New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-04-24
YOnng Men, 10 the Front

The adage which was once SO common, Ii
not so thoroughly automatic as to gain uni
versal credence-"Old men for council and
young men for war''--assumes additional
notoriety to-day, when the old men are
quarreling in the council chamber and the
young men are kept outside the door. While
the young men are willing to allow much to
the school Of experience, many of them are
the followers of Locke, and believe in the
doctrine of innate ideas. They believe, to
continue the comparison, that experience and
wisdom do not always spring from length of
years, nor does ignorance appertain to youth
as necessity. They dare assert that, as
there are those who would never be men,
lived they to be as old as Methuselah, so there
are some whose minds are as well filled,
whose judgments are as mature at twenty
five and eight, and their energy as decisive
as though they were in their tenth lustrum.
Conscious Of this fact, it is the absurdity Of
folly for the young colored men Of the coun-
try to sit idly by and see tho grandest oppor-
tunities slipping away, the best cases lost by
default because of the lack of energy dis
played by many Of our so-called leaders who
have been longer on the field. With some
very few exceptions, honorable as they are
rarc, they have done well for their day and
generation but with regard to the needs and
policy Of the negroes Of the present hour they
are as innocent as babes. = Men for the most
part Of excellent temper and good working
capacity, they lack that which is the hand
maid and often the indispensable auxiliary Of
knowledge and all effective work-judg-
ment. Unconscious puppets often, they
dance to unseen music, moved themselves
by hidden wires.
The convention was the iavorite resort of
the leading negro of ten years ago. He con-
vened and resolved, resolved and uncon-
vened-read his own speeches, was delighted
with his own frothy rhetoric, and really
imagined himself a great man. lie talked
eloquently then it must be granted, because
he spoke of his wrongs; but when. the war
overturned the edilice OF slavery "Othello's
occupation" was ''gone," indeed. The num-
Der who have survived and held their own
under the new order Of things may be counted
upon one hand. They survive through that
grand old law so much combated but ever
true-the survival Of the fttest. They alone
give character and reputation to the negro.
They make for him fame which begets
respect where his wrongs only excited pity.
The field is comparatively clear now some of
the older hacks have fallen by the way or lie
spawned at the roadside. The question is,
will the young men Of color throughout the
country resolve to begin now to take part in
public affairs, asserting their claim wherever
it is denied, maintaining it wherever con-
tested, and show that the young may be safe
in counsel as we'll as good for war:
There are some who arrogate to themselves
wisdom because Of their years, just as some
equally absurd people think they are wise
because they never went to high school or
an academy-men, Heaven save the mark!
who pride themselves ON having never slakcd
their thirst at the fount Of knowledge. 1t is
not Our purpose to disparage age. We
remember what Cicero has written, SO de-
lghtully, of its pleasures what Cephalus
and Socrates thought of it in the Republic.
We look toward sunset" with reverence
and respect; but it is with a reverence that
makes 10 conscious Of our own duty. The
young men are now studying, working,
some, alas! idling away their. time who
ought to be the active, earnest men in the
next Presidential campaign /; young men who
are to control the destinies Of the race.
Many of them are Of marked ability and
decidedly energetic in character. Not so
fluent, perhaps, as their fathers, they are
more thoughtful. They are found through
out the country. We feel that, If like Rod
erick Dhu, we should put the whistle to our
lips and blow stirring blast, they would
spring up in every par: Of the country
ready with voice, pen, or muscle to do
their share in any honorable work. In
spirit we do this, as young men ourselves,
willing to blow blast which, would that the
young men Of. the country would hear and
heed! Young men, to the front. Young
men, rouse yourselves Take the opportu-
mites; make them where they are denied!
''Ouit Won like men be strong"