New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-05-28
From OI,ie.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Ohio, May 10, 1874.
To Tie Editor cf the Ne,o National Era:
SIR: My visit to this place being nearly
closed Except an invitation to preach to the
white Presbyterians on next Sabbath),
thought l would furnish you with some items
of what | see and learn in this portion of the
State.
Quakerism is predominant. True to the
principles of freedom, yet no great sticklers
for equality. This is so almost universally
among that sect. Their peculiar religious
tenets they strictly adhere to. They con-
ceal beneath their plain, modest, unassuming
demeanor, more real pride than any people l
know. l don't mean by this that they are
hypocritical but that it is, from long habit,
become second nature. They really think
| they are not proud, but, on the contrary,
quite the reverse.
speak of Quakers not being disposed to
favor or recognise negro equality. Is not
this true of very large majority of the
American people?
1t is easy to make platforms and pass reso-
lutions, but it is quite difficult to live up to
them. Platforms are but cobwebs, one wind
strong and boisterous of public sentiment
will blow them all away. Platforms are
made for party purposes - it is like sweet
ened water, or molasses set to catch flies,
and white people, especially politicians, un-
derstand this. Negroes are easily entrapped
and gulled by the artilicc. Why, before the
| last Presidential election, so much love for
the negro, at the Republican and Liberal
Republican conventions, assembled to make
nominations for the Presidency? Echo
answers: Why? The reason is as clear and
apparent as the MONDAY sun. Whatever
could be done to retard the Civil-Rights Bill
| in Congress, by both parties, seems to have
been resorted to. The Democrats by oppo-
sition sin TO to-" and the Republicans
some of them-to some of its provisions,
and by motions to delay its consideration,
although it was the first bill on the calendar
first that was presented-yet now it must
be set aside by other bills of more Importance,
finance, Geneva award, bad amendments
by the Republicans and such like, and the
session being near its close, what does this
apathy and indifference mean? Are the
Republicans who could have at any time since
the present session commenced (yca, at any
time during the last two years. passed the
Civil-Rights Bill, Il say, are they watching
the political horizon to determine whether OF
not they can go into the next Presidential
campaign with this load on their backs
Are they disposed to be governed by the
remark of the Hon. Mr.. Carpenter, of Wis.
consin, when discussing the Pinchback case:
If others choose to go into the next Presi.
dental campaign with it, he would not. II
was not the righteousness of the cause but
the political expediency which he condemned
1 must confess the negro is mighty burden
but he is now part of the political element
OF his country, and he has now the same
power to vote either party up Or down, as
the parties in power used to have of voting
him up or down.
1t may be said that the Republican party
has lifted the negroes up and made men and
citizens of them. Manhood and citizenship
without equal rights in Republican form o.
government is nullity. AS some of oul