New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-23
From Virginia.

From Virginia.
RICHMOND, VA, July 20, 1874.
To the Editor ofne Ne,o National Era:
Richmond feels herself highly flattered by
the visits Of so many excursion parties. On
the third of July large company arrived
from Georgia, and remained here till the
Sth though their visit was less for the sake
of pleasure than to search out relatives and
friends from whom they had been separated
by the cruel necessities of slavery. Aged
women and gray-haired men, to whom long
life of labor and afiliction had left few pleas
ures save an af'ectionate remembrance of
their absent loved ones, journeyed to Vir-
ginia from the far-off State Of Georgia, hop
ing TO hear some word of, or, perchance, to
meet sons and daughters whom they babe
farewell at the auction-block Many had
the good fortune to find those they sought
after, and their welcomes and greetings were
pathetic beyond description. A curious cir
cumstance about these cases deserves men.
ton: 1t was custom for us to be known
by the name of our masters, and whenever a
change of ownership took place, our names
were also changed to that of the new pro-
prietOr. So, when our Georgia friends came
here it required considerable ingenuity to
trace the various pedigrees, as many had
assumed different names since their depart
ure from this State. And even when these
efforts were quite successful, you would have
smiled to see how the genealOgy sometimes
OOf col y,,,;xyo
ermen came down on the fourth, paraded
the streets, and enjoyed themselves as only
true Galilean Fishermen can.
An excursion, under the auspices of the
Shiloh Baptist church, visited Richmond last
Friday, and made an impression very credit
able to their sense of order and prepriety.
Generally speaking, this was an excellent
collection of ladies and gentlemen (among
whom we noticed many Government employ
esq whose presence afforded us an opportunity
Tor displaying that cheerful hospitality which
marks Virginia life, and which merits much
praise when not too indscrimnate and oblyi-
Gus OF the kind of persons who should be
the objects oft.
Talking about the favor in which this CITY
Is held by strangers, reminds me to say
something concerning the claims which it has
on its native young men who are scattered
throughout the North, and especially in
Washington. That there is pressing need of
them it is hardly worth while TO discuss for
without them the colored people have no
hope. We will be left to employ our own
inadequate resources against the power and
intelligence of disciplined foes. If no as
sistance comes to us from those who have
qualified themselves, by the acquisition of
knowledge and the accumulation of money,
to influence the course of public affairs, we
can never rise out of the present degrade
tion and take a commanding position in life
AT present we have few, if any able leaders
in business, politics, or education. The rea-
son for this is, that we, who are native
here and to the manner boin," have never
enjoyed the privileges of education, and
therefore cannot make successful leaders /;
while those who come here from a distance
ask honors and emoluments at our hands,
and failing to secure these Immediately, go
to some other place. Half of the politicians
who were here three and four years ago are
NOW in South Carolina, Florida and Missis-
sippi.
Annually there appears in the midst of us
a man, generally a preacher, who processes
great interest in our welfare, and dedicates
himself to the good of the colored people of
Richmond. All this is very laudable, but
nobody knows anything Of his character or
L. 81 I,
us a month, we put him in the highest
places we extol his virtues, VIC proclaim his
praises from the house-tops, we declare that
there is no man like unto him in wisdom,
knowledge, influence and power. If man
were very modest this would be enough to
turn his head. He sees what trusting fools
We are, and resolves to take advantage of a
simple minded multitude whose submissive
spirits are under the thrall of his enchant-
ment. Soon the man whom we praised and
pettcd and flattercd so much, betrays us and
laughs at our calamity. Having attained all
he wished, and feeling proudly satisfied with
his gains, he, like Caesar, scorns the base
degrees by which he rose," and dcfies our
resentment and indignation. We discard
this deceiver, and wait till the next charlatan
comes along who repeats the same prOtesta-
tions of devotion to our needy cause, and
then eclipses the villainy Of his predecessor.
While We should welcome any earnest and
qualified person who is willing to instruct us,
yet We should first ascertain whether he is
worthy Of our confidence, and whether he
possesses such abilities as will make him a
fit leader of the people. To bestOw praises
ON him before he has done anything worthy
of them, and TO advance him to those posi-
lions which the most able ought to occupy
before he displays any capacity in that d.
rection, is weak to us, and temptation to
one who even desires TO act his part well.
BY this time the people of Richmond are
quite tired of ranting impOstOrs, vain-glori-
Gus, but superficial leaders, and the whole
race of cagliostros who have worked us in
finite harm by their dishonest practices. To
be free from the influence Of these, however,
it is necessary that our young men should
come home, bringing with them their in.
creased knowledge and means. 1t is moi
expected that man. having graduated for a
lawyer or doctor, will be pigeon-hOled in
Department longer than ten years. Having
gotten competence by that means, let him
utilize his powers in that field where they
are most needed