The banner-enterprise., 1883-05-17

III us way, tuus ihnPeulhS MS pro-
gress. This truly is the case of the
negro to-day. Like the Savior, bear
ing tho rugged cross of wood up
Mount Calvary, amid the derision OF
the Jews, so tho Hamites of to-day
are carrying the cross of oppression
with difficulty amid the SCOTS and
taunts OF their enemy. At the foot
of the hill are found her philanthropic
friends of the North giving literally
Of their means to accelerate their
steps along the road. At the top are
the hostile citizens of the South hurl>
ing javelins of contempt and endeav-
oring to decry us with yells and
shouts Of inferiority. Should 1t be
strange, then, that we are seemingly
in the back ground of progress! |
earnestly appeal to all men, whose
Judgment is not influenced by preju>
dice, but guided by reason and truth.
Is it not more worthy of admiration
to ask, how is it that We have ad-
vanced thus far under the prevailing
circumstances, than to inquire why
are we not further along? How long,
oh, ye gods ! will it be ere this peo-
ple shall rise to manhood and reviving
their spirits, raise the power of the
Hamites to its pristine glory, which
has so long trailed n the dust? How
long will it be before the demag CUES
! learn that the past and the present
are not the future of the American
Negro. How long still, oh Thou,
who rulest the world, will it be ere
the war of contention between the
two predominant races will cease and
truth and Justice shall reign supreme
that austral cline, causing peace and
harmony to flow through the land
like another Mississippi, bearing upon
its bosom the emblem Of unison of
the races.
In addition to the statement that
we are not capable of carving on any
business among ourselves can be
easily refuted, if he who made the
assertion will assist in atfordlng us
an opportunity of doing so, rather
than uttering words of hostility
against us. la proportion to our
means and opportunity we have
shown an en'r,2 ising spirit, which
i, clearly extupitied by the course
which the Negroes of North Carolina
are pursuing in constructing rail-
road in the borders of that State
We glory in the fact that the time Is
not far distant when in proportion as
we are brought into contact with our
white brethren, that we will force
the admittaace that God made out OF
one material all the nations of the
earth and endowed them with equal
,pacity for development; and there
fore the Negro is susceptible TO the
highest degree of cultivation, and
can and will grapple with his Anglo
Saxon contemporaries, in any busi
ness pnrs its It equal time and prisi
lere are given him. Furthermore,
that WE are not competent to do any
thing more than drudsery and manual
labor, and cannot rise to anything
higher, we emphatically deny; and as
amatuer patriots, inspired by the pa
triotism of John Brown, the martyr
of liberty, we propose to enter the
forum of truth and justice, the halls
of courts and legislation and fight
the questions of the hour, and show
them that we can and will reach
something higher than barber, boot
black or waiter The Negro, whose
aspirations do not transcend the
above occupations, he is not properly
Identified with his more dlgniied
brethren of African descent. Thest
ungrateful positions are degrading to
our manhood, aud are as much de-
ested by any Negro of standing and
qualification as the appearance OF all
educated and gentlemanly Hsmitic
is to the Thematic, who, in many
cases, is far inferior to the former
We allege, and all OF true principle
will Join us in saying that he who
SAYS the black man is failure thus
far, after considering the circum'
stances confronting him. such per
son should be branded as u man void
of truth, stranger to justice and a
contemner of humanity The future
is before him, and doubtless he will
amel;orase h,s present condition be-
fore this slave holding generation
passes into eternity Many colleges
and universities are now open to him,
in which numerous colored youths
are earnestly preparing themselves to
assist in lifting the canopy Of dark
ness which now overhangs their peo'
pie, and to aid in driving back the
tremendous sea of immoraity, whose
pillows are rising higher and high |
as each succeeding wave bursts and
fosms on the shore of human life
Let us then continue the fight and
refuss to cease the conflict because
the tide is against us. Let us go for
ward, and though dark be the sea OF
sdversity as it appears IN the dist
ance, press OH and remember that
"behinl the great dim unknown
there stands One who is Leading us
through the fire and smoke of this
oppression, to bring US to behold 3
period jubjlant with peace and pros
perity. Be not discouraged, my
friends, by the f,ilacious remarks Of
few men who have nothing to say
and know not how to say it, but be
encouraged by the cheering words Of
/ 4 Ill.