Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-06-25
THE COLORED RACE.

The following is communication BY the
Rev. James II. Carey, pastor of the colored
Baptist Church at Shepherdstown, to tho
Register. AS it contains some wholesome
truths, we publish it for the benefit of tho
colored race.
Mr.. Editor-I have felt desire to draw
the attention of your many readers to sub
ject which in my opinion is worthy of their
most earnest consideration. 1t is a part OF
the life Of all, but it is not felt and thought
of by all. There is no subject which de-
serves a more profound consideration than
the subject concerning the white and colored
races in the United States feel that the
colored are misrepresented; aud their mis-
representations have not risen from what
they have done, but from the fact (and it is
an undeniable fact) that the colored people
were misled at the time of the emancipation.
We read in the Bible of man who, when
his eyes were partially opened, saw men
only as trees; but Jesus, in His goodness,
completed the cure, SO that he saw clearly
When we were emanciputed our eyes were
partially opened, SO that we saw our worst
enemies only as our best friends. Soon after
tho emancipation white teachers came among
US. who alto with us, slept with US, aud, like
the Good Samaritan Of old, appeared willing
to administer to our necessities in every par
ticular. Those who came among US were
Yankees, poor, but we'll educated. They
came because they were paid large salaries
to come and those who sent them (individ-
uas and societies of various kinds) felt that
it would repay them to have all the colored
people turned into asses, on which they
could ride into Office. These teachers sought
to secure the children as their most hopeful
subjects. While these children of different
ages were attending these schools of STRATA
gem, they were taught to love their North
ern friends who had done so much for them
as poor, trodtlcn do1cn race, and, at the
Same time almost making the children be-
leve that their forms were subject to a change
equal to that of tadpole, and had they not
reached them as they did, all of
them would have turned to monkeys. They
would sometimes appoint prayer meetings tor
the pupils to pray for their Northern friends;
and the daily questions were equivalent to
this Simon, son of Jonas, lowest thon
these Like carpenters, these Northern
teachers drove their nails of Northern love
through the hearts of their pupils and
clipched them on the opposite side. So you
see the North has been kept before the school
children for thirteen years as we'll as the
teHeT anu lu6 OtuCN- OCuIt tN0
men and women of to day, are they who
started to school thirteen years ago at FIVE,
six, seven and eight years old. Now, is it
strange that the colorcd people differ from
those with whom they live, all over the
South, when they have been taught from
chHdhood to differ? Or is it strange that SO
many colored people yet look upon these
crafty Yankees as their best friends? No,
it is not strange, but it is pity for them
that they were taught to differ from those
with whom they to live and die, in the
very things which are essential to the pros
perity of both. We sometimes speak of the
progress of Ronanism in Protestant coun>
tries, but this crafty Yankeeism has done
more to destroy the peace of the country
than all other sms combined. When these
pretended friends of ours felt themselves
able to effect their plans North, they bid
farewell to erery fear, and left their beloved
ones wiping their weeping eyes. The above
is felt by inliUi3ualS and by churches. Now,
it will take us thirteen moro years (unless
the experience of the past assists) to convince
the colorcd people they should be, that
their best friends are those with whom they
were raised. My reason for saying that we
as a race are misreprosentcd, is this: a
great many Of my race, like myself, are al
ready convinced that their only and best
friends are those with whom they were raised.
The reason East and West Virginia are less
affected by tho error committed in the be-
ginning than otlfcr States, is this: Whom
those crafty fellows came among US, they
got hold of the best material we had in our
shops. I thank God that it is my privilege,
while wisdom enforces the duty, to call tho
attention OF MY race to the errors of the past,
SO that we may more wisely improve the
present and the future.
JAMES II. CAREY.