Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-04-02
ICOMMUNICATED.
To the colored people of Virginia:

YOU to stop and consider what now is best to
be done There can be no doubt that you have
entertained the idea, from the beginning OF
this truly named 'irrepressible conhct that
YOU would ultimately attain social as we'll as
civil equality, and that in and through the &C.
QUESTION Of the latter you would be assured the
former. The dogma, ''black is as good as
white" was sez. upon and utilized by the
Radicals and sung in your ears. else you would
not have given your support to that party.
But let me ask if you have now aoy tangible
reason to expect that you 7UiU ever attain social
equality in this country. Why are not the
Radicals anxious for you to marry their daugh
tiers !? Why are they not sending down their
SOUS to take unto themselves wives" among
you Why do they not show stronger desire
to have you 10 their churches. schools, ceme-
teries and social gatherings? The reasons are
plain. You have black skins and they have
white ones You have been slaves aud they
have not. They are educated and re6ued and
you are not.
Having then given you all the equality they
dare give you. where, ask, rs your equality,
and what real benefits have you derived from
all this expenditure Of blood and treasure and
| wind. | hold that you can have no social equal
ity unless you can iutermarry with the whites,
and without social equality you can never have
civil equality. All this talk about equal rights
and equal privileges under the law sounds we'll
until you get into the law ; not uollke the
| dreams of wealth, which take possession Of
young men who "go West Law is not equal
even with the whites, and never will be as
| long as there are men to be bought aud mo9ey
to buy them with.
imagine then that hear you ask: What
are we to do? What is to become OF US Where
will all this end, and which is the rational
course for US to pursue in the immediate fu-
ture. As Southern man and friend | will
try to answer these questions for you honestly.
1t Gao hardly be imagined that you are not
convinced that something must be done and
that quickly, or you will become unwilling vic
Tins Of the dangers that threaten you. Butyou
| ask what are the dangers that threaten us
now?" Read History aud it will tell you that
with nations the weaker goes to the wall.
Without social equality you are destined at no
very distant day to become the natural enemy
of the whites. You are now we'll treated by
the Southern people because you were reared
| by the present generation, and are IN 20 Way
held by them responsible for your present po-
sitiou. We can sympathze with you IN very
great degree, and are really the best friends
you have. But let this generation pass and
the issues that make political parties your
friends now, pass with it, without some pro-
vision for your future welfare, you are undone
forever The Northero people are now about
equally divided in your favor; but let their ua
chloe shops aud looms stop, and your Incidence
be the reputed cause, and down they will come
upon you worse than any ku klux.
! Refused social equality North and South you
will soon neglect education, for you will say
What does it profit me to be ever so we'll edu
Gated if am not thereby enabled to marry the
beautiful white girl that l love What docs
learning avail me when [ am nos permitted to
display it before the only people that can APP
preciate knowledge White congregations will
not come to hear me preach nor white Jurles be
affected by my eloqueucc ?
! Education will certainly cease to be desirable,
then farewell to all your dreams. Industry, re-
fnement morals patriotism Farewell every
thing. The tide will turn backward, and you
will have soon lost all the stimulus which your
| release from slavery gave you. Then you be-
come burden to the whole white population
of the country Cotton, tobacco and sugar,
the three great Southern staples, will cease to
grow. Northern factories and other industries
will angush sure eoough. Northern white
| men will want bread and you will be pointed to.
! The result will be your utter extermlnauon
You will not then have the men who reared
you to give you advice and sympathy or de.
| fence, but Uew and strange generation will
be grown up around you, and if not exterml-
mated you will retire into utter lnslgnlhcauce.
Liberty will become curse; equality loke.
But claim there is something better 10 store
| for you If you will bur exercise reasonable pru-
dence and energy noao if, however, you per
NIT the present to pass without an et'rt IN
the right direction, your calamites will know
90 end Give up all hope of ever becoming
the white mans equal IN the white man
country Drop the white mans politics OF all
parties, North or South National or local,
and apply all your energy, talent and money,
| to The cultivation OF your minds and morals
Look ahead to your establishment upon some
| soil coogenial to your requirements (ook out
that land and plant well regulated and well fur.
ulshed colonies Cultivate close friendship
with the white people North and South, and
when the time comes for you TO emlgrate Ell
masse, you will not ooly have the sympathy,
but the aid of this whole country. Organize
Let the able men among you come forward
hold a Convention 10 Ricbmond or somewhere
else, aud invite the cooperation of all the col
ored people OF he United States advise with
your white friends North and South, but drop
politics in toto aud keep out Of family quarrels
If you will do this, with proper manage
ment, secured by responsible agents among
yourselves and a firm determination to exclude
all sharpers and adventures, | see 20 reason
why you should not 10 the next twenty-five
or thirty years become prosperous we'll es-
| tablished, we'll regulated and powerful uation,
with field of usefulness before you in reclaim
ing your kindred which is rarely enjoyed, by
nations With the whole civilized world 70
aid and instruct, you will have the hard earned
wisdom of ages at your CALL and pure and
holy religion whereon to hang your hopes of
future greatness. A new ambition, honorable
10 the highest degree, will possess your hearts
and, leaving the slime and filth OF politics far
in the back ground, will urge you on to acqui
sitous which now seem Incredible hope an
honest desire for your future peace and pros