The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-21

To the Editor Of the Indi annapolis Journal:
Col. Blanton Duncan, of huntington Miss.
has addressed an open letter to John W. Daniel.
United States Senator from Virginia. In which
he discusses at length the future Of the negro
race in the United States There is class Of
men who cannot forget the past realize the
present or anticipate the future He says:
1.-THE allotment of equality and the franchise of
the negro was never legally accomplished" The
of the legislation of twenty years ago, and the
negro true to his American instincts, has been
practicing it, and has aspirations to be candi
date from constable to President of the United
States.
The earliest settlement Of this country was by
the negro. in July, 1920; the Pilgrim fathers
came in November, tho same year; therefore he
has priority. In every struggle to maintain this
government he has always assisted, either on
the battle field or the forum. The blood of Girls
pus Attacks was the first to flow for liberty in
the Revolution; the Anglo-Saxon, of whom
Colonel Duncan boasts, was second. Young
Ladd, of Boston, Mass was the first killed in the
Rebellion. Duncan says that "as mongrelS in
large proportion Of mulattoes, the offspring of
british whites and dissolute negresses." As
association begets assimilation, are indebted
to the race which the writer claims possess all the
qualities that make the proud Anglo-Saxon.
We are not responsible for our birth; but
men boast of the Improvement in the lower
order OF animals by the system of cross breeding.
1t is an undeniable fact that the blood OF the F.
F. V. flows in the veins of colored citizens in
that State, and all through the South. Mr..
Duncan says that ''the blacks cherish race
hatred, and would be able to light the fires of a
San Domingo holocaust" During the late un-
pIeasantness between the North and South there
was an opportunity to practice such q thing.
Was there ever circumstance heard resi-
dent OF Virginia, woman, at a public meeting,
in a doc1 rofa 70 nh ~.
BE it said, in honor to the negro. that when we
were helpless and alone never an Insult or out
rage was ever perpetrated upon u.s. AS regards
the morals OF the negro OF the South, IL they
are as represented, what field for Colonel Dun
can to work In during the remaining years of bis
life. Let him do what he can to correct the evils
and all persons will honor him. Let not this
phantom Of the negro in America disturb his
dreams. The negro is an American citizen. He
is here to remain and develop the resources Of
age, and if the writer and public sentiment will
allow him to enter the machine shops, schools of
sH kinds, responsible positions on railroads, and
lucrative and honorable employment in banks,
and to exercise the rights guaranteed to every
American. the great creative race of the South
will not then have any cause to complain. as
none will ever apply for these places unless they
are competent to I'LL them.
Judge Albion W. Toureee gives different
view of the condition of the negro in the South,
anu VITA bn0 pu6Ac IL Is D question OF verac1Cy
between Duncan and him. He says: ''There has
been an increase Of IS per cent in the coiored
population of the Southern States in ten years;
the white race there is falling behind in numbers
He is either able to rise to be the peer of the
white man. or he is not IF he is he is entitled
to the right to try. If he is not he has right
to be something better and nobler and the An
glo-Saxon race has no right not to give him a
chance. thank God he does not stand before
US any more as pauper. He stands. as a man
appealing to the sense Of duty and right In the
State of Georgia to-day the negro is as
sessed for nine millions of dollars
"a progress, / venture to say,
that no race in history has shown, and under
such dificulties-two hundred and fifty years Of
slavery. During the last twenty years their ad-
vancement has been marvellous. Under every
possible disadvantage they have formed congre-
cations, built churches, paid ministers. support
ed bishops paid for publications. and. besides
that. showed power and vigor that no other
Christian organization ever showed.
Out of record Of three hundred colored girls
who were educated and whom / have known
looking upon their lives but five of those were
not eood-and that of race we declare "has no
inclination or tendency to virtue" Indiana has,
in the last two decades, turned her back upon
the past. and is now among the progressive
States in the Union. invite Colonel Duncan to
visit US, and by observation, solve the problem.
Can the superior race and the inferior race
dwell together eoually9n JOHN T. MAHoRNEY.
TNynr Eel.