Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-02
The COIOred Man and the hog.
Arkansaw Traveller.

A writer in a northern magazine
wants to know why the negro con
stantly figures before the courts of the
South. This question is very easily
answered. We have been Studying
the colored gentleman's legal, or
rather illegal prominence for some
time, and we will have an abiding
faith in the belief that the leading
thinkers of the South will a rec with
US when we affirm that the hog, the
unregenerated, United States hog. is
the cause. Placed on prairie. with
out any surroundings whatever, the
average colOred gentleman might prove
to be an honest citizen, but when he
lives in community where hogs
abound, there is no chance for him
but to conduct his business on the
silent and under current plan. From
tho rel1otest inception OF slavery in
America, down to the last overflow.
the negro and the hog have been
linked in relationship unknown to
the Hottentot. The grunt of the hog
to him has ever been a sound as
fsmiliar as the lament of tho mis-.
sionary is to the Fiji Islander. This
is not the fault of the colored gentle
man. In no respect can you load the
blame on him. He was doing business
In Africa, at an obscure stand, when
the white man transported him to
America and introduced him TO the
hog and assisted him in cultiyating an
appetite for the flesh of the animal
despised by tho lineal descendants of
Moses; He did not claim relationship
with the hog until the white man, the
pioneer of earthly mischief, induced a
lasting acquaintance. The intimacy
carelessly begun soon ripened into a
passion. The cOlored gentleman in
sisted upon assooiating with the hos
Now 1t is impossible to effect a sepa-
ration. The hog is willing hut his
legs are weak. Tbe law is willing but
the negro is net He adheares to the
custom Of his fathers. His fathers
said let US have hog, and Immediately
there was hog. No revision that the
law may make can effect this ancient
declaration. The Law may say thou
shalt not steal hog nor bear false wit.
mesa agSinst the SOW, but the action Of
tr9ditiop says, "gimme de shoat,"
No, sir, the oolored gentleman can.
not be an undoubted Christian 3, locO
as the hog inhabits the land. He NAV
struggle and pray a good deal, but
when the hight IA the church IS ex
tlnga!shed and the aisteFa with fearful
SsiYes 20 Aeme, the cGlored gentleman
looks around for place where hs eau
have undisturbed association with the
swine. We don't mean to assert that
all, or even one.third, Of the colored
gentlemen do this; but we mean that
the old time representative is the man
who will not fOrego the pleasure.
Simon Haymop, %ell known
Arka1saw character, tells a pathetic
story in regard to the influence OF the
hog An old negro man dreams that
he dies and goes to heaven:
"Soon as | got dar," the old negro
goes on, II looked around an seed
mighty heep OBJ niggers settin' about
de groun's waitin' fur some sort OBJ
command"
"WhO is dis2" asked Gabriel ,loohin'
at me.
"Sarvant OBJ do Lawd," said 1,
come to be 'zamined at de great bar.
Den de Lawd said, Git down dat book
an see how de brudder stan's on
swarm Gabriel took down de b ,ek,
run through wild it an said.
t4e is all right 10 dis heah book,
Lawd, I.