Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-07-16
A Colored Man on the Force Bill.

Swami, q colored citizen Of New jersey
and native of Danville, Va, to the Phila
delphia Record will be read with speoia
interest ct this juucturs by the people ol
this section. 1t tells the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth in regard
to the position of Northern Republicans ir
regard to the "rsce question:" and in a
sensible, candid and straightforward man.
ner that cannot but carry conviction to ali
unprejudiced minds. Its conclusions as tc
the effect of the Force bill are strikingly
just and rational, and will be fully borne
cut by the result if this mischieyous sire
brand" as he aptly characterizes it, should
be hu,led into the South by the partisan
t:esperednes at Washington.
The letter is as follows:
Being native of Danville, Va, and the
son of a former slave, have been living
North but brief period, but from what
have seen of the two sections claim the
Southern negro has more privileges and ad.
vantages than his Northern brother of the
same race. Though I have used my ut
most endeavor to avail myself of the 'equai
rights'' SO boastingly mentioned by the
"friends of the negro" in the North, am
debarred from the workshops, from the
counting-rooms, fIom official positions, OF
from any occupation I may seek, except
that which requires me to wear the white
apron badge of a cook, or waiter, or as q
hod-carrier. must seek only the positions
least remunerative if not the most menial.
When I pass along Lombard street, PhiIa.
delphia, l find that prejudice against them
has crowded the negroes together like hogs
in pen, and venture to assert that there
is not spot South of Mason and Dixon's
line where the negro is in SO much misery,
or faces such squalid poverty, as the poor
denizens of Lombard street and the other
miserable quarters in which he has been
compelled on account of his color to reside
in the ''good City of Brotherly "Love." 1t
would be wise to let little of the SYM
pathy that arises from the Lore of the
brother in black to begin here at home.
The South has done, and is still doing,
more for the negro than many suppose
Negroes have been sent from the South to
the United States Senate, to the lower
House of Congress. to the State Legislature,
and they have held minor positions, but I
have yet to hear of s'black Congressman"
from the Republican North-a single negro
that has ever been considered good enough
to hold the position of postmaster or any
other position that requires an ounce Of
brainwork. It is well enough to live in the
North and talk of negro domination in the
South, but where is the Northern town,
county, city or State that will swallow the
same medicineP The Southern negro is
not born slave, but he is just as effectu-
ally shut out from the advantages of
humanity as though the chains were forged
upon him. He can never be anythfS1 Il
the North but s'nigger" still, and the
sympathy so freely expressed for
the s'rights of the negro' down South
would be better extended in thu North.
Equally as many ''outrages" are COM
mitted in the city of Philadelphia in one
week as in the whole State of Virginia in
one year, yet no Congressional committee
and but for the ''rum" dealt
out to the ignorant of both races on election
lays and other times, the "outrages" in
The South would be seldom heard of. The
Of the negro North and South is
Tor him to do his own thinking. When
hey, like the whites, learn to divide on
party lines, they will be more respected;
out just SO long as they allow "pot-house
politicians" to dictate their political course,
10 long as they allow them to keep them in
,lans, just so long will the whites keep
ogether. Northern whites will not be
dominated by the negro, and they cannot
orce their Southern brother to do what
hey will not d..
The "Force bill' will not benefit the negro,
,ut on the other hand it will retard his
progress. 1t is nearly thirty years since
he war began. The majority of the old
laves have gone to their quiet home. A
iegro who can even remember slavery
must be thirty-five years old. To have
worked in the field under master he must
'e nearly so years old. Time and educa-
ion are healing pIejudices, and the two
aces in the South are drawing nearer to-
ether, but this fire brand" about to be
asst in their midst by the fanatics at Wash
Dgton will open wounds and result in the
DOWNFALL of the negro in the end, for should
here be general revolution the whites of
be North aud South would both unite |
gainst him. The strong prejudice right |
ere in the North is alone sufficient proof |
f my claim. Every blow struck at the
whites of the South is two blows on the |
eads of innocent and industrious negro6s s, |
Tho ask nothing more than the privilege |
ccorded every American, whether be be |
alive or adopted, and if he must fill |
lenial positions he should at least be as
isted to heal prejudice instead of incress-
,g it.