New-York tribune., 1879-05-24
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
coroPFD MEN BY PROFESSION.

IN.
negro question are usually worthy of serious atten-
ton. because he has been long identified with every
movement designed to liberate, enfrancmse ana
elevate our race Few men have studied the race
more Intimately or enjoyed better facilities Tor
deriving correct notions of us than he. From 1874
he has defended the Southern Republicans, bIacK
and white from odium and has rendered such sig
nal service in portrayng the animus and methous
of the outlaws who now hold by fraud and violence
six States, that negroes can never suinclehuy
thank him. And yet because Mr. hedpatus views
are usually so accurate and pertinent desire 10
renlv 10 a portion OF his letter Professional
Colored Mea' contained in your issue OF May ~
He is correct as TO the motives and the spontahelS
of the exodus movement and its value ms an Huic'-
tion of negro manhood but he is not only lrrele-
want but Illogical and unwarranted in hls assump-
ton aud assertion that a new class - Oh proles-
sonal colored men are either as class trying 10
guide this movement, or endeayorlng TO OBTAIN
recognition as its rightfu representatives" IL II
were true. there can be no sound reason urged,
Imagine. why such men should not be deeply inter
ested in a movement which concerns them In COM
mon with the unprofessiOnal men of the race. FER
haps the terms "new class " and professional
colored might be considered somewhat confused
and dubious did not Mr.. Redpath kindly Illustrate
them further in his letter.
orless generous than his pso dLrs about accidents
Of race and mixed bloods having little sympathy
in common with the blacks" 1t Is a gratuitous
thrust and an exceedingly unworthy fling at
class of colOred citizens TO say that they should
not be entrusted with money TO aid the refugees"
The record of the 4" mixed-bloOds" " in handling
funds and disbursing charity will compare very
favorably with the record of some professional
white philanthroplsts" were so short-sighted OF
lilac hagnT n
the faults weaknesses OF individuals oI In9 Cds'
EQUALLY absurd and untrue Is 1t, even though
uttered by Mr.. Redpath, that the interest OF tle
mixed bOods Is hostile TO the best interests OF
the blacks and the Nation" HIS reading or
Havtiau history and that of the West India Islands
ehould have prevented such slip OF the pen, not
TO mention the numerous instances IN TINS country
which abundanty dsprOye it. No antl-slaveTy
measure. no political movement nor plan designed
TO emancpate or elevate the cJlOred race has ever
failed to have its representation of mixed-boods,
from Mr. (1arrisOns earliest efforts until the present
hour. When hOt-hesded. impulslve Angio-oaXohs
have grown impatient visionary OF iIplaGtigagig' '
eOoler-headed mulattOes even have preached Wis
dom and become missionaries OF patience. As 10
peTsisency honesty and uuttagglng devotion 10 une
cause of real and impartial liberty, tue course o.
The mixed blOOds viii bear the closest scrutiny
when compared with the eTTatIc course, the
tergiversati0ns and the love for ucre displayed by
some professional philanthrOpsts and seii-ap-
pointed friends of the blacks" Mr.. RedpaIh Wen
knows how the miXed-blOOds have stood by INN
from Kansas 10 Mississippi in advocacy OF every
Just measure at risk OF life and reputation ana
property. am
traes the rule by asserting with equal recklessness
as above that the policy Of the colOred men by
profession is seen in their advocacy Of q colored
State" Except IN the single instance of few
colored men IN South Carolina. naturally dlsheart
eued and disgusted at their situation there, no
prominent cOl0red men, aud certainly not any class
of " colored men by profession" nave adVOcateu
such measure This Is a pure man OF straw, which
Mr.. Redpath may knock down IN rhetorical fashlOn
SO often as he peases, provided he does not make
Us responsible for him. After conversation win
leading cOl0red men of all hues on the migration
movement fail to recall an instance where sep
arate state has been advocated or desned' MI.
Frederick Douglass used 10 complain that the ADO
lOnists were rcsye at his independence OF thought
on some questions. We cOored men by fact, and
some of US cOlOred by profession" have found Oc-
casion TO APPRECIATE Mr.. DOuglass's position, since
war and reconstruction have given Us new oppor-
tunites and imposed upon US broader duties. MANY
egrO-philanthrOpists by profession" ana negro
lovers by political conversion" have grown ex-
ceediugy wroth because certain mlXeU OioQus
would nave opinions OF their own, ana 1elt an llue
Fent capabilty TO manage IneIr oMi al i;+ioi
have professional phtanthroplsts" ana pohucaI
lovers of the negro hestated either as To means Oh
methods by which the seeds OF dissenson ana
alienation might be soWed among our race PIi 'Ic
ularlv when colored leaders stood between them
and plunder, or refused to be used as Tools lhelr
opposition logical however, Tor the history oI
race contact shows that those fellows who combine
the qualities of two races are not the most patleht
under wrong or contumely and that they are rather
quick to detect deceit or quackery. . ,
Ii is deeply to be regretted as II Is most dlihcult
of explanation, how writer of Mr.. Redpath's abil-
ity or lover of freedom OF such trled devotion as
he should lend the potent influence Of his pen and
name 10 the propagation of an unreasonable ana Ill
founded prejudice against portion OF the cOiOred
race which Judged by any standard OF morals, lnte-
lect OF thrift will bear comparison well with either
white or black. We're Mr.. Redpath kindly disposed
be would dispense his own panacea, ana seek 70
dissolve Us into the InsepaTabe oneness what
ever that NAV mean of an American nationality"
As matter of fact j know of only two cases IN
the entire country where cOlOTed men-pr0tesslon-
ally colored-have charge of funds to aid the refu-
gees. Nearly all the treasurers appointed are white
men, | have noticed, too, III this connection, as IN
other instances, which would be familiar TO MIR.
Redpath were to recall them, that the delicate
and arduous duty of taking Of the funds 10 as
sst the blacks has been pTayertully though reuc-
family assumed by the superior race, III order, per-
laps TO deliver Us from temptation.
May 90 1879. UN SANG-MELE.
NEW-YORK GROWING WISER AND BETTER.
A VAST IMPROVEMENT WITHIN TWENTY YEARS.
To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: There is perhaps nc word of broader
meaning than charity. With some II simply aims