Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-02-15

New YORK, February, 1888.
Intelligent minds are seeking with great
sincerity the solution of the problem, what
is to be the future of the colored race in our
country. And they are seeking it in utter
blindness. No subject was ever discussed by
civilized men in more entire ignorance. The
governing white race in the Northern States
are in general as ignorant of the character,
the qualities, the abilities and disabilities of
| the colored race, es they are of the charac-
ter of the Afghans. am not speaking now of
how little Northern men know about the
colored race in the Southern States. refer
to the knowledge which whites in New
England, New York, New Jersey, and elae-
| where have of the colored people in their
own States and towns and villages.
Political excitement and the wiles of poll
tcans for the past forty years have kept
the Southern colored man in sight so con-
stantly that the Northern colored man has
sunk out of sight. That kind of philanthro-
py which many delight in, forming societies,
making speeches, collecting other peoples
money to spend, has found. ample field in
far distant parts of the country, and the
charity which ought to begin at home has
not had its beginning.
There is more need to-day of Northern
people recognizing the condition of the
Northern colored man. than of bothering
aboutthe Southern colored. The colored race
in the North is to-day more neglected by
Northerpers, more isolated, set apart,
the whites, than the colored race at the
South by white Southerners. The relations
between the two races at the South are
more Christian, more favorable to the eleva
tou Of the colored man than at the North.
These are strong statements, but / write
them deliberately and With knowledge l
could fill volumes with what | am confident
would interest some readers, records Of my
personal acquaintance with Northern col
ored people, their homes, their employments
and epioymente, their social gatherings,
their mutual benefit efforts, literary and
other clubs and societies, their marriages,
their funerals, and especially their religious
associations in churches. 1t is pitiable be-
vond expression to see how utterly alone
and unaided they are. The colored people
of the Northern States are in fact more
"looked down on'' by Northern whites than
are the Southern freedmen by Southern
whites This is no osweeping statement that
make without observation. Look around
you, my friend, wherever you live. and con
slider the subject. What 90 you do for col
ored people? What Is your mental method
of regarding them? What do you know
about the race 10 your city? Did you ever
try 10 help them in their churches, or in sny
OF their efforts to help themselves
There are thousands ofgood people at the
North who are living in complete self salts
faction that with the abolition of slavery IN
the South they have done glorious work
and alt TINT they need do for the colored
race in all tho States, North and South.
Aud all the time at their doors, close around
them. the race is living, g dependent peo.
pis. uneided. uncared for, disregarded.
There is plenty Of work for the philanthro.
py Of the North among Northern coiored
people
The struggle Of the colored people Of the
North for their own Improvement and gen.
eral advance is one of the deepest interest,
full CT pathos, because so patient and so un
aided. Brought up in my babyhood and
childhood by the hands of colored people,
watched in my boyhood and youth by
dark faces that loved as well as any white
faces. ! have ali my life been closely at
tached to many colored folk. How many
northerners who read this were ever at the
wedding of colored young man and wo..
man, the baptism of colored child, social
gathering of colored people, meeting OF
literary society of colored young men?
How many of you ever cneered respecta-
table colored family by a friendly call-not
visit of patronage, but one of good WILL
aud neighborliness? How many OF you sver
went, where all are free to go, to the funeral
of coored person? Do you say you were
never invited on any such occasions? Why
not? Did you ever give indication that you
would accept an invitation? Would you go.
il invited, except as matter OF curiosity
Those people, as class throughout the
North, live always conscious that you don't
want their Invitations, that you don't pur-
pose to associate with them on any
terms of any kind which may imply
equality. Equality The word is one
of the humbugs of our age. 1t is the name
of en- imagination, condition that mas
10 existence in social and community life.
Iu many group of white men and women in
society there are some land you know them
when you meet them) who are filter for the
State prison than for your compsnionship :
some who are immeasursbly below others in
moral, intellectual physical and other con-
siderations. You are not going to make
| people your equals, black or white. by treat
| ing them as your 'neighbors in the highest
authoritative seuse of that word.
Legislation about hotels and railways will
never produce equality. That will always
be an individual question, dependent on in-
Huences far above the reach of law. You
can no more legislate man into society
which rejects him than you can leg5late
railway and stock swinders out OF society
! which accepts them.
Don't imagine me seeking to abolish dis.
tinctions of the races, and bring about even
apparent equality. don't believe in it,
don't want its DON'T believe all the philan.