The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-06-01
The Negro Question.
From The Alexandria va. Gazelle.

FINN the Alexandria VA Gazette.
The ..Rev. Mr.. Bragg, an Episcopal negro
nreacher Of Norfolk. Va, in u recent com
mpnication TO ''the church Of to-day via
Southern GhnrehmaR, uses the following eX'
nressions: They, fthe uegroesl are deeply
convinced that the white people, IN past years,
have been their most cruel enemies II be
reverse of this Is the truth. Compare me
condition Of the four millions Of negroes m
the southern States at the beginning OF the
war. with that OF the same number o. the
most favorably situated Of the race at any
other time, or In any other place, and i stands
Out in bold relief that the servitude ia which
they had been held was the greatest buon
that could have been bestowed upon them.
In All time. before they we're bought by the
Yankee slave dealers and sold 20 their south
ern owners they had been the most abJect OF
slaves and their condition IN their native
homes was so utterly vile and degraded
tbattheir enslavemeai BIZ any other race vas
promotion for them. Take the Rev. Bragg
lor instance. Suppose his ancestors had not
been enslayed by those who were able and
willing 20 instruct them in the rudimeHts o.
civilization. AT least enough OF u to make
them useful as servants, what Woasd haNe
been his condition to-day That OF a naked
and degraded savage. living upon the spou
fNHPHH~
tiles and insects, perhaps eannihai, or himself
served IN as food for the beasly apPeiiies OF
his RELATIONS and eounirymen. bragg says
further. "ThA; they numerically TIRE aied
their forefathers, separating husbands from
wives. mothers from children. outraged theit
women &c. Negroes were treated severely
and ernelly bv their masters about as often rs
Ne hear and read nova days Of the cruelty %
husbands 70 wives, and parents 70 children
INIT such instances we're, as now, the cNeep-
tons to the rule Of indulgence snd moderate
discipline, which characterized our system o.
serritude, and were alSays condemned ~
public sentiment. Their cruelty 70 each otAeF'
however. was proverbtsl, and the seSerest
masters always employed negro drivers HES
bards and wives we're sometimes separatedi
never when it could be avoided; bat eireum-
stances control all races, aud frequently sep
arates other husbands aud wives, and parents
ard children, and always viii do so. Whsn
We remember that negroes were rarely viii
iusly sold, except as punishment ior eFi'nes'
for which they are nov imprisoned 10 JAMS
aud penitcutiaries, i simpliiies aud paiiiairs
the whole MISTER wonderfully. As to The
oqtraees Of the Womeu--Ne old men OF ex
perience aud knowledge Of ihe real facts IA
Z VOWED. cannot believe that It was ever prrsa-
I t;raa nS il wonld have been Il sin Of snperero-
1 cation entirely unnecessary Later on the
i Rev. Bragg pictures 'the long procession OF
1 school boys, young women and Young men'
I rehearsiug the trials Of the past, and Seep'hg
4 them alive ia their bosoms. That's ne iaei'
/ The white people. the property owners the
respectable b0ad h8e citizens Of oar country
! are taxing ourselves to pay ior the edneaiies
~ borsie Of barbarian enemies. IN order that
/ ther NAV learn more deeply the lesson Of
hatred 10 their benefactors. Bragg boasts q
I the rapid increase Of his race. The reason IS
I pIain. Who ever heard Of Hegro I'D maid.
4 Soeh a specimen would be unique indeed.
( Frederick Douglass has reeeatly declared that
/ the negroes IN the South have retrograded IN
( The last twenty wears OF course they have
4 Who that ever kGsS anything Of negro naiare,
or oftheir history for four iheasaud years, ever
/ expected them TO do anything elset As the
/ color line becomes more strictly dehneai as
! the separation between them and Their lale
I masters grows wider and more completes -
/ the influences Of association, and the Whole
I sone restraint under which they SO long lived,
aud which gave them all the resPee'epii,,..y
/ theg ever possessed, dininishes, and hnaliy
/ ceases 10 exist, the negro viii appear more
1 and more in his true character, that Of brutal
and irreclaimable savage shTewdiy sus-
pect hat the Rev. Bragg L : similar case
/ to that of Frsd. DOngless, vLo poses as tue
champion of the negro rate, and also has been
heard 10 boast that the blood cf Maryland
| aristocrats flowed in his veins. The animus
| or Douglass venom doubtless consists IN bis
strong sense of personal degradation in the
faint OF his negro blood. He evidently has
determined that his children shall have less OF
il than himself, flor which be deserves praise
as he married white woman. OF course he
had pick and choice among tie blacks and
tans Of his own people, but none OF them we're
quite good or white enough for him. But II
the colored women are all inferior 20 whiie
woman who would marry a Niger, may the
Lord help them. Z.
Hickory Grove, Prince William county.