Huntsville gazette., 1882-04-22
Lest in the wilderness.
What keeps MS from the Promised
M Land.
HORSE SHOE BEND, Ala,
: April Is, 82-

April IL, 81.
EDrrOR GAZETTE:
When l think Of the hardships Of our
people and the many trials that they
still undergo on account of pref
udices founded an caste, Fam force
to believe that we are still wandering
in the wilderness AM that we are thu !.
kept cut of the promised land on ac-
count of some sin OF our own making
God truly "Worxs in mys.er.ous
way and no doubt He is thu, with
holding from us the promised boon un-
til we are better prepared for its rccep-
ton. That He will ultimately bring
US to the promised land, do not doubt
for l can no. and will not allow my
self to believe, for moment, tnat, fof
the sin OF bearing a color that He, in
His wisdom, stamped upon Us, we viii
have TO quietly submit to insuiJ. aousc,
ostricism and oppression always. No.
Sir, the day will COM, AM the wis
est know not how SOON" whcL MA
will not be judged by the color of his
skin but by his own exertions to gain
foot hold on the ladder of Fame.
But while we are waiting and watch
ing. anxiously praying for the much de
sired boon Of equal rights and fair
play before the laws of our land, let us
cast about and see why we are thus
made to wait. Why are such Moses
as Summer, Wilson, Lincoln, Greeley,
Holmes, Garrison and others taken
from us ?
Perhaps it's no fault of ours. But
when we compare the status of our
people, now, for morality and religion,
| with Ante Bellum times, we will have
| to admit that the latter were the bet
| ter.
Now why il this fear we have
forgotton to render up our hearts pure
and unspotted to the God of jacob, and
instead have sec up idols some where
else
Instead Of seizing the few opportu :
mites presented, and preparing our.
selves ior the grand battle OF life, we
have imbibed and practicel the evils
of the Egyptians. In coming out of
Egypt we have dragged after us til ir
vices, instead Of their silver. We hang
arouni the dram shops, as if our lives
d'pended on our being there. We ill
the poor house, jails, and p,nitentit-
ries, and grace (Yl the scatfold. Tra',
we are not the only ones nor are we
| guilty Of all that is laii at oar doof.
but, when we know so we'll that the
Judge. jury ami pubic sentime 1T Il e
against u, why be guilty OF <iiy
| Why give them 4 clanc4 TO even sus-
pect MS
Youak how this can be done, and
! admit that in Il country where every
Negro is presumed to bs guilty until liz
proves himself innocent, it Is in Iced
. hard task. But Sir, ii we wo I'D
avoid the Dram Shop, the battle would
1
be half won. 1t is this lingering about
the dens OF hell that causes friends &C
doubt our Innocence and gives our foes
a chance to charge.
WAiskey Sir, is the '.golden we ige "
that il hid in our CAMPS, AMI for which
God keeps us in the wilderness. Ii is
this sin of sins that hang, like black
cloud between u, and the mach pra =
ed for, land of promise. 1t is this sin
that fosters and nourshes the others
1t is this curse that spoils the chastity
Of our women and grapples onr yo ing
men and hurls them to perJition. True
Sir, there are noble and honorable cx-
ceptions among US. But Ispeak of the
| masses, for if The mass cling to this
vice, how can the honorable few escape
the odium ? Sir, pray you use your
columns, your pen, and your energy
to lift our people out of the sloughs of
drunkenness. And may God help you
JACK DAw.
The Inter Ocean relates the fol