The bee., 1883-06-09
A GOOD LETTER OF ADVICE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., J
June I 1888,

/
deem it opportune, as a friend of the
colored race, to giveexpression, through
the columns of your sprightly journal,
to few heartfelt sentiments as a
feeble recognition of my high apprecia-
tion of the wonderful efforts put forth
and great results attained by peopl e
who were but yesterday, so to speak
lingering in the throes of slavery, an
institution fastened upon this great
country like fostering sore, so perni-
tious and fatal in its results as to
threaten the perpetuity of the Repub-
lie until the time when in the provi-
dence of God, the marshalled hosts of
valiant armies cut asunder and forever,
amid the carnage of battle, the chains
which bound four millions of human
beings to a condition of servitude. the
very existence of which, was contra
diction to the spirit and genius OF our
boaSted free government. In the "Dec-
laration of independence" that call
men are born free and equal. and pos
seSs equal and inalienable rights to
life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
pinesS' the struggling colonies which
threw off the yoke of British oppres-
sion expressly recognized in the con.
stitution Of the United States, the con-
dition of slavery ..by which so fhany
were deprived of privileges and rights
all men are entitled to enjoy. 1t is
the recognition of the system of
slavery 10y anation declared free from
the tyranny Of her enemies which is
the dark blot upon the pages
of our national history. What did it
not cost to vindicate the Nations
honor? Question the records of the
war of the REBELLION and they will fur
nish details of appalling sacrifices. 1t
will be admitted by fair minded men
that what are termed the rights of
man consist in social union upon the
basis of protection the ends of which
are liberty, property, security, the right
of worship at any altar and consequent
ly resistance to oppression. No class
of society should be barred from, the
enjoyment thereof, any discrimination
on account of color, crede or previons
condition is unjust. despotic andIcruel.
What security would there be of nat
ional greatness, in contradistinction to
absolute hereditary power centred in
certain rulers under monarchial forms
OF government if a portion of
the people of a republic, who are an
integral part of its sovereignty, were
deprived, in part or totally, Of the elec-
tive franchise (as in the case in the
District of Columbia, where there exists
taxation without representation, out
OF which all power emanates? certainly
our sovereignty would be a sham, our
freedom a mockery. No one class OF
race can arrogate exclusive rights and
privileges that cannot be granted to
others. Governments are established
for the people and by their consent, in
so far as republics are concerned,
whereby life may be protected, liberty
perpetuated, and the pursuit of happi-
ness the highest realization of their
ends. The exercise of natural rights,
political rights, equal chances in the
great race of life, and protection
against the workings engendered by
angry passions, preiudiees and hatred,
had no other limit than their inter-
ference with the rights of others. That
is all. | may be questioned as to what
| mean by equal rights; or do l assert
that men are equal and free by nature?
In the first place, maintain the right
of every human being to pursue happi-
ness, to ameliorate his or her condition,
and that the chances to attain these
ends should be extended to all +;
secondly, equality does exist in greater
or lesser degree, in virtue, talents,
fortune, industry, stations in life. Nay
more, the equality is strongly marked
IN poverty, crime, degradation, with
out distinction as to the color of the
skin. The virtues which make up
moral eXcellency, or the sins which
lower man and women to certain de-
grees of depravity are the same,
whether illustrated in the lives of the
representatives of the five great races
Of the world Lastly, as far as we
may apply the idea of being free by
nature, we concede that all human
creatures are born helpless, completely
dependant upon Others, and are obliged
to advance step by step until full
growth is attained, possibilities de-
veloped; and still we must lean one
upon the other in order to arrive at
some degree of success in any of the
many departments of life. In word,
we can one and all boast of equality in
the eyes of God. He created us; His
works are perfect. We are made unto
his own image and likeness, and he
redeemed us by his precious blood.
In his infinite love all are partakers,
and if we claim to be Christians. we
must remember that we are the work
of his creation, and, after his example,
we must love all our brothers in
Christ for his sake. If we do this
there will be no room for bitterness,
injustice and prejudiceS. God did not
infiict the miserieS which affiict the
human family; he did not create the
heart-rending poverties upon which
wealth and ariStocracy flourish, and to
whose doors so much sin and vice are
traceable; he never commanded moral
plaques to curse the world ALI
these things are the doings of
heartless creatures who do not
initiate the Divine Master in heaven.
There will be no restriction, the humbest
poor but faithful servant of the Lord,
be he black or white. shall be exalted
in the highest mansions of the Father
equally with the most learned and
favored ones on earth who may merit