New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-05-28
From the Mobile " atchlAunl
The Free oman, Saving BANK
Again.

We this week devote considerable space to
the interests Of this important institution
upon the welfare of which the happiness of
OF hundreds of thousand of the cOlOred peo-
pie OF our country depends, not only on ac-
count OF the money they may have deposited
with it at the present time, but also because
OF the great power for good there is in the
Bank itself. Elsewhere we touch upon the
matter of savings as Il means of advancement
in life, and our purpose is here briefly to call
attention to this Bank and its condition and
prospects.
Created by the Government at the close of
the war, the Freedman's Bank came at once
to the help of the poor and oppressed colored
people, offering the best OF all relief-the
means of selfhelp. a Savings Bank of the
best and simplest kind, it sprang fully armed,
like Minerva from the head of Jove TO the
relief and protection OF the helpless and igno-
rant. 1t has done its work nObly. Treated
with laughter and scorn-its officers nsuted.
its patrons despised, it went quietly and
steadily on in its work. The poor came to it
and were shown the road to wealth.. The
helpless came and were taught the secret of
over The despised came and were given the
road to responsibility. The road was, care
| ful saving; the secret was, spend less THAI
you earn the pass word was, owe no man
| anything and call no man master.
Animated by such motives, the de,pisci
| colored man soon found his work, organized
through the bank, gave power, and power
gave respect. The bank took its place among
| the foremost banks Of the world
Millions poured into its vaults millions were
were paid back to buy the homesteads and
| cottages that to-day dot the sunny South
| from virginia to Texas, homes humble INA
be but homes, nevertheless. dear TO thc
owners, and the sure foundation of still nrro,
| err prosperity All these years every 1nIIa
oil surplus earnings went to the derositors as
interest. More than a million of dollars have
been poured into the lap of the South Iurnr
these years as interest paid the dep0sit,r in
the Bank, adding not only so vast a sum ~
the wealth Of the South but furnishing ais,
The most powerful of all reasons, the love Of
gain, for breaking up that curse of the coup.
try, the spirit OF boarding. Money was no
longer buried like the talent of the uufaith-
ful servant in Scripture, but was BROUGHT out
anu put TO work for the sake of the interest
No longer mlser's treasure it became cant
tai, and this capital the Freedman's Bank
created. Yet more, it wrought upon men
VINO had never saved, and made them prudent
hard working, saving men. Such a Bank
must nave enemies. Every man who hates
liberty hates the Bank Cor the depositors
with his Bank account i free man. Every
man who hates equality before the law hates
the Bank-tOr it treats all men alike and
helps all alike. Every man who hates the
Government hates the Bank-for the Govern
ment created and fosters il. And so the
Bank has many enemies. And so it has
happened that as it has grown in power its
enimies have increased their efforts to de~.
troy it. They have not succeeded in destroy
ing 1t but they have done it much harm, aud
VIII not cease trying until it is made evident
that they cannot succeed.
Andnow the Bank, under a new and strong
er charter, will begin new life. In the
lace OF hard times, at the end Of a great
panic that has left the working people
poor, after standing four runs caused
by It's enemies alone, the Bank begins new
work and calls upon the people to sustain it,
And the way to sustain it is to use it, put
your money in it, keep it there until you have
need to use it. Permit no rms, as these des-
Troy the use of your money aid harm only
yourselves. In short, stand by the Bank as
you would by your best friend, and you will
hhd 1t to be your best friend and the greatest
power for good the colored people of the
country have had, or ever will have.