New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-04-11

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that everything "massa' said was all right
and proper. When he said "come" or 800, .
they felt it to be their duty to do so. Many
of them were forced to submit to the carnal
appetites of their masters, land live in COM
parative ease and luxury, otherwise they were
put on the plantation with the common field
hands. This is fact to which any one can
testify, who has read much of Southern life.
There were among them some of the Josie
Mansfield stripe; they knew how to enjoy
ease and luxury.
Since the war they are like "Nxy." one
of Miss Phelps heroines. They are "hedged
in, :" and not allowed to &c live honest" 1t is
against the law for white man to marry
black woman. They can live together Just
as long as they please. 1t only becomes a
criminal Otiense when they marry. 1t makes
no difference how much he may love and re-
spect her, they cannot marry. In spite of all
their enemies may say, there are black women
whose right to be respected must be acknowl-
edged by any white man who may come into
their presence.
Some months since white man married a
colored woman in Grenada, Miss. Where
upon the citizens of that place presented him
with a coat of tar and feathers, also a bath
in creek near by. This is only one instance
of many.
While l give slavery, ignorance, and not
being allowed to live honest, as some of the
causes why the black women of the South are
perhaps open to the charge of unchastity,
what reason can be given for the thousands
Of white prostitutes or fallen women who NAV
be met with almost everywhere? They have
never been slaves. They have never been
denied the advantages of an education. They
might have led honest lives. Yet these poor
degraded outcasts think they have sufficient
cause for leading low and disreputable lives.
Yes, there is a work to be done. Disease,
vice, and crime are fearfully on the increase.
The social sins of the American people are
great, and must be atoned for. Why is it
that one can meet so many sckly, puny chill
dren, at almost every turn? 1t is because the
sins of their parents are being visited upon
their children. There is no escaping punish
ment for violation of Gods laws. This cor
ruptiOn will never become less till society
ceases to open her door to the libertine and
prOtligate while she shuts and bars the same
against his victim--till society ceases to kick
a woman down the hill for the same that "a
man is helped uphill men are taught to be
pure and virtuOus as they would have women
they marry society will never be improved.
l agree with the writer of that article quite,
when he says there is work to be done ;
but differ from him in regard to the locality
Gus localities where workers may find en-
ployment besides among the black women of
the South. Let the work begin among the
wOuld-be superiors of the negro throughout
this entire land. Yes let the work begin
among the Presidents of our railroads, Gov
errors, Judges, lawyers, physicians, minis
tiers OF the gospel, and among men high in
authority everywhere. Can we not see ac-
counts in our papers daily of men high in posi-
ton who are leading loose and irregular
lives? Depend upon it, there are more Brig
ham YOungs in the United States besides the
one who resides in Salt Lake City. OF course
there are few noble exceptions. There are
men who are laboring hard with the advanced
corps of reformatory women to bring about
better state of things.
In this city, some months since, a young
white man seduced his own sister. As an
offset to this, some of the papers of this city
tried to make out a similar case in black
family. 'Misery loves company always"
They did not succeed, however. IT'S true
the colored girl had met with a misfortune :;
but her brother was not the author Of it.
read of another case of incest which happened
in white family not long since, somewhere
in the West, if L mistake not. The father
had seduced three of his own daughters
The sacredness of their own households are
not held dear by such brutes as these. Let
the work begin with the white people North,
South, East, and West. 1t has been said
that the negro is only few degrees remote
from the monkey; therefore he is very imi-
tative being. The have succeeded so admir-
ably in apng the vices of their white breth-
rem, perhaps if they set them examples they
will prove equally prompt in initiating their
virtues.
The sham pretensions of some people to
4
Let the writer of that article first set his own
house in order, then come and assist the
black folks of the South. also take pleas
ure in referring him to that portion of the
Scripture which speaks of the beam" and
the "mote."
A BLACK WOMAN OF THE SOUTH.
Memphis, Tenn, March 4, 1872.