Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-09-22
FROM GALVESTON.
September 6. lSS

respectfully beg leave for space
in your valuable journal to adj
vance Il few practical ideas among
which it is to be hoped some good
may be efound that will rebound to
the upbuilding Of the colored peo-
pie of our common country.
NJ, RAJ AND INTELLECTUAL CULTURE.
Among the greatest errors of
our parents, is an old custom to
secret the science of literature
from their children until they are
nineteen or twenty years old. In
my estimation, this is one OF the
greatest levers to civilization. So
if we expect to receive and enjoy
equal rights and possess that
qualification required to sustain
them, we must qualify ourselves
ard children and do away with so
much begotted prejudice, and di-
rect our attention more to the
educating and upbuilding of our
young; to do this, it becomes our
duty to build institutions of learn
ing. orphan asylums, etc. For
want of such institutions, thous-
ands of our children are growing
up idlers or gamblers and the girls
instead of being respectable young
ladies, are desecrating the mater
nal sanctities and are growing
up as disreputable characters.
Thus virtuous woman amongst
US is hard to be found. To avoid
this a taxation of a simple rs
or so cents each, in cOmmuni-
ties like Galveston and surround
ing country, would easily build
an asylum for the poor orphan
children and give them parental
protection. But to our surprise
few nights ago our two colored
aldermen were opposing this en-
terprise aud advocating the pur>
chase of a celebration or pleas
ure garden. The gentlemen re-
ferrcd to called a meeting in the
Baptist church and openly ex-
pressed their opposition upon the
grounds that the colored people
were not able to support an assy-
lum, they being too poor, but in-
slst on purchasing a celebration
garden. Those men are supposed
to set good examples for the ris-.
ing generation, but L think they
are doing the reverse. Had they
been the founders they would
have petitioned the people
throughout the nation for help,
but as it is, they will neither aid
themselves nor allow others to,
if their influence will prevent
them. l think that in an insti-
tuition like this children conld
learn all kinds Of trades, etc. The
cultivation of race pride only will
bring about the desired success.
When we were young and igno
rant, we built our house upon the
sand, but now when we have be-
come old and intelligent, let us
act like the wise men, build our
house upon the rock. Now l
hope that the people will not
misunderstood the views and po-
sitions [ take in these matters.
cLAMoRING ABOUT FEDERAL RE-
CoGNITIoN.
Now according 80 my view of
this matter, ] believe [ am safe
in saying that the colored people
in this state are as we'll recog
nized as could be expected and
[ believe further that our nation
al executive head is just as good
as the country can afford and the
administration grand, and [ see
no reason for complaint. AS far as
Galveston is concerned, she has
her honors and a liberal share of
the loaves and fishes. But we
are now willing to do what we
can for the citizens in the interi-
or. | am proud to say that col
ored representation has been ma
terially increased here of late.
The gentleman placed at the
leUefal nciH at galveston, Is u
gentleman who knows no man
by his color, but by principle. In
my opinion he is republican
worthy Of the trust and conf
dence of the people.
THE NATIONAL CONVENTION AT LOU
IsVILLE.
In this august assembly of the
wisdom of our race, [ hope due
caution will be observed by the
delegates attending that meeting,
not to do anything that will re-
fleet to the dishonor of the grand
old republican party. 1t is to be
hoped that nothing will induce
the convention to censure the re-
publican party in a way that
would have a tendency TO bar us
from future success.
ORPHAN ASYLUM.
IF iS tn ka boped that the Texas