred man and woman above the ag
oil eighteen years, praying Congress to gran
our prayer, and pass the billg II neesssarv
delegation Of one or two from each State mich
appear before the committee, rehearsing N
disabilities attached TO them still in Tho;
. nh