New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-11-20
Old Men Tested.

AAttAE aEulLs VIC saitll hi4gH bhNt4i. - Il
divine axiom borne out by human experience.
Men show what they are a good deal more
clearly than they can tell what they are, and,
what is more, other men always prefer the
evidence OF conduct to the mere statements
OF pretension. When egotism, now a crying
sin in political life among colored men, struts
forward to snatch the honOrs from the brow
of seniority, the spectator asks naturally
enough if it would not be better to begin a
competition in services before resort is made
to the robbery Of regulations? should such
competition take place, among the first
things it would reveal would be the disInter-
ested motive OF the public services OF old
men.
As late as ten years ago consistent and
radical ant-slavery colored man held his
opinions and performed his duties at the sac
rifce of his business interests. The frequent
appearance Of his name in the newspapers
as the promoter Of irreverence against the
nations idols Of slavery and prejudice. was
sufficient to drive his rich customers from his
counter, while he gained only the sympathy
of impecunious colleagues in their stead.
And the patronage >Shich was withdrawn
from the colored a.itator was bestowed upon
some white competitor who tried at once to
break up the colored mans business and to
ruin his influence. Yet did these colored
men halt in their course? DID they not hold
the even tenor Of their way, certain that os-
tracism III their case was almost an uuavoid-
able condition n tlp mfr ,phiS pf his
children? And now these children. in many
Instances, are making this very ostraci-m,
borne III their interest, the ground of charges
OF interiority as to ability and of depreciation
as to the value Of their services. Let us look
around us. What are the old men doing
now: Where are Douglass, Wagner, Ward,
Downing, Clark, Barbadoes, Garnet, Re-
mOnd, and the rest? Are they not still
where they have always benin the fore
ground Of the battle of civil rights. Is it not
their philosophy that nothing of n poll ical
nature is secure to US till civil rights are
secured? Do they not recognize it " their
| duty to make and sustain a platform of
equality so broad and firm that every young
! man may spring to the front and utilize what
| ever abilities he may possess. The history
| Of the anti-slavery struggle, no less than the
| stirring events of recent days, prove, beyond
a doubt, that there is neither jealousy nor
envy nor indifference among old men touch
ing the honors and emoluments which have
been conferred upon our young men. They
hail with unaffected pleasure the presence of
| any colored man in Office whose abilities and
| characters fit them to be seryiceable to their
| people and the cause of freedom and progress.
These old men add 20 their interest III the
young ores a becoming Difference to their
positions, and corresponding effort is made
| to increase their Importance in the estimation
of the white people with Hhom it came in
contact.
But can as much lc said to the credit of
those who entertain u"preciatory cs,imations
of the old men: Do they not, by their opin-
ions and general dep }rtmcnt, seem to think
that their own virtues become conspicuous
only IN proportion as hey deny the existence
of virtues in their sen or.? Testing the sin
cerity, the ability, AMI the work of our elders
| by the standard of scf-sacrifce, they have
uOiC well, DuJ, IL W. itst luC tAllCSSlODS
and the attitude Of their juniors by the law
Of gratitude, it must be confessed the juniors
are wofully lacking.
We recur to this subject in no split Of
rivalry, with no desire to provoke strife, but,
on the contrary. our hearts yearn for harmony
and peace among our people. lie: us have
peace. Let us drop the spirit Of criticism,
the prurient desire to increase our own inn
portance at the expense of others. Let Us
realize that the elevation Of one col0red man
to honorable and responsible position in the
present condition of our unavoidable identity,
aids iii carrying every other colored man a
step higher than he was before.
Men Of public spirit, OF independence, of
| industry, and courage, are not too numerous
among any race of people, and the school i'll
which we have been taught has turned out
| lar fewer such men among Us than are To be
found among more favored natonalities.
Let 1t be our purpose to increase rather than
to diminish the number, and, by Il reverence
for age, and an appreciation of services, throw
the reflection Of whatever position the pre-
sent clothes us with upon our whole people
as a mantle Of honor and consideration.
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