New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-01-23
WAsHINoToN, Jan. %, 1873.


WAsHINoToN, Jan. %, 1873.
r, ;.2 Editor ofMe Ncao National Era.
In her "notes" to the New York T'0.e8 Of
Jan. 18th, the usually genial and witty Grace
Greenwood INDUCES in comfortable little
grumble at mankind in general, and Adde'S
cent Philippians" in particular, using the lash
in every direction and without discrimination.
Though an earnest advocate for freedom of
thought and speech, still I must protest
against the style in which the piquant Grace
holds forth on this occasion. The article in
question, Or rather that portion of it which
refers TO our "boys and young girls" whom
she desgnates as ragged, dirty, and def
ant" is especially crlel and unjust. II has,
1 believe. always been considered unfair to
take even an enemy al n disadvantage, and
should Grace Greenwood tax her memory
even to the slightest degree, she could not
fail to discover that the impoliteness of which
she complains, Is the result Of the example
set by the Anglo-Saxon, and acted upon,
perhaps in a retalatory spirit, by the now
"deiiant" African. While complaining IN no
gentle manner that she was, on a recent &C.
casiOn, while on her way to the Senate Cham.
Der, :" driven to the wall' by set Of 81 black
young rowdies," she forgets that, in their
conduct, they were only imitators, merely
young expounders Of the complement Of that
other law which teaches, in word and deed,
that "black men have no rights that white
men are bound to respect" To be "driven
to the wall' has ever been the fate Of this
race; and if they have suddenly become "a
people of elegant leisure, who lind time to
visit the Capitol, and give to Congress a
watchiul eye and ear" surely it might be
patiently borne, especially since it cannot be
helped. AS an Offset to the CONTEMPORARY
expressed opinion concerning our boys and
girls,' the remark Is thrown in Gas a soother
to the feelings, 1 presume, y that among our
people are to be found I" wcll-behayed, ex-
celient and industrious men and women ~
Well, lsat is kind, and suppose we should
feel very grateful FOR the consoIing statement,
showing that we are not, as a race, a living
monument Of universal deprayty; but some
how do not feel so glad about it as perhaps
| ought to feel. l confess to having much Of
the Old Adam still abiding in mc-never ex-
pect to be canonized as a saint on account of
my patient and forgiying spirit-and am
quite likely to lose the small stock Of patience
which do possess when l hear our "boys
and girls" our glorious, earnest, boys and
girls, stiamatized and condemned by those
who, knowing SO little Of them, refuse to be-
licve that any" good can come out Of Naza-
reth." Precious diamonds! still in the rough
it may be, but giving rich promise Of bril-
liant future young heroes. daily bat
ting with a prejudice az unyielding as it is I'M
just, how deeply do we feel, how fully real
ize that the hopc-thc glory of our people is
bounded by your future, and thus feeling, fli!
utterly to recognize the unlovely and ungra-
ciOus aspect so pateUt to the vision Of the
irate Grace. Leaving unanswered the asser-
tons that the intrusive "blacks conduct
themselves as if masters Of the place." (Which
is only additional evidence Of their initiative
ability,) and the necessity of "a fifteenth
amendment to their manners - we extend a
cordial invitation to the iastidious correspond
ent Of the Times, if the sensitive delIcacv Of
her nerves will permit, to visit, some day, our
halls Of learning, our colored public schools !;
let her learn the system by which these
schools arc governed; let her note the dis
cipline and the order which prevail. the
promptness, accuracy, and general excellence
Of the recitations in the several branches Of
study; let her mark the eagerness Of the ru-
pills to acquire knowledge, and, if her mental
and moral vision is not entirely obscured by
the veil of prejudice, she will, think, cease
to 81 fear for or doubt them" or regard ileln
as the unlovely and ungracious results of
emancipation Until then, we entrcat The
apprehensive Grace to be of good cheer, To
calm her fears, and rest secure in the kncw!-
edge that the blacks Of Washington, so far
from rendering the metropolis a ling
wilderness, are doing much, by their con.
slant search after, and acquisition of, kuowl-
edge, TO refine, elevate, and beautfy thu.
their home, thus making it the garden-spot
Of the earth SPY