New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-02-13

tered by the efforts Of the colored man to
build up nationality OF his o~n. This class
Of people took more trouble to ease their own |
consciences than they did to relieve the suf- |
ferings Of down-trodden class. Their mot
to seems to have been, "Suser If you must,
but don't unstrng my nerves by the sight OF
your agony"
Still another class of finer feelings and
with higher motives concluded that the APP
pearances of Providence were against their
natural instincts, and that an actual negro
nationality would go long way toward
clearing up the confusion of ideas. If the
negro individuality proved failure the ne
gro's incapacity would be clearly demon
strated; if it were successful they would be
furnished with additional arguments in the
interest of human equality. p.
But there was another class OF colonial
tionist' whose object it was TO keep the col
ored man slave beneath the shadow Of
Christian churches, or to make him a subject
Of ridicule while struggling in his poverty
AL "Ash HtoSASAs N-7NN9~S $500
savage races. This latter class undoubtedly
gave tone to the Colonization Society. With
them q foreigner was an abomination and
the possession Of Christian slave only
natural, perhaps II righteous inheritance.
America was Il good place for the develop
ment OF negro muscle, but negro intellect
was in dangerous proximity to the bleed
ing back and the aching heart OF q fellow
countryman. Under this colonization guise
Of benevolence more despairing souls have
left the shores of America than have been
won TO Christianity in Africa. Enforced
emigration has only been equalled in horror
to enforced migration through the middle
passage. Seven out Of every ten have died
on the way or in Africa, or they have only
lived to return with shattered constitutions
to enjoy the last comfort Of even siave-to
die at home.
1t is true that Liberis has given US some
great men like Roberts, Benson, Blyden,
and the rest but while this costly expert
ment has been in process, America has given
colored men quite as great, in larger num-
bers and now, while the fifteen thousand
Of Liberans are struggling with hostile
people, a depleted treasury, and noisome
diseases, with now and then the tropical
spices of revolution thrown in, four millions
of colored people In America, are the recipi-
ents Of all things save civil rights, and are
political dictators Of the situation even as to
them.
In every department Of our Government
the negro Is represented except in the Cabi-
net, and even in that direction his ebony
face and curly hair are blooming in the dis
lance"
In view Of these facts, might Lot the Colo
nization Society become benefactor to both
white and colored people, and change its
current Of emigration? Why not adopt an
old constitutional phrase that smacks Of the
good old times when Clay, mistaken, kindly
lent his eloquence to the promotion of Atri-
can colonization, and say that the migra-
ton of colored people, through the agency
of the Colonization Society,"" shall not be
prohibited? The South needs laborers-
black laborers. That color seems to hold
the mastery Of climatic diseases peculiar
to that scction-though not over those Of
Africa.
The secrets Of Iice, sugar, and cotton
cultivation are open to them as the day.
They have their own churches, schools, and
benevolent societies; they are at no cost to
any one but themselves for the support of
these things; and beyond all, they are in
creasing in numbers, improving in morals,
and growing in intelligence every day. Would
it not be better to spend the money Of the
Colonization Society and to use its energies
to bring heather where they may be Chris
tanned, than to take Christians where every
tendency Is towards heathenization Let
us hope that the Society will be as active in
this laudable work we suggest as it has been
in the past in it's doubtful benevolence: