The Washington bee., 1889-08-24
SOUTHERN CHIVALRY.

Negro to succeed as some of our
Bourbon Democrats in the South,
are anxious for them to fail and
be the menials of the most com
mon type of white humanity. 1t
is folly for the Negro to pre-
sumo that the Democratic party
is iu any way friendly to him or is
that party to be trusted under
any circumstances, especially when
the rights of the Negroes are in
volved. In speaking of the recent
episode in the South, the New
York PreeS has this to say:
"a letter from JEFFERSON Davis, in which he
refers TO our righteous cause the cause OF
slavery, and the outrageous articles In many
of the Southern newspapers commenting on
the Atlanta Post Office episode, indicate that
race hatred is as bitter in many quarters of
the South as at any time since the War. Arti-
cles and communications have appeared, for
example Ia the Atlanta Constitution; too dis
gusting 10 reprint, in which those who aid the
Negro TO improve his condition by fitting him.
self for occupations in which whites are en-
ployed are denounced in the strongest and
most offensive language, and the platform OF
the Virginia Democratic state Convention, in
the same spirit, calls the Republican party
the enemy OF the white race and the false
friend of the colOred race for refusing 10 ac-
QuieSce in the bourbon theory that the latter
is inherently incapable OF progress or Citizen
ship, and must be kept forever under the
spell of a traditional curse-a theory that the
marvellous progress of the race itself bellies
and replaces with reasonable hope of the
utmost civilization
Jefferson Davis is an uucon.
structed rebel, and
he says true when he
asserts that the prejudice against
the Negro is as strong in the
South to-day as it was since the
war. We feel grateful to the able
editor Of the New York Press for
this timely defense of the Negro;
we are aware that hundreds OF
our white fellow-citizens are os-
traeised for defending what they
know to be right and just; and
while we are in the minority, we
shall not remain SO, nor shall we
continue to be oppressed by the
enemies to progress and civiliza-
tlon. Progress never retrogrades,
nor will God allow any race to be
everIastingly oppressed, or contin'
ually pursued like bloodhound
hunted the slave in days prior to
reconstruction. Again the Press
says:
"All this is very wrong, and our Southern
brethren will never bring about that era OF
freedom from sectional hatred and race preju.
dice of which they pirate SO much while they
stand ready on the slightest provocation tC
lapse into the 'niggah hating rhetoric o.
former days. The fact Is the Negro is pari
and parcel of the population of the Southern
States. One after another his rights have
been established. The war made him fret
and subsequently legislation has given him
all the other rights belonging TO American
citizenship, and il rs only q matter of time
when he will enjoy those rights In spite OF the
terly every step the Negro takes TO advance
his condition mentally, politically or from 6
material standpoint"
1t is indeed wrong, but we are
strong enough to stand it until oul
patience shall cease to be a virtue,
or until we throw off the mask ol
madness and clothe ourselves in
wealth, education, combination
and agitation. The Negro is mer
ciful, and brave, and bis heart il
too great to injure those who
nursed at the breast of his mother
and the husband of whom watch
ed and protected therebel's house
hold and watched their interests
and their young ones while their
fathers were marshalling
their forces to comba'
those who were fighting
to preserve the republic and liber
ate the slave. Notwithstanding
all this, the Press says:
'sStill the race is advancing, and the next
census " i'll undoubtedly show that the pro.
. greSs of the colOred people of the South has
been greater during the past decade than in
any corresponding period since the war
Young coIored men and women are fltlng
themselves for the higher occupations, and
even for the professions. In this they certain
ly ought 10 be encouraged. Many OF them, as
in the case OF the young man recently ao'
pointed by the Atlanta Postmaster to q re
sponsible place in that office, have taken the
civil service examination, and have passed
most creditably. Important desks in the vari
GUS departments in Washington are filled by
young colored people OF both sexes. They are
az a rule capable. industrious, attentive and
polite. No refined woman clerk need feaI
contact with these young men and women
because they have African blood in theiI
veins. They are as polite and well behaved
as white men in the same capacity, and of
times free from some of the offensive habits
of white clerks"
Yes, and we mean to advance
and with the aid of such men az
the editor of the Press, Superinten-
dent of Census, Hon. Robt. p.
Porter, Gen. Mobiles, Col. Shep-
pard of the Mail and ErpreSs, and
thousands of others of our white
fellow-citizens, no race will be
any farther advanced in forty
years from now than the Negroes
of America. In closing the very
able and complimentary editorial,
IL