The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-10-28
rnEcoLoHED RACE AND THEIR NEEDS.

y. TIE coLoIED RACE AND THEIR NEEDS.
An interesting and spirited discussion in
regard 10 the situation and necessities Of
the colored race from 4 Church point Of
view followed. The Rev. ]. L. Tucker,
d. D., OF Jackson, Miss, the next speaker,
said The selection OF this as II topic for
discussion is an indication OF growing
feeling that the relations OF the Church to
the colored race are different from the re.
lutions Of the Church to the white race.
This is true, and the reason for it lies in
the vast mental aud moral difference be.
tween the races. Race differences have
been too much ignored. Foreign missions
OF all churches do not succeed until the
missionaries finally learn how to present
the truth 10 the alien race SO that it will
appear to them rs truth. This is q most
Important point. Tho neglect OF it in the
South hns resulted In giving to the negroes
II form OF Christianity without It's sub.
stance. This will appear impossible to
many. Let me briefly review how it came
10 be SO. The negroes in Africa are utter
barbarians. Travellers find no marriage,
no belief in future state, and Il religion
Of witchcraft, idolatry and superstition.
Wives are held us sheep, oxen and other
stock; are bought, sold, made presents Of,
and valued at 50 much per. head The
ideas Of truthiulness, honesty and modcsty
are unknown. Human suffering excites
no pity, aud wars arc wars OF cXtcrmina.
ton. Such were the Africans when brought
over here. It is necessary to under
stand their condition in Africa
in order 10 appreciate the progress
made in this land In some things
and tho lack OF progress in morals. Slavery
did something for them. Many masters
taught the elements OF civilization in the
family, the respect for property, the idea
OF tru,hfulness. But the negroes were con.
fronted with IN alien civilization which
they did not understand, which was thrust
upon them by force. What wonder that,
impelled by fear, they adopted the phrase.
olcpy Of tito new ideas while retaining the
practice Of the old, and ip time grew 10
connect the two together and TO suppose
that the phr,lseoloey Of Righteousness was
enough to satisfy God, rs they found it to
satisfy their masters, and that underneath
it they could act rs passion moved them7
Another thing they learned was 10 net to-
gethcr and to conceal MI that concerned
their social life from ihe white race. Sla.
very always teaches hypocrisy may
say, compels hypocrisy. The negroes
Learned te protest and to proclaim virtue,
honesty md trpthfIlpcss while not yet
knowing lie meaniuc Of the words. The
|fear Of punishment taught them what q
say; tht!i passiona aHdf traditions taught
then what to do, md they were not able
to perceive any inconsrpity between the
two. The now language was not suited 10
their mode Of Thought. Perhaps they
could not SEQ that a lie was q lie in Eng.
lish. With eac!, generation came improve
ment in many things; but rs slavery re.
,nained, SO did the causes which iinfpelled
| hypocfiey, add tho hypocrisy soon became
unconscious and instinctive. ~ IS
with freedom came'a great leap forward
into evil. The outward constrninatt was re
moved They seemed to think that free.
dom meant liberty 10 obey the dictates Of
natural desire. III the, twenty years there
s5lH j