The state capital., 1891-10-24
Southern Opportunity,
Afro-Americans Are Given Create
Chances In The Trades.


Chances In The Trades.
Atlanta, Ga, Oct. 8.-One thing is
very apparent in the South, and that
is that the Afro-American is given a
greater opportunity to earn living at
various trades than he is given at
the North. Northern white men look
on the Afro-A American workman in the
South with astonishment, because it
seems unnatural to a Northern white
man to see an Afro-American engaging
i'm anything else than waiter, porter, or
seeking some political office.
Another thing is very clearly dem
onstrated to any ordinary observer,
and that is the white man ofthe South
does not like to work. In passing
along Piedmont avenue in this city, I
observe AfrO-American brick masOns.
carpenters, helpers and bosses, put
ting up large brick buildings. No
white man was visible. This cOndi-
ton exists all over the South. Just
before the train reached Atlanta, it
stopped at small town, Acworth by
name Here, at 2:30 p. M, observed
four able-bodied white men shooting
marbles in the main street. Near
them I observed colored men selling
cotton and other country produce. Ev-
cry colored man appeared to be busy
while the white men were either play
ing marbles, or whiting stick. Ii
the colored man keeps up this indus
try for fifty years, and saves the fruits
thereof, he will not only be power
unto himself, but will positively rule
the white man, provided he acquires
knowledge in proportion to his wealth.
Without knowledge, the white man
will play all kinds of games while the
colored man is willing to make the
white man rich. Solomon said many
years ago that knowledge is power.
and it holds good to-day. COlored
men putting up the foundation for
Henry w. Grady's statue! What
strange things do occur in this land OF
caste Mr.. Grady said the negro was
inferior to the white man, but they are
plainly showing that if they had the
education equal to their white brothers
in the South, a revolution would soon
take place there, or the colOled man
would be accorded his just representa-
ton in the government, county, city
and state. 1t might turn out to be a
peaceful one, because when steel meets
steel, then comes the tug of war. Ii
the colored man will just save, and
judiciOusly invest his money and edu-
cate his children, and in few
years there will be a change fol
the better. Taxation without repre-
sentation is not only unjust, but is
radically wrong. I have never seen sc
many colOred people in Uncle SANS
service before, anywhere in my ira
vels, as there are in the post-office il
Atlanta. Our brothers are strictly"in'
there. I presume, though, as the
whites deny them representation III
the city, county and state government
they have decided to push the whites
to the wall in the only place in Geor'
gia they have got fair chance. Good
for Postmaster Buck, because credit is
certainly due him for doing the right
thing.
With proper leadership and complete
union, the cOlored people in Georgia
could accomplish great things, but un.
fortunately all want to lead, conse.
uuently there are no followers, and
thus nothing is done. They have not
a single cOlOred policeman in Atlanta
when they are entitled to ten. Their
wishes are not consulted not considered
at all when it comes to state officers
Mr.. S. T. Steele will represent the
Plaindealer in Atlanta, and also give
all news of interest to those that favor
him with their subscription. Lawyer
S. r. Hutchins will correspond from
Chattanooga, Tenn. and Mr.. Walter
Brown will do the soliciting i'll the in
terest of the Plaindealer. There are
many things that are well said about
the people of Chattanooga, and Allan
TIA, but will leave it to those on the
grounds, and who are better acquaint.
ed than [. "COnStantia. ~