New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-02
rom the National Monitor.
The Situation Of Our Race.

The Situation Of Our Race.
We must acknowledge with painful regret,
that the situation of our race in the United
States is critically dubious. This any man
of ordinary sagacity can readily perceive.
What we are, socially, is lamentable what
we shall be, depends on contingencies which
are hopeful just SO far as they are made con-
trol!able by our faithfulness to our own man.
hood. Standing still, waiting for what are
called tour white friends" to lift us up to
their own level Of civil rights and social
privileges, is leaning on a broken stick.
Now that we have been frem physical bond
age by the accident Of civil war, we must free
ourselves from social bondage by our own
moral, intellectual, and industrial conquests.
1t is battle for social freedom that we our
selves must fight. This seems manifest
from the manner in which Congress has dealt
with the Supplementary Civil Rights Bill;
and the support which portion Of the Re-
publican press and public sentiment give
Congress in regarding the bill as violation
of the Constitution and an outrage against
our white citizens. The cry of mo social
equality with the ignorant negro" is heard
from Dan to Beersheba, and so great hub
bub is created that even many of our real
friends among the whites are carried away,
while nearly all the rest 'doubt the propri
ETY. of snch law!" They doubt it, because
they have been lead to believe that sit would
hurt the colored people themselves. as they
are not at all prepared for social equality"
so-called social privileges are as different as
day and night. Civil rights are original, alb
solute, God-given, and inalienable; social
rights or privileges are, and of right ought
to be, matters of contingency. This is the
only sphere in which we all, of every race,
tongue, and kindred, unanimously submit to
and instinctively approve of it's laws of merit
and demerit, each man reserving the right
to decide for himself. Higher social attain
ments are prizes for which the best and ablest
of men struggle, an end to which they make
all temporal things subservient. 1t is
pleasant race. But, without civil rights, a
man can no more attain and enjoy social
privileges among those whose civil rights
are not abridged, than he can walk without
legs, or see without eyes. Who thinks he
can is a fool. AS long as our civil rights are
abridged, we are in social bondage, subject
to ostracism, insult and abuse everywhere
outside Of ourselves. Who can stand this
Even now the prescription to which we are
subject through the week in our intercourse
with the world, and the pious ostracism
which we meet at the sanctuary on Sunday,
are more than match for the meekness and
patience of Job.
What, then, is to be done? Why, the sit
uation must be changed, and we must change
it by maintaining more vigilant watch over
our social interests. We must acake up, and
no longer sleep under the enchanting lula
bies Of political parties. We must sustain
| and strengthen our schools and our churches
and our press, for on these hangs our social
destiny. We must consolidate and sustain
each other, rather than divide and oppose
each other as we were taught to do on the
and do vote, but even 800, 900 ballots, be-
hind which there is no manhood, no moral
and intellectual force, are little else than q
big heap of paper, worth two and a halt
cents q pound, and that ''little else" tends
only to political corruption. We have suf-
fered ourselves to be used for the aggran-
dizement of political and ecclesiastical hypo-
critics. Every such hypocrite, whether he
be white or black, who finds favor and pat
ronage with us, becomes milestone about
our necks. 1t is a general rule that he who
permits himself to be used is always used
up, and nobody pities him. Resist any and
| every man who would use you as an ass to
ride himself into influence, or power or posi-.
ton. "Resist the devil and he will flee from
you.n is the command Of God. We should
not confide in any man who does not believe
in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood
of man. Nor is it enough for one to affirm
such faith it must be tested and proved by
his past record. Now, if we do not use the
means we should for our Advancement we as
much as anybody else are to blame for oul
mental condition. Do we support Oul
schools? No, we run for those of the enc
nv who meet us with contempt. Do we SUD.