The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-04-12
Specimens Of Negro Literary Work.

| Tho colorei Mcthodists OF this country
have established quarterly magazine called
tho Church Rsrir,r. the third Number Of
which has been received by us from Phla-
| deluhia, where IT. H. published. We find 10 an
| interesting periodical. and crcditablc one
to its editor. the Rev. DR. TANNER. and to the
| colorcd men and women who cont ributc tho
| articles which fill its hundred pages.
| Although the Church Repicr Is edited by n
| clergyman and Is issued from the publishing
| house OF tho African Methodist Church, 1t
| does not conln0 its attention to religious
| subjects. but seems rather To be designed to
afford vehicle for tho best thought Of which
| educated cOlored people arc capable, and to
| show their general literary progress, and
their position in regard to politics aud So
| cety. Accordingly, tho table of contents OF
this number covers wi,lo range of discus
sion and Of literary work. Tho magazine
opens with review OF "Black and White"
| tho book In which Mr.. 7. T. FORTUNE, tho
woll-known colorGd journalist. treats OF land,
labor. and politics in the South In the second
| article. entitled "Dic Beiden pccoiomini,"
Miss FRAzELIA CAMPBELL annlyzos and
critically examines the second part OF ScHIL-
LRR's drama. Wallcnstcin." AS long as
tho German language exists, as long as a love
for all that is truly great, noble, and beauti-
full finds n place in tho hearts of men, SO
long," exclaims Miss CAMPBELL. will the
name OF FRIEDRICH SCHILLER DO held In
grateful and rcvcrcd remembrance" DANTE
Is the subject of poem by Miss II. ConDELIA
RAY OF this city:
:" Tho groans OF spirits plunged in woes abyss,
The sweet repentance of the wistful souls.
Climbing In patience Purgatory's steep.
Called thee to muse on litss strange mystery"
The article on Tho Celestial Vault I" by
the Rev. Mr.. DURANT. OF Barbados. West In
dies. brings together facts and theories OF
astronomy, and draws from them the con-
clusion that "'an undevout astronomer Is
| mad and that the Lord Cop Omnpotent
reigneth, for ever and ever. Amen!" Anoth-
or minister, tho Rev. Mr. BRYANT, writes of
tho duties and responsibilities OF the colored
people. and OF negro literature. In answer to
tho question whether the negroes have tho
power and ability to raise themselves and
their race to positions OF responsibility
among other races" Mr.. BRYANT says yes
they have, IL We can only succeed in uniting
and centralzng our forces upon the one
grand object" Our race" he proceeds, sis
to-day where Britain, Germany, and France
once were. though probably not as badly sit
uatcd. and certainly In no worse condition."
and he contends that We have men and
women among us who compare favorahly
with the mon and women OF any race, though
they have been and are to-day laboring under
great disadvantages" In proof of his asscr-
ton he gives list OF twcnty-elght negro
scholars, poets, musicians, and statesmen In
the United States IIc complains that in the
vi kc rvi,y t.N ot,tI
dren Everything which would stimulate a
negro boy or girl to be anything else than a
servant has been eliminated" and according
ly argues that school books must DO written
"by our own race
In all the discussions respecting the needs
OF the negroes stress is laid on the impor-
tance OF strengthening their race PRIDE
Tho reviewer OF Mr.. FORTUNES book finds
fault with 1t for many sins OF omission and
commission, but applauds the authors de-
mand that the word negro be spelled with
capital N, and we observe that it is generally
80 spelled In this magazine. And yet the
same writer does not believe In amalgama-
ton, or rather does not believe 1t will be
brought about. Americans will always DO
n physically heterogeneous people" he says.
The Hamitic, the Semitic, and the Japhetic
representatives will ever dwell here in nation
nj harmony but with pronounced racial diff
ferences." We have reached the maximum
OF Africo and Anglo American physical in
termixing," he further contends. "The ir-
regular and Illegal practices OF slavery will
be tolerated neither by blacks nor whites in
free social condition" But In this opinion
the editor Of the review does not agree with
him, saying that 1t Is not true THAT men of
mixed blood, mulattoes, arc to cease" and
adding the remarkable prophecy that "the
only difference between the mulatto OF the
past and the mulatto Of tho future will be
that the former had white father and
black mother, while the latter will have
black father and white mother"
About one-thrd Of the number is given up to
tho effect to be produced by tho return OF the
Democratic party to power, contributed by
fourteen colored men and women. g.nopg