The weekly Louisianian., 1874-04-04
S P E E G H
J: SELLA MARTIN, ESQ.

- ~A<A M0h11IV, ED'
BRETHREN OF TEE AFRICAN RACE.
We are summond to this spot by t
voice OF agreat calamity. The civiliz
world has felt the shock Of the a
nouncement that Charles Sumner
dead. -.st
While the white race to which ]
belonged, will, throughout Christie
dom, guide the sentiments of the
mourning through the various realn
where Sumner walked, ,7as maste
whether Of learning, Of oratory OF ,
statesmanship, our souls are con6ne
among the shadows Of that great 50,
row which has left the African race j
w1dowhood by the loss Of one who's
philanthropy rose resplendent ove
every one of his other distineuishe
characteristics and clothed. us Will
he lived, with considerations Of q,
internal respect
We are not here at this time 10 tax
ameasurementof his character. Othe
classes may feel calm enough to sub
NIT his life to the. test of,,a bioeraphi
cal Analysis; but in the deep aeitatio,
OK our bereavement We can see nothint
but his corpse, and think Of nothinf
but our races loss BY his death. Du
ring tho Sabbath day that hos Jus,
passed, dfty thousand pulpits through.
ont our hnd lifted to God their walls
Of sorrow that asgrsat man had fallen
in Israel, and poured forth an avalanche
OF enlogies which have swept all jeal.
oudes. envies and hatred out of the
pathway OF his fame. And during thi.
week the seats Of Learning and the
centres Of power, the marts of com.
merce and the asylums Of philanthropy.
the saloons OF the rich and the hoascs
OF Tho lowly will th1ow-back the echo
OF these eulogies till thesolemn reve,-
ence OF the whole nation ,shan be
turned towards Mount Auburn. where
tho body Of this champion-tae rarost
e,t Of the Creator 10 the negro raoo-
WILL rest till the Christian resurrection
shall lift il among the ranks OF the
glor1tied saints and martyrs who have
gene before him into the presence of
thst God who has made OF ono blood
III nations Of men to dwell on the
ace Of the earth.
II these arc the feelings OF the nm
ion. how much moro deeply shall the
'ngaish Of this hour wiring the heart
IT the negro race. Sumner found Us
n bondage-an unrelenting, abject
bondage. The. cold eye Of interest
nd the stern gaze Of prejudice saw
leither form nor comliness In ua.
ignorance had wroughtits stolid image |
pon our features; unremittiug and
azaquitted toll had distorted our
mbs and made caxicatures OF our
odies; upon almost every form were
be found the sca1y evidence OF the
and unmerciful uaa of Eha
'sh; our ragged garments bespoke our
overly; the coarse and scant food up
q which We lived, and even the very I,
astine Of our bsgrudged aud insult
'ent leisure bore shocking testimony
the bitterness and completeness OF .
az degradation. .> |,
Bad ~ was this physical condition, !,
indicated but the smallest part of
II disqualification and the ightest +,
ort;on Of our suderings. The tie s
hioh bound our sexes together was l
'st made by coercion and then stained I
i:h every form Of violation, or it was
ther ignored by the lust OF broken t
7 the cupidity Of those who ruled &
'er US with . rod Of iron. Parental, S
ial, and fraternal relations were g
Gated under al manner Of irregulari- !
y and sundered amid eli conceivable q
rms Of atrocity uctil the violated in b
nets of our nature have linked them q
Ives with mere physical existence b
lich caused the oppressor to boast b
his highest crime in rendering W. Il
most indifferent to our degradation. +
With such social relations as these q
3 moral nature of man could hold 9,
" q slight and 6tful concord b
,nor and faith, fidelity and gratitude, g
came impossible virtues to . people "
long whom no bridal chamber or it
lrriage bed could be found. Respect
. character and reverence for moral ct
alities take root in the nursery Of il
, household, but the first rule Of the tr
= and the strongest tenet Of the cl
spell OF slavery combined to blot out el
J. nursery among our people. II al
household was first robbed and b:
n poisoned, how could itsend forth II
0 the world it's contributions to the ",