The bee., 1883-01-13
PRACTICAL LITERARY EFFORT
WANTING

The New York Sun, of the Doth ult.,
contains an elaborately written article
10y one Frank Wilkeson, (apparently a
man of large observation, a forcible
writer tho'an extremely malicious one
in which he severely arraigns the entire
negro race Of Beaufort, South Carolina
rather st. Helena Island, comprising
he says. 5000 souls.
The article in question is nearly two
columns in length, and has undoubtedly
reached wide and extensive circula-
tion throughout the country. 1t bris.
ties throughout with choice invective.
/ append few extracts. IL have gath
cred my information about these people,
first, from the negores; second, from the
white men who trade with them-Re-
puhlicans, these; third from the Bour-
bon Democrats; fourth, from the indie
pendents. / have allowed for the pre-
iudiccs of race and cast and / have sunk
my political belief and studied these
people, honestly trying to understand
the questions that arose before me-
= y "These black people are without
religion, and | greatly doubt if they
have sufficient capacity to understand
the principles that underlie the chris
tian faith" They have a blind
trust in some higher power He
simply shrugs his shoulders and says;
away. "TheSe blacks are thor
oughly dishonest, etc" X "In the
stores the clerks cannot take their ewes
of their darkey customers without
some small article disappearing" x 4
"Ihe ambition of the young black men
who are playing at going to school is to
become preachers or members of the
Legislature, OF clerks, or store keepers.
The little education they receive unfit
them for field work" ITO educate a
negro is tospoil plow hand, &c.
"As house servants they are the most
aggravating creatures in existence.
They are slow, stupid and thievish,
DC" This man goes on to say that in
(his )my opinion the determining factor
in the problem offered for solution bv
those Sea Island negroes is their morals.
This is delicate subject, but it must
be understood SO as TO comprehend the
that beset the advancement
of this people. As have said they are
liars, thieves, towards, and | now add
that almost without an exception, the
women Of these islands who have negro
blood in their veins are prostitutes"
The writer proceeds in this stern refer
ring to the filthy condition" of these
people, in language unfit for publica-
ton, and yet one OF the most influential
metropolitan journals scatter it broad
nast. This wholesale libel hurled
against thousands of race ought not
stand unanswered or unrefuted. Can
lot leading spirit of some one of |
he many choice negro societies with |
which this city is infested: The Mon
lay and Tuesday Night Literary" the
Chatauqua Circle" the"Mind Reading
society" the Artist. Science and As
Association" the "ex-Lo-
us Club" the "MountN ebo Grand Tab
Tnacle of Ancient United Order of
Brothers andSiSters, ,Soas andDaughters
# Moses of the United States of
America and the World at Larg3 lie
-oted competent TO answer this sour
ilous article, and thus repel as far as
oSsible such unchristian attacks upon
harmless and unfortunate people?
iere'S. a chance for the literary man
r woman of this race to immortalize
imself or herself Who'll take up the
auge? J.