The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-08-05

Bishop Payne, of the African Methodist Epis-
cOpal Church of Florida and Alabama, was in
Pittsburg last week. and he had something to
say about the progress of the cOlOred people in
the South since the war. He said that consider
able progress had been made in the cities, but
that in the rural districts there was no evidence
OF progress among the negroes He added that
they were under the control OF the ex slavehold-
ers, and that it was fixed policy to prevent
progress. and that the preachers dare not say
anything about politics or kindred subjects.
1t is difficult to believe that the Bishop is ig-
nOrant as to the progress and present condition
of negroes in the South He appears TO figure in
this interview more as partisan perverter of
facts than rs a Christian teacher and leader. II
is fact well known by intelligent people in
every part of the Union that wherever whites
are in political control in the South there the
progress of the negroes; mentally and materially,
has been greatest.
So far as the matter of the cOlOred preachers
not being allowed 10 say anything about politics
is concerned no doubt every colored preacher in
South who reads the statement of the Bishop
will smile very broad smile. There are cOlored
preachers who preach the gospel, but no people
under the sun, probably, have been worse
cursed with political preachers than the negroes
of the South. These pAlltical preachers have
done more to demOraliZe and degrade the COL
ored people than all other influences combined
They have not been molested by the whites,
however, except III d lew instances WncTe tncy
became meters to incendiarsm and outrages
1t would pay Bishop Payne, from a spiritual
point of view, to open his eyes to the truth, if
they are holden on account of partisan or race
prejudice, and to pay more attention in the flu
ture to the religious and educational development
of the people under his charge, and to teaching
them how TO become independent and worthy
citizens, rather than to instill into them notions
of political dominion and social intercourse which
they are far from being able to rightly exercise or
to attain to.
If colored ministers generally will take the line
of Christian duty laid down for them in the
Scriptures, they will find their strongest cOadju-
tors among the shareholders of the South and
their Northumberland Ners.
We have little to add to the remarks of
Georgia's great daily. We print what it
says rather by way OF information as to
| the conduct of one of the leaders Of his
| race than as the text for additional COM
ment, but we would inquire of Bishop
Payne what his object can be in seeking
to embitter race prejudice by his unjust
representations What answer can he
make? How will his people be bene-
fitted ? Their position as to the whites is
that of dependent minority and any an
tagonism cannot be to their interest, and
whoever causes it is acting the part of an
enemy rather than friend. TO the tax
paying whites they are almost entirely in
debted for their educational advantages
to the property -holding whites mostly for
their opportunities of employment; and
l
to the law-making whites for that protec-
ton in person and property which is en-
joyed under statutes framed without dis
elimination as to color. Every intelli-
gent negro knows these to be facts, and
that it is to the interest of his race to have
the good will of the dominant people
Bishop Payne knows it. If appreciation
or gratitude, do not suggest to him that
such good will be cultivated, considera
tons of policy should.