The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-02-26
INDIANAPOLIS IND, SATURDAY FEBRUARY g. 1881

4
the conditions being in all respects more co
| genial2 1t would not be at all SUI rprising if th
census of 1890 should show at least eigt
millions blacks resident in the old slay
States The promise TO Abraham seems I
be in progress of fulillment in their cas-,
and that they are To become as the sands Z
the sea for numbers
1t is possible when all the statistics gath
cred by the census-tskers last summer ar
put together and arranged, that they vii
show the blacks not only TO have wonder
fully multiplied, but that they have, in tn
aggregate, "a respectable amount of accumu
lated wealth. While tits natural enough
that II people raised in slavery, untsught il
| the arts of economy, and Indifferent To them
since they could save nothing a. slaves
should be- ilnprovident and though
less, still We anticipate the figures will show
n sufficient accumulation 10 encourage the
| opinion, that with time and experience
| they Will become ss saving Ia their habits al
their neighbors and ss enterprsing in their
| material undertakings.
From the old plantation hand, broken
down with unrecompensed toll, TO the
| round-faced pickaninny, there was q
| longing for knowledge ~ something
| their darkened instincts told them
Was associated with influence and
power; and no amount OF adverse circum-
stances and opposition has prevented them, to
some extent at least, from gratifying their
desire"
mo doubt there IL a dense amount of
illiteracy among them yet, as, in fact there
is among the whites of such States as South
Carolina and Mississippi. Education for all,
rs best for all has not been generally under
stood and appreciated in the South, though
it is coming to be more widely valued rs the
years pass. The aesireto study and to know
has been out or all proportion to the means
of gratifying it, and if the blacks have not
vet reached the point where they can be
classified with the wealth and intelligence of
that section it is due less to their indifference
than to the obstacles existing or thrown in
their way.
But this desire to become intelligent will
naturally be supplemented by a desire to
acquire and to become substantial citizens.
A handsome basis of property will do more
to give the colored people respectability and
do away with race prejudices and discrimi-
nations than all the Civil Rights bills
Congress could pass between now and
doomsday. A colored man with wealth 10
back him will have small occasion for the
protectien of law or bayonets, and every dol
lar added to the wealth Of the race as race
is sleeping stone 60 other and higher
positions in the social scale 'sThe black
like the white man must work from the
ground floor up. He can't escape law us
uniform in its operation as the law of
gravitation. Ii the census shows that he is
laying that ground floor substantially ly-and
as to population it is already demonstrated
he, as we'll as all who have an interest IN
his future, can take courage and go ahead"
AN ORGANIZATION WHICH Will HONOR THE
MEMORY OF CHARLES SUMNER.
Messrs. Charles w. Dell, j. 4. Goggins,
Leonidas Wilson, j. S. Nesbit, J. NJ Lewis,
Theodore Hackley, SanI.iel Lewis and Ii A.
Clarke met at the residence of j. 4. Cog
gins, ESQ.,, last evening, and organized
Sumner Memorial Club. The organization
has for its object the celebration in suita-
BILE manner of the birth and death days of
the late Hon. Charles Sumner; the birth to
be celebrated by entertainments given ut
residences of the membdrs, and the death
| BY memorial services in the churches For
the temporary organization, Messrs. Leoni-
das Wilson and J. NJ. Lewis were elected
as Chairman and Secnetary, respectively.
| On motion, Mr. Charles w. Bell WAS elected
| Chairman On Constitution; Messrs. Nesbit
and Hayes, Committee on place Of Memeri-
al Services, and Messrs. Samuel Lewis,
| Leonidas Wilson and j +. Goggins, Com
mittee on Programme. Mr. Leonidas Will
son wss elected President by acclamation,
and the following officers chosen by lot:
Mr.. Geo. W. Hays, LIST Vice. President;
Mr.. j. E. Goggins, I'd Vice President; Mr.
Chas Bell Recording Secretary; Mr.. Sam
uel Lewis, Corresponding Secretary; Mr.. j
| NJ. Lewis. Treasurer. Directors: Mr.. Theo.
Hackley. Mr.. j. s. Nesbit, and II. A.
Clark.
Meeting adjourned to meet Wednesday
evening, to perfect the organization.
DESERVED COMPLIMENT.
| Collector Armor Smith is in receipt of the
following from his superior in office, Inter.
| nal Revenue Commissioner Raum:
TREAsuRy DEPARTMENT,
. 0rfIoE INTERNAL REvESUH,
! WAsHIsaros, February IL, 1881. }
Amor Smith, jr., Esq, Collector First District Gin
natl, Ohio:
sir-I am In receipt of the report of Revsnu
Agent, Wheeler upon examin alton of your Office
made by him on the Sth instant. The high grade o
excellence maintai by your office is very crafty
ing. Your grade is usual number one, or nrst
class. Respectfully,
49, GREEs B. RAun.
| Commissioner.
This is merited compliment TO a faithful
and efficient officer. Collector Smith is on'
of the few men who employ colored men il
their offices. Messrs. Samuel Lewis an(
John Taylor are in the revenue service, an(
do able and creditable work.
FACTS.
Thomas Smith, of Smith street, was mad
happy the other day by the arrival o
another person in his family. 1t is boy
weighs seven pounds, and may be Presiden
yet.
The German held its reunion last Friday
evening at Miss Katie Wallards, quite
large number of the members being present
John Wormley came late as usual, and sale
nothing. Miss Susie johnson read al
essay on "Taffy," which proved highly in
teresting. Mr.. w. j. Ross declaime
Battle of Ivry" in fne style. Mr.. Ton
johnson delivered an address on "Georg
Eliot" very ably. After the programm
was rendered the time was passed IN de
stroying the delicacies which the Germa
J Committee served. While eating the mem
bers were highly entertained by many yer
beautiful magic-lantern views by Mr.. We
4 lard After music and little dancing tn
! German adjourned to meet again.
} Mr.. Samuel Lewis is doing creditabl
work for his race and self in the intern,
9 revenue department. Of this city.
The Merry Knights issued very fame
D and magnificent invitation to dress part
: to be given ut Queen City Hall, on Marc
: 10th. Dancing will commence at 8p, .
: and will continue Until 8 a. IN. An ell
8 CANT supper will be Served frse. The of
7 GERS are, Wallacs OAAllens, Allen Meredit
y George Charlton, Frank Griffin, and MAJ
apara Iohn Chan N ola "A lharf Rinnnold Iarn