National Baptist world., 1894-09-14

Editor National Baptist WOrtd
DEAR SIR AND BROTHER.-I no
ticed very able article in your issue
Of Aug. 81, from the pen Of Rev. J.
HI. Van Lue, upon the negro prob
lem in the United States. In read
ing the article I could not help but
be impressed by great many OF the
statements and suggestions therein
contained. But it seems to me III
some parts Of the article, that he IS
inclined to be skeptical upon the I'M
al results and determination OF the
negro problem in the United
States. 1t seems to me, from some
Of the statements made. and ques-
tions therein, as though my dear
brother was doubling; in fact not
only the possible power OF Christ TO
save and assist the negro race in this
country, but also in the help OF any
man or men, or any party We un-
doubtedly have been greatly assisted
in the past, and there is no reason
why we will not be helped and assis-
ted more in the future.
In my opinion the negroes OF this
country have made rapid strides IN
Christianity, in wealth, and in edu-
cation in the past thirty years. For
instance, on this point desire to call
YOUR attention to one statement alone.
s"The colored people Of the United
States support at this time seven col
leges, seventeen academies, fifty
high schools, in which there are thir-
ty thousand pupils. They have one
million, five hundred thousand chill
dren in common schools and twenty
four thousand teachers, and more
than two million, five hundred thou
sand Of the negroes OF the United
States CAN read and write at this
time. ~
This GREAT advancement has been
made, and the number OF colleges
and academies erected, and between
two and three million Of our race
taught to read and write, within the
past thirty years. It is true great
part Of this work has been accom-
plished by our own energy, perse-
yerance and persistant prayer and
hard labor; but at the same time we
have received material aid and sup
port from great many Of the Anglo
Saxon race north Of Mason and Dix
on,s line. In nearly every state
north Of Mason and DiXon's line our
children are admitted to the public
schools, academies and colleges With
out anv distinction being made. This
result has been brought about in the
northern states mainly by the party
who was led by that God-sent citi-
zen. Abraham Lincoln, in 1850, to
liberate our fallen race and free us
from slavery.
1t is true that in the homes OF the
negroes in the south they have re-
ceived some encouragement, but in
the main they have met with eppo-
sition whenever they have attempted
To become better educated and obtain
homes or anv wealth above the low
est of the poor white trash citizens
Of the southern countries. While
that opposition perhaps was not dl-
rectly attributable to the better edu-
Gated and wealthier southern citi-
zens, all Of the crimes, outrages and
prosecutions Of the negroes in the
south, to a great extent was counte-
nanced and encouraged by the gov
ernors, state senators, judges, and
most prominent men OF the South.
They, and their followers who do
their bidding, are the defendants of
the very identical men who for hun
dreds Of years kept US and our fore
fathers in slavery and bondage. They
are the parties who to-day are en-
couraging--from a political stand
point-the Populists Of the northern
states to draw the negro vote away
from the party, and the only party,
IuaL mas gwen us W udb lIIllt SOOu VI
advantages as citizens Of the United
States we are now permitted TO en-
JOY. By every device they are en-
couraging, aiding and assisting the
Populist party to hire emissaries OF
our colored brother, to 60 into our
ranks and seduce away from our first
love our colored brethren, to aid and
assist that party to defeat, not only
in Kansas, but all over the northern
states, the party that for thirty-tive
years has stood up for human slavery
against disfrachising US in the south
ern states. That party has condemn
ed the inhuman crimes that have
been perpetrated upon our race all
through the southern states, and |
am sorry to say, in some Of the north
ern states.