New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-11
From West Virginia.


now comment upon in any spirit or feeling
OF pleasure, since 1 learned the prospective
fate of the Civil-Rights Bill. hope tina t
the indications have seen will not be the
ultimate result. l hope that the action of
the House, in its refusal to suspend the rules,
Is not an index of the feelings and opinions
OF its members in respect to the bill. For
The sake of Republican principles; for the
sake of common decency and common justice,
pray that the present Congress will not dis
appoint our hopes, and that the President
VIII have the manliness and independence to
give il his official sanction.
oh, what 4 shame what a reflection upon
Republican government ESQ calletD that it
shonid rest the rights of over four millions of
human beings-American citizens-upon so
frivolous tenure! That one portion of its
citizens should withhold the rights of another
class. Where does the moral right exist in
any government to do this? Where does the
right exist, constitutionally or legally in a
Republican form of government, to invest
one class of citizens with rights, which
another class do not enjoy? Upon what ny
pothesis does one class get the right to ostra-
else the other, in any right immunity Or privi-
lege which they themselves enjoy: 1t can't
be sustained on any principle except that of
brute force.
There Is power, however, that is strong
CT than that of brute force, which these os-
traciscd and prescribed citizens possess. 1t
is, too, power that will more quickly than
any other bring political parties to their
right senses. 1t is the power of the ballot.
The man or party that ignores or opposes in
any way the rights Of any class of citizens of
this Republic, is doomed by that power. His
political damnation is scaled.
After all, perhaps a half loaf is better than
none at all. True, practical philosophy
teaches that when we can't get what we want
we should take what VIC can get, and never
cease our efforts until we have secured
all our rights.
Yours for the right,
VIM. T.. WALKER.
Psi preached in the white Baptist
church in MOrtonvillc, Ohio, last Sabbath.
But few whites come out. l Judged that
those who remained ut home did so on ac-
count of their opposition to the Civil-Rights
BILL. The pastor gave notice at previous
meeting that colorcd brother would preach
from his pulpit, so he told me. l told him,
for Gods sake, not to give out such notice
as that again. Say ga brother minister"
lie has no right to say white or colored. To
say the least, it is n misnomer. In Christiani-
ty no discriminating terms should be used.
Colored pcOplc--if | may use the term
turned out strong.
preached in the white Baptist church in
Wheeling, Wednesday evening, for the first
time in the State of West Virginia.
l addressed white Sabbatl-school on
Sunday last. l received good attention
from the scholars, though their behavior was
no better than the Sabbath-school children
of our race.
find that white and colored people are
alike -closc-listed and parsimonious. The
people here, rs elsewhere, are scnsitivcly
alive TO their Civil Rights. These Senators
and Representatives know it, and it is all a
fudge for Neutrality-suspicious. to suppose
that by their influence efforts and ability
alone, they can further the interests of the
bill. If Congress can spare the time to pass
measures of frivolous Importance, why can't
they see their way clear to pass this bill,
which is OF the greatest importance, giving
the cOlored people the right to public schools
the same rs others?
There are some folks in this world who
naturally think themselves the embodiment
of wisdom and responsibility. They presume
to prescribe and dictate how every other per-
son must speak and act. Some there are in
Washington who think from their long resi-
dencc there that they have absolute control
over everything that pertains to church or
State, in the City Of Washington, while
there arc thousands of men all over the
country who are their equals in every manly
and estimable quality, and frequently their
in education and talent.
Your paper and the colored members of
COngress-the paper espccially-is mighty
power. The citizens of our race have no
of the same number; but united and properly
guided and directed Gas seems to be the effort
and disposition of the ERA), they become a
great and Important element in our govern
ment.
According to my observation, there arc
some men who think themselves the centre
Of attraction, around whom the whole race
of colored people must revOlve all others
simply rejecting the light that is thrown up
on them. They arrogatc to themselves the
daring assumption of advising, debating and
prescribing in regard to everything and every
body. have only to say that such men arc
clogs OH the wheels of progress they do
more harm than good by their unwarrantablc
cflrontery. IF this cap fits anybody, they
will wear it, if not, they need not. When
men attempt TO make themselves great and
popular on the capital of others, look out, it
is bad sign. If a man or class Of men, or
community have not intrinsic merit enough
of their own, sufficient to obtain popularity,
without using the capital of others, it is
poor foundation upon which they stand.
These reflections are caused by the con-
tinual feud in Washington between parties,
one claiming this and the other that. The
colored people in Washington must learn
this fact !: that they represent themselves