Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-09
OUR MAIL POUCH


To the Editor of The Dispatch.
Pefm1t me to take exceptions to some Of the
statements made in an article with the above
caption In recent number of The DISPATCH.
1t strikes me that the writer is either prejudced
or misinformed.
1t is true that dense ignorance has ruled. and
still rules, in some portions of the South.
There are even now colored people in the in
terror of some Of the far Southern States who
do not know that they are free. But what is
the cause of this ignorance-who made them
what they are? The white race has kept them
in darkness. They brought from the shores Of
Africa simple human beings, and IN land
where all was strange, kept them eowed and
trembling under the lash. They gave them no
chance to advance, but preferred keeping them
ignorant Why, then, talk of lack Of progress.
think the colored people, as whole, have
advanced rapidly in intelligence since emanei-
patton was declared. WHAT race can be named
that ever made better progress in the same
negroes learned that they were free as many
as could left the South and scattered all over
the United States. Most of them were without
money; they had no decent clothing and no
knoWledge OF the world. Those who were
onliged to remain IN the vicinity of their former
MONIES were in many cases treated most in
numaneiy by the whites. Those who came
North proSpered, gained wealth and knowl-
edge. and some of them returned to erect
schools for their less fortunate brethren.
Inc societies which sent missionaries and
teachers 70 the South to instruct the colored
men, were composed of white people. Those
whom they employed for this work were white.
Had they taken the money paid to such teach
ers and with it educated colored men and
women and sent them South to teach the re-
suit, think, would have been vastly better for
the negroes. And if the laws could be so adj
mlnlstered in the South that eolored and white
Wond e1 Tg@id pa ma nave equal PToteetion the gain
Socletles were godsend to the people born in
slavery and kept in ignorance and Superstition
IL Is no wonder that the colored race had some
Tbs T%ei'ion 70 rise when It grew in knowledge
negroes progressed ' as fast 'nas as tbeS 5eS
nave we done when given but half
lShed, and its effects were felt by both races.
Inc whites. with reduced resources were
Obliged to hire their work done-they had not
Dsen taught to labor themselves. Some sold
colored men bought them. There are shiftIess
negroes-every race contains such people-but
the hard workers are more numerous With
Ialr dealing. some schooling and opportunity
TO noe his own row" the colored man can
generally take care of himself and his family
and leave those who have befriended him no
chance TO blush at his lack of Improvement
There are colored men, both in the South
and in the North, quite as capable of filling
Government offices as any white men thai
could be selected for the positions. 1 Certainly
aoPe tnat the present administration will see
Mt to Destow some of the gifts at its disposal
upon negroes. 1t would encourage the coiored
people and give them increased selfrespect,
But whether whites or negroes there is every
reason that all responsible positions should be
filled with honest. capable, God-fearing men.
and nowhere is the need of such men in office
greater than In the South. Let the same ius-
t1ce be meted out to the white and the colored
man, and let each have equal opportunities
for enjoying life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. This will most speedily effect a
settlement of "the race question"
ALLEGHENY, March 8. SWIRL