National Republican., 1873-06-05

EACH RECURRING SUNDAY OR HOLIDAY is en-.
braced by our colored citizens as an opportunity
for the display Of their nne clothing. Some
times they bring out their "store clothes" on
other days, when, a. Dr. Sunderland would say,
they haven't ioc enough 10 Keep a deal body
over for Sunday funeral Plug hats are af-
fecied by them a. an urgent concomltant Of re-
spectacle dress. Gay regaiias are also popular
even on the most solemn occasions. The slight
est provocation develops processlon through
our thoroughfares, leh BY brass band, the mu-
sc Of which Is good Il one listens only for time
and shuts his ears to concord. Twelve years OF
freedom have produced this change from Gus
toms aud circumstances which compelled these
anne people, with rare exceptions, To wear gun
ny-bag sacks, 90 barefooted, and run home TO
evade the police after 10 O'Clock at night. There
IA something ludicrous In this reflection, and
yet II also Yields food for sober thought When
we remember that these outward Indications,
these street displays, are but the superficial indl
Gallons Of the great change which has occurred In
the status Of these people, We involuntariy seek
further and more substantial evidence Of their
progress. A miracle then presents itself. Ig-
norance has been replaced by Intelligence, and
crinring servllliy by in,iependence. Where once
was dullness and apathy, now s TO be found
sprightllness and activity. Il Is true that many
Of the race have abused their privileges, and In
their new-found freedom have developed Grim
Inal propensltlca which combine to mako q
black record against them; but the average cob
ored citizen, notwithstanding his previous con-
ditlon, will compare favorAbly with his peer OF
lighter color. Housckeepeu may complain that
they are dishonest, but even In this respect they
have made progress from the time when the
regulates Of forced seryitude taught them that
the property OF the master was the property Of
the slave. In short they have given evidence Of
q higher humanity than their most sangulne
friends ever dreamed Of. and q capacity 10
learn which Ia more than commendable.
witness the number OF oolored children
on the streets with school books under
their arms, and remember that they are the or
spring OF day y-iaborers, OF men who work for q
dollar and half day, and Of women who work
for even less. Go TO their houses, and ind, In.
stead Of dirt noors, which accommodated them
In their slave huts "a beds a. wei as tables neat
rooms, with curtalned windows and other evl-
dence Of new appreciation Of life. The squad
haunts Of vice and poverty, which some OF them
inhabit, while their children either work. idie OF
piifer In the streets. are the exceptions which
detract from their general average, showing thai
while the majority OF them have Improved theil
opportunities the minority have remained In IN,
degradation entailed upon them by the curse o.
slavery. Another twelve years, 1t Ia reasonabi,
to suppose, will show still greater Improvement,
and As the whites learn to yield and respect th'
rights which the laws now accord TO their coloret
fehov-cltisens we may expecI q proportional,
decrease OF the Incidence and crime for whlci
they are now held responsible.