The banner-enterprise., 1883-05-17
LETTER FROM 4 LINCOLN
STUDENT.


in your organ to reprove and correct
~ assault upon the progress of the
lately enfrsnchised Negro. While
perusing several of the organs OF the
South, column was noticed in the
Lynchburg Ne'os, setting forth senti-
mcuts hostile to our interests, as ex-
pressed by certain Baptist clergy, in
convention assembled, whose object
should have been the discussion of
adopting plans to extend the king
dom of Christ on earth, among the
children of men. But to its own
disgrace and ignorance OF facts, it
assailed the improvement of our peo-
pie, whose standard of advancement
is not equalled by any set OF people
in proportion as to time and opporta.
nifty. The Caucasian, when liberia
ted by German or Celtic ances>
tors, never made faster progress than
he Negro is making to-day. Our
degree of progress is cognizant to all
persons whose eyes are not blinded
with prejudice, and whose hearts are
not poisoned against truth and justice.
To those who have not seen our pro-
motion as people lsboring under OPP
pressive burdens, we implore them to
remove the scales of prejudice from
their eyes, and behold the glorious
light of progress that is reflected by
tie life and work Of host of Ne>
groes, who were thrown into the
world Intellectually blind, morally
degraded, and possessing nothing but
the canopy of heaven for their cover.
ing and the bare ground for their
bed.
When the Hebrews of old were
sent out of Egypt by Pharaoh, they
orrowed jewels of gold and silver
'iom the Egyptians, thus leaving
Il il former masters with an abund-
.ee of property. But when the
Negroes were released by the Anglo
SaNors, no Jewels did they borrow,
no pillar Of cloud led them by day
and no pillar Of fire led them by
ii IT. Utter darkness was before
them, nnd they had tc plod their way
thtough life the best they could
Long had the sons of Ham labored
=, increase another tire ,sure, but
unfortunately for them, their reward
SaS cruelty, ignorance AMI poverty.
lto.sooth, could we expect any other
s4utiment of patriotism from the
noble hearted phiIanthrop!st of the
South, than the utterance of an in
vective against those whom he still
desires to control? W. look for spch,
and therefore it is not surprising to
hear them. 1t is as absurd for the
Anglo Saxon to think that the Negro
can gain the standard Of civilization
in twenty years, which they thems
selves have been centuries in reach
ing, as il is inconsistent for the farmer
to expect his corn in the full ear
without first havin? the blade. Many
derogatory statements have been
made concerning us and we pass
them unnoticed, but this one We can.
not. However, We do not me.ul by
resenting this assertion that We aim
to catch at every frivolous idea set
ahoat concerning us, to miss step too
many times in the order of the march
of civilization; to tread upon rattle
snake, that sounds the note of war,
and coils himself up for the battle,
when we know that his poison has
been extracted and that he can do
nothing but ring the rattle, to stop
chasing him is waste Ct time and
force. That the negro has not gained
the standard Of improyem Mt which
he himself desires to reach, We readily
admit. Again, the fact that his
chance for ameliola ion is not at al
commendable, must not be overlooked
by the public; still, he is marching
onward, though strong !, amidst the
roaring Winds of adversely and the
bowling blasts of prejudice, which
are blowing upon him from all sides,
and particularly from the Southern
sea. Only yesterday, AS it were, the
rainbow of freedom appeared to our
vision; only short time in truth ha'
the luminary of education thrown
her valiant beams upon our pathway;
and but for twenty years have we
stood facing the rising sun, bearing
the name of citizens of America; and
can it be true that that Canstlan
brother if he is such means to say
that we have done nothing in the
way of amellorating out condition
thus far? If he claims this then we
say that the statement is as untruth-
tnI as the person from whom it came.
Mo eovtr, the allegation that the
Negro has no part in this Federal
government, can only be uttered by
men who do not recognize truth and
justice. May it please the gentleman
to reu ember that the Negro did not
bring himself to this country to en-
dure thralldom for more than two
centuries, and bring upon his pos =
terity the degrading effect produced
by it. Nay, he was ushered into this
Republic and euslaved by others; but
through Divine Intervention be was
raised from the abject pit of servi-
tude and given the rights of a citizen
in name ; but in truth, gentlemen,
we are spurned with the meanest
contempt, slch that no citizen can
receive. However, the gist Of the
matter is this /: that we are in this
country aud cannot be gotten rid of
by those who oppose us. 1t is high