Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-05-16
SLAVERY OF INTEMPERANCB.

\
take great pleasure in discussing
this difficult subject-a discussion Oi
which L have not seen for sometime.
When slavery was first begun IN Amer
lea it was asked by the people o. the
old world. and is asked now by the in
habitants of the new, what constitutes
slavery? Slavery, in itself Is considered
state Of bondage and nothing more.lt
is the condition of a private Individual
who is deprived of his liberty and sub
iect to the will OF another.
There are many conditions common
bet~ cen slavery asst has always eX-
listed. A minor, like slave has no
right to voi he is not eligible TO ONCE
cannot be held in law by contracts
which he makes. aud in his time and
labor is under another power.
nature. not force has made the con
dition OF minor. 1t contemplates his
being ultimately raised to all the Dig
mites and rights of citizen, and ma
ture has secured in the affections OF
those under whom minors are COM
monty placed The bess pledge that
their interests viii be sacredly regard
ed. Slavery does none of these things.
We must return to that simple prov-
sion in that constitution which ce-
nented orr confederation We must
do tins or break up the compact
We must review our doing on this
subject. ard come to an agreement, by
which the provision of the constitution
shall be enforced with the least posi-
BILE ground of objection. | consider
that TO be owned as property by a fell
low being, is a greater wrong than any
theft, ingratitude or unkindness OF
which he may be guilty,
! would deliver him from bondage.
Is slavery right? We Will consult the
sacred book upon this vastly import
ant question The Egyptians had
power TO enslave the Hebrews and
they did it. The Americans had pow
er To hold the Africans in bondege and
they did il.
Now, when the Egyptians subjected
the Hebrews TO slavery God frowned
upon them and visited them with Sc
we're Judgement. Now, IL God dishked
the Ii hebrews to be in bondage Ia the
days of Egypt's prosperity does itseem
wrong to express our belief that slav-
cry of the Africans by the Americans
was contrary TO what God would have
had been.
For he hath looked down from the
height OF his sanctuary from heaven
did the Lord behold the earth.
ITO hear the grooming of the prison
ers, to loose those that are appointed
10 death"
1t is found in Dent XIV, 1910. And
If thy brother, a Hebrew man. or a He
brew woman, be sold unto thee and
serve thee six years. then in the sew
enth year thou shalt let him go free
from thee And when thou sendst him
out from thee thou shalt not let him
90 away empty handed; Thou shall
furnish him literally out of thy flock
out OF thy -four, and out OF thy vine
press.
And, now, kind reader after having
perused this talk do you not thing that
God was opposed to having one hu-
man being in slavery to another. a
History itself should clearly demon
strate this fact to YOU. For when the
Egyptians had the Hebrews in bondage
did not the all powerful hand of God
release them from their tyrannical
masters When the Israelites were
oppressed by king PharOah, and COM
PEELED TO do his bidding Did not the
great God of this universe force him
to release his hold upon them.
Why, the fact that slav ry is not
~ ~. - Oily outlined in the sacred
authority of God S own word. For had
itnot been so would he by his great
power and undying love for man, have
guided him to the promised land.
Would he not instead of clearing the
way for the oppressed lsaelites TO the
land which he promised them placed
Instructions in their path which would
have been impossible for them 10 pass.
And now, there are many kinds of
slaves which the human family form.
We have discussed the question of
man being slave to man, 1t was
impossible for him to be anything else,
had he had his own will, and had bc
been subjected to the guidance of 2is
own mind he would never have been
slave.
/ was born a slave. Yes, born a
slave, But blessed be the Holy God of
the heavens as he released the Israel
ties, as he released the Hebrews; so
has he released me, and through his
all powerful majesty l am slave no
more.
Now how many can say they are no
more slaves. There are many kinds
of masters, and one of the most power
full most tYrannical, most seducing of
these is the cursing influence of drink,
which gets possession of man. But,
oh. vile, weak sinful man despair not,
for as the One who delivered the He
brews and Israelites from bondage, SC
he-the great and only God-has pow
! er to release you from your knocking
master drink.
The deadly drug which poisons the
mind and body and ruins the soul
! Ask God for power TO resist your mas.
| 60. T.r,rr
! from this master whose reward Is the
pits of hell.
Since the era OF African freedom il
American, the oppressed have riser
high. Yol can see them daily employ
ed i'm the tasks which their white
! brethren perform. We have them il
lour pOst-Office, we have them in GU
| colleges, we have them in the schools
we have them in our ministry and il
fact in every occupation in the land
They represent our people an TIT
different bodies of government. Wer'
it not better that it should be thus in
stead of envy and suffering. For it il
i Gods own holy command, 'love on
another
When Abraham Lincoln did the no
BILE and worthy act of signing tn
! Emancipation Proclamation, thereby
setting them free, an oppressed race o
people he did thing which buried il
The hearts Of that people an undyinl
love.
They re true because God has 81
wetts d it, had it been contrary 60 hi
divine W shes it never would hav'
been. re
Yours respectfully,
tH w. r. RICHARDSON