The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-09-03
Africa for the African.

AlIlCiI lUl tlit AlllSdHs
The negro in this country is likely to have a
worse time of it even than he had before eman-
cipation. Not satisfied with giving him his
freedom and the suffrage, the politicians, who
only use him for selfish purposes, are now
| seeking to force social intercourse between him
and the whites, which, if pressed far enough,
will certainly produce conflict of races,
in which, of course, tho weaker must go down,
and go down forever. 1t might not be right,
or kind, or even possible to compel the whole
black population of this country to emigrate;
but if they would go willingly, it would be
blessed thing for them, as well as for tho
whites.
But do our colored people know what is good
for them? The mass Of them live in our lanes
and alleys, where filth abounds and pure air
and sunshine are very strange. We see them
in our streets picking up rags and of1al to earn
their bread. They black our boots, wait in our
hotels carry our baggage, and trim our boards.
Menial occupation, and a lew mechanical trades
alone are open to them. We hear occasionally
Of colored physician; but we doubt the gen
uineness of the diplomas upon which they
practice among their race. In some parts Of
the country there are colored lawyers but we
never saw one in this locality. A few energet-
ic colored mon accumulate wealth. Good
schools and churches are provided for these
people, and intelligent Christian men not
wanting among the thousands now residents
in our midst. But spite Of wealth, education,
blooded black finds it quite impossible to at
tain to a position Of social equality here and
sees nearly all the avenues OF ambition actual
ly, if not theoretically, barred against him by
an intense and ineXorable prejudice. Culture
and political enfranchiscment but give him a
keener sense of his inherent natural inferiority
to the white man and of the practical proscrip-
ton and degradation ii bcgets. He feels HIM
self, perhaps, better in heart and brain than
many who prescribe and repulsc him, but he
nt fhnn iS
alter the laws Of God and the m oral nature Of
Gods creatures. Heis anegrO, and the whites,
in the main, will not willingly associate with
him on a footing of equality. This, some say,
is wrong-a simon the part OF the pale-tacc;
but it is nevertheless, a hard, stubborn, ire
versblc fact, that will continue to exist, not
wthstanding the silly, mischievous human
legislation that vEinly hopes to wipe it out
The most powerful batteries of the tongue and
the press have been directed against it; but it
is in the blood and bone, and cannot be rallied
or reasoned away. This being so, how is it
that ambitious and intelligent colored men and
women among us do not seek land where
thoy can enjoy perfect social, as we'll as political
equality?
Far away over the broad Atlantic lies the
Arcadia and the Canaan Of the AnSlo-African
race, born, partially civilized, and recently
liberated from bondage III this country. Upon
that coast of tropical beauty and bloom, which
many Il fcttercd slave has wept ut leaving, good
accursed traffic, welcome back the black man
from his long exile, give him his highest pos
siblc development, and radiate the blessings of
civilization and Christianity among millions OF
his race occupying still benighted continent.
The country is rich in natural resources. The
valleys respond to the plow share with varied
and redundant harvests. The forests contain
the most valuable woods. The hills tccm with
mineral and metallic wealth. The rivers afford
ample highways for trade and an eXhaustlcss
water-power. In short, as its successive i'll
,lustrial oXpositions have repeatedly shown,
Liberia offers most profitable field for every
branch Of industry. There arc the means OF
material comfort and luxury. Schools, col
leges and churches furnish large opportunity
for mental and moral education. The learned
professors, the Legislature, the Judiciary, the
Presidency, arc open alike to all col0rcd men
Of fitting merit and capacity.
But above all, there is, in that negro Repub-
lie, as near an approach to perfect social equal
ity as may possibly exist in any civil conlnu-
nitv consistently with natural or acquired diff
ferences Of individual taste, habits, condition.
and cultivation, irrespective of all other dis
tinctions, and this ought to be the strongest
attraction to cOlorcd man Of true SenSlblllty
and manly pride. There and, indubitably, no
where else on top Of the earth, the negro may
prove his title to be considered the equal Of the
Caucasian in capacity for Development He
will start their with every advantage that civil
ization can contribute, while he will behold
before him new world TO Sul,ullc anu cEliSnt-
en He will have there the widest field for the
noblcst toll and can compel mankind to ac-
knowledge the greatness and glory OF his
achievements. lie will be able to conquer
where the whites have scarcely vcnturcd to
penetrate. Hc will bear glad tidings Of great
ioy-0f deliverance from brutal ignorance
superstition, idoatry bondage, and basest
degradation-to millions Of his long bonighted
race
If, therefore, tho colored people in this coun-
try sincerely desire their own advancement
and the welfare OF their own race, all of them,
with one free accord, ought TO hasten to Libe-
ria, instead of worse than wasting their days
here rs mcnials, or chatting their hearts with
sense of social degradation and ostracism
which they must ever experience in America
Perhaps little more thinking for themselves
and a good deal less listening TO paie-taccd
fanatics would lead them to this conclusion.-
IHHadclphia S"''day Hcrc"'y