Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-14
NeriouR. huf RaIae.

Editor Morning Neo0S 1 pray you the
privilege of space in your paper, that its
wide circulation may make public these
facts in every part Of the land.
While reading the Savannah MORNING
NEWS, Of the 18th inst, an article, clipped
from the New York Times, headed, GA Sc
rious Charge" attracted my attention.
After reading it carefully I discovered that,
while discussion was pending in regard to
the Temperance needs OF the freedmen"
in 8 meeting Of the "National Temperance
Society,"" held in the Free Baptist Church,
of New York, on the 9th inst, one ]. N.
Stearns, the Corresponding Secretary Of the
Society, made this astounding statement
with emphasis, ''That in Savannah there
are tloenty-eigh colored churches and each
pastor Is a confirmed aohiSky drinber."
Having an extensive knowledge of the
religious history of Savannah, do declare
with the emphasis of my soul that this is q
OnfFn1ed" lie. Never was such state
ment more. false and untrue, so bottonsless and
naked.
This gross and malignant assertion is
maliciously Infamous, and would find no
utterance in a Christian gentleman or man
of integrity.
The News denied it, and all Savannah de-
MES his brutal assertion.
This slanderous charge, If not denied,
would lead many who are ignorant of the
religious affairs of the city to believe his
story and give It credenee.
So also his statement in reference to the
number OF churches is erroneous, for there
are but sixteen. 1t goes to prove that he
has no knowledge of the truth of the
declaration he heralds to the world.
If the pledge that the gentleman has
made, to totally abstain from the intoxicat-
ing beverage, has as much truth in it as has
his statement concerning the cOlored
clergymen OF Savannah, God help his false
and worthless document. While intemper-
ance is great evil, and is much deplored
by the progressive intelligence of the
country, and ought to be banished from its
unrighteous throne, it has as many white
worshippers as It has colored.
VIII the gentleman explain what he
means by saying that the Temperance laws
were defeated wherever the colored votes
were In the majority" when there are so
felo places that their vote is dominant? and
how they are able to defeat the passage of q
Temperance law" and fail to elect repre-
sentatives in the public service after having
voted as a unit for them? And why do so
many Temperance laws" find an early grave
in the majority Of the legislative assemblies
OF the country, where the vote of the color
en- man is an eItTefl1e nl1o0T1tyg Inc prepO5-
ferrous absurdity Of his story is at once per-
cep.ble.
In Georgia we have a large number of
''prOhibitory' counties. Is 1t so in your
State, Mr. Stearns2
This evil can be stined without vOur mode
Of "sending Northern men to preach tenn
perancen among US. The very pulpit that
you have vsinly endeavored to desecrate is
loudest 10 fits laundering tones Of "touch
not, taste not, handle not the unelean thing,
for It biteth like a serV ent and stingeth liAe
an adder"
Our moral condition in the South is not
so deplorable as you paint it. II any of
your friends want to enjoy the salubrious
climate of Savannah or Florida, let him pay
his way as tourist, and not cloak himself
10 she garb OF the Temperance preacher"
l would suggest that the colOred minis
tiers hold an indignation meeting, il need be.
These facts, which are hewn from the block
OF truth, can be corroborated and sustained
by the signatures Of the entire population
OF Savannah.
ask every journal, white and colored, to
copy this letter and give it a wide publica-
ton that the truth and honor of this mis-
represented race in the South may be vindi-
Gated, am, yours truly,
JAMES A. SYKES,
A native SaVannahfan.