Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-07-10


in the Philadelphia Record q few Gays ego:
Editor Of the Record:
i you will allow 'colored" reader 10 ex-
prees few words through the columns OF
your paper regarding the much-talked-of
negro question" and tbs national election
bill" will take advantage Of your permits
sion.
Being q native of Danvi!le. Va, and the
cen of former slave, l have been living
porih cut brief period, but from what l
have seen of the two sections l claim the
southern negro has more privileges than hia
northerp brother of the sane race. Though
have used my utmost endeavor to avail
myseif Of the equal rights' so boastingiy
rnentioced by the friends of the negro" in
the North, / am tebarred from the work
shops, from the connting-rooms, from ofi-
ca positions. or from any occupation [ may
seek, except that which requires me to wear
the white apron badge of cook, or waiter, or
as hod-carrier l rnust seek only the po.
sitious least renumefa,ive, if not The most
menial When pass along Lombard street,
Philadelphia, I 6Dd that pre- judice against
them has crowded the negroes together like
hogs in pen, ard venture to assert that
there is not spot south of Mason and Dix
one line where the negro is ia 80 much
misery, or faces such squslid povertF, as the
poor derizeus of Lombard street and the
other miserable quarters ia which he has
been compelled on account of his color to
reside in the coed City of Brotherly Love-"
Il would be wise to let u little of the symps-
thy that arises from the love CT the brother
in black to begin here at home.
The South has done, and is still doing,
more ior the negro than many suppose.
Ne2rces have been cent from the South TO
tie United States Senate, to the lower house
CT Congress. to the State Legislature, snd
they have held minor positions, but l have
yet TO hear of q "olack Congressman" from
he republican North-a single negro that
baa ever been considered good enough TO
hold the position of postmaster OF any
otter position that requires an ounce
of brain work. 1t is we'll enough to live
in the North and talk of negro domi-
nation 10 the South, but where is the north
ern towu, county, city or State that will
swallow the sane medicine? The northern
negro is not born a slave, but be Is just as
ctfectually shut out from the advantages OF
humanity as though the chains we're forged
upoc him. He can never be any thing at the
North but 'nigeer" still, and the msudlin
sympathy SO freely expressed for the Tights
of the negro" down South can be better ex-
tended in the North.
Equally es many "outlages" ara commit
ted in the city of Philadelphia in one week
SIS n the whole State OF Virginia 10 one
year, yet no congressional committee iuves-
tieates (; and but for the rum" dealt out to
the Ignorant OF both races on election days
and other times, the "outreges" in the South
would be seldom heard of. The salvation
of the negro North and South ia for him TO
dc hia own thinking When they, like the
whites, learn to divide on party iines, they
will be more respected; but just SO long ss
they allow "pot-house politicians" to dc
tate their political course, so long as they
allow them to keep them in clans. just so
long will the whites keep together. North
ern whites will not be dominated ny the
negro, and they cannot force their southern
brother to do what they will not do
The 'force bill" will not benefit the negro,
but on the one hand it will retard his pre-
gress II is nearly thirty years since the
war began. The majority of the old slaves
have gone to their quiet home. A negro
who can ever remember slavery mus, be
about 35 years old. To have worked In
field under master be must bs close 20 30
years old Time and education is healing
prejudices, and the two races in the South
are drawing nearer together but thi5 hte-
brand" about TO he CAT In thelr midst 0Y
tho fanatics st Washington will open
wounds and result in the do. nfail Of The
negro in the end; for should here be gen.
era revolution tae whites Of the Nortn and
South would both uDita against him. The
strong pr udics rieh. here in the North ia
alone sufficient proof Of my claim. Every
blow struck al the whites ofthe South means
two blows on the shoulders of the Innocent
and industrious negroes, who ask nothing
more than the privilege accorded every
American, whether be be native or adopted;
and if be must ell The menal positions he
should at least be ed to heal prejudice
instead of increasing It,
THOMAS w. SWAMI.
Atco, N. j., June 90 1890