The state journal., 1884-06-28
In Defense Of Carson,
Communicated

them. l ask you to allow me to
repel a scurrilous attack, under the
guise of humor, which appeared in
"Ihe Philadelphia Record of the
21st, "Columbia's member of the
National Committee signed Mack.
A correspondent of paper of the
reputa ion claimed by the Record,
should at the least know the facts he
assumes to write before he attempts
to be witty at the expense of others
If he wishes to pursue the celebrity
he has gained by his former humor.
nna sEntal,~----G- -
A wide margin is granted for anec-
dotes of persons, yet when they pass
beyond the pale of white lies, and
the reader knows they are at variance
with truth and characteristics of the
person, the humor sought for is nom
est; and virtuous indignation fills its
place and the sketch of Col. Carsen
by the Record correspondent "Mack"
is an effort at humor at the expense
of facts, while the writer tries to give
him credit for shrewd ability and
genius that enables him to feel posi-
tive, with credit to himself as we'll as
to the people who made him their
representative, yet it is evident that
it is grim satisfaction to the writer
that he can make some statement to
detract from the Coils record. To
belittle him and his people and insinu-
ate that their choice are those whose
only qualities, are such as would make
him an Indian or Zulu chief. The
intimation that his father was the
originator of the colored branch of
the Order of Odd Fellows and that
he made money by granting charters
and degrees and that Col Carson
followed in his footsteps, is false
hood so base and foul, that its oragin
can only be traced to the jealous hate
red of race. This tribute to Carson
is not from the fact that he needs any
defense among those who know him
but let it be known, that when col
ored men gain distinction and honor
there is an endeavor to cast an asper-
sion upon them and reduce them.
Friends will arise unsolicited and de-
fend them and place them in a proper
light before the people. Carson was
a soldier of the army of the Union,
and by the discharge of every duty
he won the confidence of his superior
officers and the esteem of his com
patriots in arms. In his leisure mo-
ments at camp he applied himself to
study. He was assisted by the writer
of this article who knows how dill
gently he applied himself to the work
to fit himself for position of useful
ness. His appointment on the COM
mittee is just reward for earnest
ness of the efforts for the advance
ment of his people and the success
of the great republican party. Prior
to his enlistment Carson was known
as courageous and fearless young
man who would brook 70 insult from
those who would outrage him on ac
count of color In the city of Balti-
more, where he resided, the plug
uglies that struck terror to colored
people, learned to know at what cost
it was to attack him. He was an
officer of the District and his removal
was due to the fact that he insisted
to Marshal McMichael that all pris-
oners, black or white, were the same
and it made no difference to him in
their treatment, and as far as his
duty was exercised he would recog.
nize no such distinction such as put
ting 'or taking whites or blacks, in
custody, in separate classes to crafty
the prejudices of a few negro haters
of the district. The attack upon him
springs from desire to crush the
negro by contempt, every other
means having failed. 1t is the inten-
ton of their enemies to write them
down, but thank God we will "not
down. and men like Carson will rise
and continue to rise. Lincoln was a
rail splitter, Garfield was boy on the
tow path; yet they received distinc-
ton and why should Carson be de-
tracted from if he was a white washer
and of humble origin. In this re-
public honor and greatness belong to
all who can win it. The day is not
far distant when legions of Carsons
will arise and confront those who try
to detract from them. Their force
will be such that pen, bullets Or
whips, inspired by the spint of Klu
Klux, will not rob them of their de-
served rights, in a land which their toll
and sweat enriched; their blood de-
tended and protected. l have not
heard from him personally since we
parted in camp in '65. Seeing the
uncalled for attack on him in the