Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-05-12


THERE are about score of papers
in this country that are published and
conducted by colored men, most of
them at the South. 1t is worth re-
marking that men like Messrs. Dawes
and Hoar never find occasion to make
quotations from any of them in sup
port of their statements that the ne
groes are oppressed and maltreated
by the Southern writes. The Dallas
(Texas) Baptist Journal, edited by col
ored men, and which being religious
paper, may be presumed TO try to tell
the truth, testifies rs follows
"Of the South it may be truly said
that old things have passed away and
all is becoming new. The old dispen.
sation, OF which slavery was part, end
ed with the war. The old Northern
States had many years before volunts.
rily thrown of the incubus of slavery.
As emancipation was forced upon the
people of the South they very naturally
opposed it, and they honestly believed
il was to their interest to do so. But
sixteen years Of experience has con-
vinced all classes that slavery was a
curse to the South and that emancipa.
ton was both wise and safe. The bet.
ter class OF the Southern whites-and
they are the majority-are kind, honor.
able, just and noble. This we know to
be true, from q residence of fourteen
years among them. Hence, after being
fully convinced both OF the justice and
safety OF emancipation, they are cheer.
fully accepting the situation and con.
forming To the new order of things.
Though they may not yet approve Of
the modes of reconstruction, they ac
Quiesce in its results. Evidences OF con.
tentment with the order of things are
everywhere apparent Manual labor,
formerly regarded as dishonorable, Is
now properly respected and practiced
by all classes. Towns and cities are be.
ing founded, railroads constructed, fac.
tories built and operated, mines worked,
and thousands of acres of land cult
vated, by white men. The education
of the masses is keeping pace with the
other improvements, and the South is
becoming dotted all over with public
schools. The relations between the
white and colored races are becom.
ing more confidential and harmonious.
Much of the rapid progress which the
colored people have made is due to TIE
encouragement and assistance of their
white fellow.citizens. The whites pay
taxes for the support of our public
schools, assist in the erection and sup.
port Of our private schools and colleges,
sell us lands on easy terms, and aid Us
in many other ways. Tie exodus from
the South still continues, but the emi.
grants are acting from the same mo.
tives in the main which cause white
people to move from one State to an.
other, and that is to better their con.
dition.'
The Huntsville (Ala,) Herald, also
conducted by colored men, and "de-
voted to the elevation of the colored
people, says:
Every day the colored people are
throwing off the yoke of Radicalism aud
assuming an independence of thought
and action. Wherever we find intelli
gent, onest.thinking colored men they
are open IN defence Of the South. We
ltft NV lbNh tiAN hAhhht tNt hiA
1t when it tried ones soul to be any
anything but fire eating Republican,
and now it gives us unbounded gratiti.
cation TO see new recruits under the
banner around which we rallied in the
thickest OF the fray, and when it re.
quired an iron nerve to withstand the
abuse and all manner Of denunciation
from the ignorant masses, led on by
men who respected neither the laws of
God nor man. And when the dark
minds of the masses become illuminat.
ed by the resplendent rays of the sun
of knowledge and elevated manhood.
then will our labors be appreciated.
And the only reward that we ask is the
approval Of our conscience that we were
never lacking in true love for our race
and devotion to our country"
A Great French Railway Scheme.