Huntsville gazette., 1882-07-15
Rays from the Lone Star.

CHAMBERS CEtEK, Texas, July 8, -.
II the Editor of the Gazette.
take the liberty to write you LET
ter on the social, political and indtis-
trial condition Of our race in Texas.
In politics our people here are for
the most part mere ciphers. They are
scattered unsrganized and entirely
without influence. The local govern
ments are, Of course, all intensely DEM
ocratic. since the native whites are in
large majority. In the Federal gov
ernment our people are almost entirely
unrepresented. Out OF $4,000 appoint
ments, only are hlled by colored men.
A splendid record. indeed!
Indnstrially our people are almost
failure in many sections, notwith-
standing since the emancipation, the
colored people of the State have had
excellent opportunities to acquire prop
erty. The masses have shown an IN
excusabe and disastrous neglect in this
most important motter. They are with
out homes-dependent entirely on
their da ly labor nd OH the tendeN y
mercies Of the naughty caucasian. In
this needy. pOverty-stricken condition,
destitute of wealth and political inhu-
ence, depending on the white man for
daily bread, need it be a matter OF sur
prize that the Negro is an object of
contempt-A social and political out
cast.
However, there are some exceptions
and these give hope for the future.
The American creed OF equality is not
rooted in this soil. A great gulf of
prejudice divides the two races. Any
thing shat savors of equal or pol itical
rights is especially unsavory to the
cnivalrous(?) White man, but this Bit
ter pill he must in the end swallow,
though like tho "hemlock of Socrates
1t prove fatal. The South seems to be
20O wears behind the North, is conser :
yatiye, non-prOgressive, opposed to new
ideas and methods IN every department
of business, professional and so 'ial life
Inventions and original discoveries are
rare occurrences here. The North 60
ries in high AMI progressive clyiliza-
ton, in science in the Fins snd Ne
chanic al is, in Literature, in Invention
Commerce, Agriculture, Wealth, In
telligence and Morality. The English
man. the German, and the Frenchmai
have broad, generous, many-slde'
culture, in which 50 contemplate
thing as prejudice btaed on color has
no foundation. Not SO with the South
ern y nite man In his selfish. one
SD Il sectional cllturc, prrju lice find
a warm W. leone.
But 10 return to h. N,.gro in Texas
.l,catiOn i his crtil. u ed hare Il
elsewhere. The humll intellec. i CA
pable Of endless development. tn,
wonderful progress of thu present az
in science. as exempt .fiei in the invcll.
ton ard practical working Of the steam
engine, COMPRESSED air motors and EN-
yines. Gas engines, the e.egfai'h AM
Telephone, the lnieropi,ale, phonog'Apl
electro-uuturs und electro accilmmull
to,s, il, the artificial INIT 4tiOts Of natu
raj products and the origination of ncv
and valuable mixtures and compound
(e. e. Sugr anI Syrup, M .nufactuae'
from corn, manufacture OF butter, the
making Of celluoid. diamonds, etc.
This wonderful progress, say, demon
strates the endless capacity OF the mi M
and speaks volumes for the future Of
the human race. The Negro is far De
hind in this rarid march, far behind il
. the orctical and practical s,i, nee, il
Religion God belp him 10 quick /
his intellect, to arouse The wonderful
capacities which lie latent aud >lumber
ing beneath his sable brow. May h
yet rise and like Samson burst asunie
the cords which have long bound hin
in ignorance, in political and socia
darkness. Mey he throw of his cow
ardly superstitious allegiance, his un
manly fear and Difference to the sell
wOrshiping Anglo-Saxon. Let hin
stand forth in all the independence o
true manhood. Let him cherish tina
culture and self dependence which be
gets self iespect and personal inhuen G.
aud which brings out all the sleeping
faculties OF the mind rnd creates vir.
tue, hap, mess and knowledge.
! T.. l.. BLACKSHEA.
Stands by the action of the Con