New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-04-24
How the COiOred Citizen Died.
WASHINGTON. Anil Is. 1853.

II Tie Editors oftke Nesc National Fra:
The communication over the signature Of
"L'overture, in your last issue, is tumble
Of low wit and bad grammar, dominating
IN personal abuse. The pronoun 'we," re-
pcatel so often in the first few paragraphs,
created the suspicion that the article was an
editorial, but when the writer declares that
''we are an humble member" "we stood by
the Coloysi Citizen" Gin our humble opinion
il lacked brains" "but we have no DISPOSE
'on TO disturb the sleep Of thai Sheet" and
that Gabriel can blow busle better than
we, We resign the job TO him." then recog-
nizcd this hUm5lc-mouthed "L'Ovcrture'' to
be a Mr.. We" whose articles to the Colored
Cai-n were as full of these pronouns as there
be Gnata FOR multitude.
An experienced journalist, after wedding
fifty pages Of his manuscript Of superlluous
ives, found the remainder like 4 gun without
lock, stock, or barrel That the "Co1>yla
Ch-eq lacked brains," is easily believed
when it Is known that eve c''L'Overture'')
stood by - and standing Gas long as there
was vitality in it," as he asserts he did, az
'Iu4A9 Ipi ~ ittlIi. WIN
nation Of miserable grammar"
lie refers TO Dickens Gupry but forscts
Uriah lIecp, who was an humble individual
with an humble opinion" like himself,
smacking strongly Of selr-dcbasement and
imbecilitv
When the daily ralels oC Washington and
the leading c,loreI journals throughout the
country complimcntei the editorial ability of
the Colore3 Citizen and frequently quoted its
original articles, "I.'Overture' hgm,lc opn-
ION to the contrary, notwithstanding, reminds
one Of a machcrel trying to swallow fleet Of
ships "L'Oyerturc" thinks the Co'ored
Citizen had too much weakness Cor ladies'
toilds. He warns the little editor of the
Ne,7 Cdi-cn to beware Of rings. 1.-THE more
gratuitous attention they cXpcnd upon you,
the more fried oysters they set before you
and these exert a controlling influence" 80
no fried oysters to the Ne,r Citi=ea.
As this curious homily proceeds, it informs
the little friend" that there are rings in the
private houses, universities, and banks.
Their members hold the highest seats in the
synagogue, they have bald heads, they love
the sound Of the timbrcl that he has seen
them in the may dance; they glide noise
icssly into the supper-rOoms with their
swcethearts and wives they eat and drink
and drink and eat, (bacEwarjs,) and are fol-
lowed by old banacles. Here his powers Of
description seem exhausted, and descending
TO his vernacular he blcats "bah," and thus
VIC have clue TO his species.
Don't you feel sick at the stomach ::'' he
cries. ''Sick; yes. Nauscated with such
mawkish, pig-headcd nonsense" Kings"
he declares, murdered the editors Of the
CClorc9 Citizen" How: Hear him "Ihey
always left banquets full Of good things.
They had fried oysters set before them, and
they got smiles and invitations, and last, but
not least, death" Oh! horrible horrible
50 full Of good things and fried oysters the
editors of the Colored Citizen died fat. / adj
wise the little editor" to die the same way,
for it is appointed unto all 10 die, and this
appointment is made out with special refer
cnce to colorcd journalism.
But at last this spurious harlequin actually
doubts whether are are fit for the political
condition in which re are. Friends are have,
but are must demonstrate that are have the
element TO lift us TO higher place" The
Near Citizen, he declares, must be manipulated
10 do IFS portion Of so holy work. The in
eyitablc "wc" Identifies him. Hands OF,
little editor, the work is not holy. You
might as well "blow a resurrection trump
over lump Of dough" as attempt TO improve
the morals or grammar Of this literary abor-
ton. | have no defence to make for the
literary or moral tone o! the Co!ored Citizen
ADLER and better men have pronounced upon
lis excellence than he or I, and the fact that
Netc Cdi=en springing from its ashes takes
its mantle intimates a popular demand. Dur
ing its publication the critics Of the Colored
Citizen were silent, but as soon as it stopped,
like dogs whose stOmachs are set upon
what is thrown away, they snarl most when
there are the fewcst bones.' \ fair discus
sion, or hardhanded, hardhcaded and hard
mouthed as you please, &c.
i. II. MURRAY.
Not Dead, Nor Dying.