The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-02-03
columbia (S. c. State. |

columbia Is. c. state.l
The Rev. Richard Carroll delivered
the following speech to 5000 negroes
assembled at Sumter, S. c., to hear
him, recently:
On January 1: 1868, Abraham Lin
coin, with trembling hand, signed
his name to the emancipation procla-
nation, which gave freedom to 4,ooo,-
900 people who had been in bondage
We should thank God, Jeff Davis,
Abraham Lincoln and the gallant,
brave soldiers Of the Confederate and
Federal armies for this freedom. Sla
very brought on the war and the war
brought us emancipation.
The negro race went up to the top
of the mountain, not round by round,
but with one leap he reached The pin
nacle Of fame and honor, while the
world looked on with wonder. The
race did not begin right and 1t will
have to make another start by laying
the foundation deep down in the
rocks of permanence. 1t was contrary
to the laws of nature and divinity SO
to build. He who breaks the laws Of
nature shall suffer, and have we not
suffered for this act?
We went into politics when we
should have gone back to the fields;
we went into office when we should
have gone to school; we went to gamb
ling when we ought to have gone to
church; we went to making and ad
ministering laws when we should have
been studying law; we emigrated
when we should have remained where
we were; we went to fighting Southern
white people when we should have
made friends of them. Gentlemen,
the race was badly led, for they went
against their best interests. Could it
be possible for ignorance to govern
and rule intelligence? Can poverty
control wealth. Is it not true that
weakness must give way to strength
People who live fast do not live
long, and those who run soon reach
the end of their journey, and find that
they did not enjoy the blessings strewn
all along the pathway. The race is
in too big hurry. The boys want
to be men before they are II, and
marry before they are able to take
care of wife. The preachers want
the title of D. D. before they know di-
vini.y; and the lawyers want IL. D.
before they understand the law. Most
all who graduate in the English course
must be addressed as "Professor. We
want biography before we have lived;
we want to be pastors when we ought
to be in the pasture. Some want to
teach that should be in school; some
want recognition whe there is moth
ing about them worthy of notice; some
want river to swim in when a small
creek is too large; some want to take
Latin and Greek that do not know a
personal pronoun in English; some
want to 90 to Congress that do not
know the first elements Of statesman.
ship; some want postoffices that do
not know how many stamped envelopes
to give for II cents.
You will agree with me that our
growth has been too fast in the wrong
direction. Let your aim be upward
and you will always find room at the
top, but you must not forget to build
downward before you start upward.
We are not the equals of the white
people, and any man who teache!
such makes a serious mistake. We art
born equal, and God made Of one
blood all the nations Of the earth, bu
the white race is the superior race ir
this country. You are not their equals
in number, wealth, property, houses
intelligence nor influence. There art
individual exceptions, but | speak o
the race. You can't be the equal o
the race unless you possess what the,
possess. Let the negro race 60 bacl
ard begin where the white race began
Go to the farm! Stick to the farm
. work on shares, rent, lease or tu,
land. The fold patriarchs, Abraham
. Jacob and others were farmers Goo
intended that man should till tn,
soil. The negroes are making grea
r mistakes by leaving the country ant
t moving to cities, where they have t'
7 pay house rent, buy wood and hal
s,arve. Besides, the majority OF III
young negro criminals come from tn
cities and towns. Some of the frs
lessons the boys learn are gambling
, drinking, stealing and other vices
They become polluted as soon as the
move to the cities.
Does it pay to farm? Yes, If 20
, will stay away from town on Sa,urda,
and as Mr.. Thos. Z. Miller said. "rak
:. straw and leaves from the woods /
} winter and put on the land"
We do not want to govern the cour
= try until we learn to govern the home
Defective homes will bring a defec,iv
government in church and State.
|, must confess that we have plenty {
church and Sunday religion, bu, nt
enough at home. | like to see goo
: homes owned and paid for by negroe
These are the most reliable and be
citizens; very few of this class comm
crime.