National Republican., 1875-12-02

structed. cold, leaky, damp. filthy and foul shan.
ties and structures, overcrowded and poorly and
insufRciently ventilated located In alleys. narrow
and unimproyee streets and back places where
dlth Of every conceivable name and kind, death
breeding, poison and destroy, he must die. The
number Of our people finding their homes in such
places in such miserable substitutes for DWELL
tngs is altogether too large and our mortality
must grow yet more alarming if we continue in
them where pure air, the life indeed OF the
body is denied admission; where there exists q
condition Of things which constitutes perpetual
injunction against its presence, the negro cannot
die, foi we violate the law of our being which God
himself has made, whose penalty is death.
fi1y consdss-a9 and a ipdieatin9 onr ntTre st
uation as to health and life, should VIC improve
our physical condition, introduce an extract
from a letter written by DR.. Verdi, a member of
the Board of Health of the District Of Columbia q
gentleman occupying eminent place in the medi-
cal profession and as sanitaran, in answer TO a
mortality Of our race. The question was: '.Is the
cause the great mortality of the colored people
Of our country, as indicated by statistics within
your knowledge, in your opinion a permanent
u answer, temporary; probably mainly confined
to the present and the next generation. In his
contest with the white-or his position is acontest
he must learn that the strongest wins, and then
learn how to make himself strong. Legislation
cannot do II. He must learn TO improve his own
condition, by keeping his dwelling free from the
filth that poisons its atmosphere; he must know
that dry and Well-ventilated houses are conducive
to.health; he must learn that healthy food pre-
serves his life and makes his children strong; he
must learn that constant labor only will give him
the means to provide healthy food; he must learn
economy, and save when he is well and at work.
SO as not tobe in want when sick or without en-
ployment; he must learn that pork, although
cheap as an article of diet, will only perpctuate
his liability TO disease, which he will transmit to
his child. All this he will learn in his contest
with other races hence, the mortality of the pre-
sent generation will lessen in the next, and so on
until he can stand abreast of the white, contend
ing for supremacy in industry, art and labor.
Many will die in this period of probation, but
those that are LEFT will be stalwart men, and sta
tistics will not threaten him with the extinction of
his race"
have considered the matter of our physical
condition, adducing and commenting upon the
facts and figures presented, not for the sake of
combating what conceive to- be false theories
with regard to our mortality not for the purpose
of exciting undue Alarm or unnecessary feeling of
any kind as TO this subject, but for the purpose of
inducing, if possible as tar as may be practicable,
such improvement as may insure sound health
and long life to the eolored people OF our country
family must make for ITSELF and the obligation to
make IL is imperative and absolute. 1t Is q die
tate ofpaternal as well as patriotic duty; and to
urge its religious observance is justified by con-
siderations of the highest good of all concerned.
Our first duty, towering above all others in i'm
our permanent welfare, is the one of which 1
speak 1t may be we'll to care for our dead, to
commit their remains, ''decentlya in Order,' TO
the earth; il is far more important that we care
for living, making the largest sacrifice fore
going all Indulgence of fappetite and mere pleas
ureable qualifications, outstanding every resource
that We may be able TO improve our residence,
making our homes in all the essentials conducting
20 sound bodily condition. in structure and clean
illness, models
OUR INDUSTRIAL CONDITION.
1t is no part Of my purpose to say that we do
not work, and work hard and perseveringly. 1t
is altogether true that we, as class, arc indus
10 lab 1.awU Ua1N 4g.NA
the South, luxurisnt and beautiful with that
rich plant once called king, attest our devotion
in slavery or freedom to work. Driven as beasts
Of burden In our former condition Of servltude,
We never rebeIled Hgainst labor. Emancipsted
and sent empty ty-handed TO seek our living or die,
we have demonstrated our acceptance of the
shall he gain his bread. However otherwise we
are vulnerable to charges derogatory and de-
pronounce us as q class idle. Individuals Of our
lumber are idle; individuals Of all classes are;
but, as class, we compare favorably with the
7eTy best as to habits ef industry.
As the laboring class, however of large and
Important section of our country, our position is
unfortunate and menial. Not one word is to be
IN no sentiment of opposition thereto could ex-
leet YOU to agree with me or any other. But
nave no such word of opposition to utter. Nor do
ldvise you TO abandon those humber walks of
along which you have, for so many
years, by diligence and perseverance, honesty and
gathered the means of an honorable
DN.l
What advise is that We grow our children
specially our sons, to those OccupatiOns-mechan-
cal, artistic and OtheT-whOse cultivation not only
brings wealth and independence, but desirable
md influential social position. 1t is the duty Of
he father, as far Us practicable, to lift his son
rom the lowly condition which he occupies. Il is
he duty Of the son to improve upon that condition
Is far as possible. With the father acting undera
lue sense Of his obligation, and the son apprc-
.iating his duty and the purpose Of his parents,
much can be done TO accomplish the result pro-
where closed
is and our children denied a knowledge of those
rades and callingS without which Industrial enter
lriSes Of every character must fail.
Considerations Of justice and patriotism, one
Eould feel, must induce the mechanics Of the
country, upon reflection, to open their shops to
continue to deny to them the knowledge and
skill desired, let us combine to sustain those
' hite workmen, and establish and support such
lion ana labor which they need.
If We cannot, as individuals, accomplish this
object, let us organize ourselves into associations
and aggregate our small sums Of surplus funds to
'ustain those Horkmen who will deal justly with
Jur sons.
,ities towns or country places where we live, let
Is send them TO distant places, where men are
ound who will instruct them. Then. when their
lpprenticeshi has been served. have them return
who deny them opportunity to learn and labor.
Were you to read the sorry Of the outcast
aps In nS
despised class, called the Oagots. Why they
we're despised no man knows, any more than he
Toes whence they came or how or where they get
Lheir name. As class possessing lobeless ear
and afflicted with goitre, aggravated by burden
bearing, they were hated and msltreated without
he least humanity or mercy shown them-as II
hey had been cursed by God and branded as the
objects of,His hot displeasure.
This statement You VIII believe when you are
old that IL they entered a church they did so by
special door, being compelled to occupy special
part of the church by themselves. The priest re-
used them confession, and they were compelled
10 take holy water from separate and special
Tessel. The consultations and benefits of religion
we're practically denied them. They were re-
fused civil rights and political privileges. When
their own class was required to contradict that of
single witness of ordinary character. They
we're compelled TO wear shoes lest the touch of
heir naked feet soil the pathways. That they
night the more readily be recognized they were
to wear, attached to their clothing, a
piece Of red cloth, cut after the pattern Of the
goose or ducks foot. All social intercourse was
lenied them, and they were compelled TO live in
he outskirts of the towns and cities Of Spain and
France, an OutcaSt race. When 1t is added that
hey were for many centuries slaves, ignorant and
degraded. forbidden intermarriage with any other
han their own class, and having born TO them
children condemned like themselves TO slavery
md misery. you viii exelaim, ''How strikingly
heir condition resembles our ownr' And yet the
cagot was n mechanic. He was permitted, in
pite OF the tnveterate prejudice which existed
lgainst him, to become sawyer and a carpenter.
His tools were esteemed by him his most valuable
property, and they were the only weapons which
le was allowed to possess.
When we were slaves the selfish interest of our
,wners in many cases led them to put us to trades
fvarious kinds Many free colored persons, even
n slave States, also followed different kinds Of