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

| PN"Pi0 pay W AHlnguly Vou Illat past bless
ings will not suffice, so say lever admitting
that pure principle, andnot political necessity
nor political eXpediency had anything to do
with it. Past blessings will not suffice We
must have every right guaranteed by law to
any other person. We have in all good con-
science, been without the enjoyment of any
rights long enough to justify this demand.
think speak advisedly when say that if
the Republican party wish to retain their as
tendency in this government, they must pass
that bill the present session of Congress,
Tor the leading, thinking, solid, sober and
sensible men (who are true to their race), all
are tired and sick of the hardness and indif-
terence with which this measure has been
treated. sincerely hope and pray that be-
lore write to you again, the bill will have
become law, and if so, The colored people
Will become unit, and the Republican party
need entertain no fears respecting its future.
In Wheeling I formed the acquaintance of
MIR. VIM. F. Gaskins. lie is quite a power
there for good, refined gentleman, and de-
cidedly intelligent. He has charge of the
District common school (coloreD, and his
brother, Mr.. Joseph Champ, occupies like
position. The latter gentleman is also a per-
son OF high character and ability. Both are
strongly in favor of the Civil-Rights Bill.
especially the provision relating to the
schools, although they are teachers. This
is degree of unselfishness seldom exhibited
among colOred teachers.
Yours for the right,
VIM. Z. WALKER.
rs. got on Ia political vein and came
near forgetting the object of this letter. The
colored people here are doing tolerably we'll.
In Bridgeport colOred school taught by
white lady is quite well attended: there are
also two colored churches here - Methodist
and Baptist-bOth doing quite well.
The Rev. Mr.. Word breaches for the Bap-
list. lie was formerly of Gallipoho. The
people are disposed to be kind, but have not
yet learned one very important lesson. to
work: that they should not receive some
thing for nothing. They are very anxions
and willing to receive ones labors, but he
must give his labors free. 1t is as much as
they can do to take care of themselves, so
they think and so they speak. did not DIS
cover much energy and enterprise among
them. Very few, comparatively, own prop
erty.
Steubenville is little if any better, although
it is one of the Oldest towns in the State.
There is at present no place of worship
among the colored people there and only one
organized church of the A. M. +. dcnomina-
ton. was not a little surprised. There is
a colored school there, presided over by Mr..
Brewer, fine teacher, and man of clarac-
ter and ability. 1 know not his views on
the Civil-Rights Bill as to schools. lie has
goodly number of children. And here let me
say that tho won't Of cleanliness on the part
oil the children, as was there generally eX-
hibited, was one of the greatest objections
which the whites had to mixed schools. 1t
is downright, burning shame that parents
will allow their children to attend schools
half clad, dirty and filthy. 1 expressed my
self thus to Mr.. b., who admitted the force
difficult matter he had to overcome. 1t is
parents dutyto raise their children to habits
OF cleanliness and industry. The people out
here seem to be industrious, but do not make
much Roadway.
l shall leave here next week for some
other point of the compass, and shall chroni-
Gle things as find them in the meantime.
Let our people throughout the land main
tain solid front in demanding what we are
entitled to, and in the meantime do all they
can to remove all objections, SO far as man
illness. gentilty, intelligence, and the accu-
mutation of wealth are concerned, and then
we can defy comparison.
Yours, etc. e. W.