The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-02
The Necessity Of Nutua! Patronage

hES NScVSSltJ of NtttSaFa 1saEVius Z
Recognizing the force of the motto, "Union
is STRENGTH, v we would earnestly call the attcn'
ton of our people tn the necessity of mu.
tual patronage. We think that there is no need
of laoored% argument to prove the value OF race
patronage. The very condition OF the negro IN
this country must convince MN That II nc
would advance to that degree OF power and po
Sition of usefulness among the nations that tho
Almighty has made possible for all men, nc
must, as all other nations do, lend a helping
hand to each other. When We patronlZe Gael
other in any kind Of business, we are helping
ourselves. Our peculiar situation in this cOun
try has linked us indissOlubly together. What
concerns one concerns all: We are al treated
as of the same grade in character and ability
If q few are indOlcnt and improvidcnt they arc
held up to the gaze of mankind as samples OF
the rest; if one negro steals Il bale OF cotton
the race are branded as thieves. Fellowship III
suffering must unite us closer in sympathy
Now what we need do is to come to the help o.
each in business of any and all kinds. We pre-
fer the interchange OF patronage etwccn tho
races, if the whites will do the same, but they
have SO commonly shown the contrary spirit
except when it is to their advantage, that We
are forced by the law of snlt-prOtcction to re
gard race interests as of chief importance.
We must have more race pride; the old-tlmt
jealousy must be thrown of, and We must on
~ bear in mind the fact that we arc Il nation,
or. rather, Il class, who are battling against
heavy odds, but determined, with the help OF
God, to win. 1t is sometimes said by our oWlI
people, ttS S:bDil Us yin . iiSlLS ~ tHH W"
"lc il proud and stuck up and you with
draw your patronage from such. Meanwhile
you have been patronizing those of the other
race who have grown rich OF your patronage
and now dcspi>c You?
The Love Of Race.
We would not for q moment encourage race
prejudice, nor would we say anything to ere
ate luminosity between the two races who live
Together, but we would inspire the coiorcd
,-,,, ,,i.I ,,,rr,,- low. nf rlIp FOR mere ART
some who are ashamed Of their race simply
bcrausc they are under the ban Of human pref.
udirc. Hlt, if YOU have but Il tenth part OF ne
GRO blood in YOUR veins, yOu are placed under
the same ban, and, therefore,, your only nope
is TO huur tO-rthcr. No legislative enactment
or amendment to the Constitution can help us
50 much Us Il union of efforts for the ;llilcilorit
zion of our condition. We lave all the Gle
m2ntS of strength in lis; all we nrII Is me ult
D%1riNnity to Use them. ana thai VIII, ny lhC
hriD of God and our own rlldr;lNorS, come
sooner or later. Religion, Wrl! IN ana cduc;t
ton are the levers that can ana Will hit US ny
to greatness. WrmuSt %rmlroniZc our OWL llltl,,
chants, mechanics. attorneys, phySlrlRhS ana
Others provided that they ar" as rriiStli;'h'c is
Others. said that philosophers of our WI t!lil.s
Horace Greeley: "IhCrr i" no friendship III
Trade" lie sour best friend who VIII IN tfi!ut
save us the most money. Till We learn tllis tc
anur"ciatc the enterprise ana Skin O! our own
ncorIr we cannot expect the success ana mae
prndnncc that command the respect Oh 0thcrS'
on the other hand, those OF our race "ilocN
Dcrt our patronage must present as atlIactlE,e
places of business, us various Il SIock vi HIoous
and the saline accommodations us olllcrs'