National Republican., 1876-09-29
INITIAL Utility u

In the Burwell.Kelly letter, to which
editorial reference was made on Monday,
we find the following opposite propositions
"Suppose, then, we assume that the colored
people of the South are capable, in addition to
their services in the field and the household,
of rendering themselves useful in manufac-
lures, in mining, in navigation and in COM
merce, will not tLis development of new use
fulness bring it, additional guaranty! May It
not lead to a practical recognition of political
rights which all the power of the Government
has not yet assured to them? Such are the
muniments of mutual usefulness which pro-
tect capital and labor and hold the hierarchy
of races under the control of humanity and
interest.
''If at all successful in proving that the So
cial safety of people, separated from their
fellow citizens by a palpable distinction of
color and by inherited subordination, depends
upon their mutual utility, it would follow
that directly in proportion as the capacity of
the weaker to render aid to the stronger may
be increased the safety and social consideration
of the weaker and the prosperity of both
should be secured. Such people, whatever
their relative wealth or intelligence, will ulti-
mately stand together at the polls and upon
the battle field in defence Of their common in
terests.
"If the capacity of the colored people be
recognized to the extent stated, why may it
HOL Dc lHlpIONcu auu appleu 10 bpoclAl ueparI-
ments of industry in which the Southern
States are deficient Why may not the colored
people aid in the creation of fabrics for which
the South now exchanges the precious and the
peculiar products of her soil? The field of
MECHANICAL industry has been scarcely entered
by the Southern people. With the exception
of some additional improvement in machine
productions there has been little industrial
progress since the war.
In illustration of his idea of the fitness of
the eolored people for mechanical pursuits,
Mr.. Burwell refers to the success with
which their efforts have been crowned in
Virginia, North Carolina and. elsewhere
in the manufacture of tobacco and in Vir-
giDia, Kentucky and Tennessee as manu-.
iacturers of charcoal, iron and workers in
metals, and in New Orleans as skillful
mechanics. Looking, then, to the future
OF the county, he says:
"You must look forward 20 the period when
the oppressive surplus of our provisions and
manufactures shall compel US to terminate our
dependence upon European demand, aud de-
clare commercial policy under which the
whole Continent will furnish reciprocal and
Complementary commerce OF American pro-
ductiOns; when the raw material of the tropi-
cal and eXtra-tropical countries shall be man
ufactured in our own workshops, for consump-
tiOn at home and expectation abroad; when
our steam RS shall traverse every sea, in every
season; when our navy and commercial ma
rine will be called to represent the nation in
the pestilential ports Of the Southern ocean.
The employment of acclimated class of
seamen will be found invaluable in carrying
out that policy which you have done so pre'
to institute, but which must remain i'm
without foreign market adequate 20 lsnrr
the present and prospective excess % 'r'.---
can productions beyond the dom r. land.
Hitherto 'his pc.H' al pow. vHs .g- rsted at