Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-01-18

Ao&0 Vnou 0lA Vo0 tO4AtASAoUU AZ vu0 COuus
try. When the negro. naturally improvi-
dent, has learned the value of dollar,
he has mastered the first great lesson .or
himself.
The school teachers-msls and female
Of about equal numbers form another
class. The majority of these are mulst-
toes-some of them very noarly white.
This is the intellectual set and is very ex-
elusive. The subordinate government
clerks with colored cutlcles are admitted
to this set, while the professors at Har.
ward university. the higher colored gov.
eminent officials and the colored lawyers
and physicians form the bon ton circle
and look with contempt upon the mere
property holders who are unknown and
uneducated and have nothing but money
or real estate to recommend them.
The most noticeable distinction be.
tween mulattoes and blacks however, is
in military circles. There is militia com.
pany OF mulattoes-a fine looking body
of men-well differed, we'll disciplined
and splendidly uniformed. Another COM
pany composed exclusively of blacks is
greatly inferior in appearance and all
that constitutes soldierly qualities. The
color line is strictly drawn IN TIE men,
bership of these companies. The blacks
will not admit mulatto and the nulat.
toes turn up their yellow noses at black
applicants. The mulatto regards him.
self as the superior of the black, which
in reality he is in the proportion of white
lineage possessed. The blacks resent
this and claim that mulattoes are not re-.
representatives. of the African race any
more than they are of the white race.
The mulatto is proud OF his white blood
and only identifies himself with negroes
because he cannot help doing so.
In the secret societies, of which there
10 multitude, the color line is not SO
closely drawn, but the pure blacks take
more kindly to these organizations than
the muIattoes do. They are more fond
of show and parade. and will march all
day to carry banner or wear bright
colored regalia. Any negro too poor OF
too Indifferent to belong to one or half
dozen of these societies is deemed un.
worthy of any regard whatever, and re
ceives no notice even from the bearer OF
an emblazonment of the "Fatherhood oi
God and Brotherhood of Man."
The condition-past and present-oi
the colored population OF Washington
might be extended into interesting de-
tails. but I have only noticed thoe,
peculiarities which show the absurdity
of the hue and cry over the decision o
the supreme court in its construction Q
the civil rights acts. The negro is n
more respecter of the personal right
of his own race than the white man il
j. He is an initiative creature and oppresse
where he has the power the same as hi
} former master did. Where he comes il
contact with the weak he advocates-b
!, his actions-the doctrine of the surviva
! of the tittest; when he is the weake
, party in the contest he shouts lnstil,
for help and thinks it cruel when toll
} to help himself. But he Will never be
man or tit for citizenship in free gov
ernunent until he does help himself, an
shed his blood and give his life. if nece,
sary, in defense of all the rights whic
are his in common With all others unde
tho constitution III all parts Of our broa
land. BARTON.