The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-07-26
THURsDAY........JULY 2G, 1900

uplifting Of the masses of their race
in this country, and TO hear them de-
clare in plain, unequiyocsl language,
although they greatly regretted the
fact, that the negro had not met pub
lie expectation, and had not measured
up to his responsibility as q citizen.
These facts we're set forth and de-
plored in q meeting of the colored
conference at Hampton the other
day, st which were representatives OF
the race from most of the Southern
States, as we'll as some Of the North
ern States. One speaker, in view of
what had been done for the eolored
people, declared that the American
people had q right to demand that
the colored man shall become a salts
factory American citizen, and that
the white people had right to de-
mand that We shall be harmless in
our attitude towards the institutions
of Anglo Saxon civilization" He
declared that if the negro did not de-
Yelop into q good citizen, he was con-
slant menace to society, and that he
must develop in the right way in or
der to become an element Of strength.
He said he wanted to emphasize the
fact that the negro was not giving
satisfaction, and he wished to urge
him that he must look to himself, and
ask, What is the matter with me -
1t is we'll to let the negro know that
he is not meeting expectations, and
no one can convince him Of that fact
If convinced he can se-snd start
him in the right way so we'll as one OF
his own color. He will listen to and
act upon the advice of his own color
when he would reject the same ad
vice proffered by white map. Why
this is so may not be easily or salts
fsctorily explained, but it is generally
known to be true.
Now the question is, will the advice
Of the sensible, conservative leaders
be acted upon, or will it be spurned
and rejected and the colored masses
move on in the usual way That the
colored man has not given satisfac-
tion as q citizen in all the Southland,
where he has been brought up, is
patent, even to the casual observer.
1t has been claimed that the color
ed man was at a great disadvantage
at the close of the war, and did not
have a fair chance in the contest for
a living with the white man that he
had been q slave, was uneducsted
and owned no property. We cannot
endorse this view altogether. In
many instances the slave was far
ahead of the old master. The latter
had been four years in war, had lost
all be had and, on his return home,
found his farm in a wretehed condi.
ton, his fencing destroyed, his stock
carried away and consumed by the
army, and he himself more or less
broken down in health, if not in
spirits. Besides, it may be, he knew
but little about farming, that in form
or years having been entrusted to
others. The slave had remained at
home, was in good health, was able
and knew how to work, good farming
lands were at his command and at a
reasonable rental. The old master
had to commence from the beginning
and so had the slave. Therefore the
slave was not at a great, if any, dis
advantage.
How does it stand to-day 1t is
needless to draw the picture. In
some few cases the colored man has
accumulated property, lives we'll and
is respected, but in most instances he
has become indolent, untruthful, IN.
reliable, and roams about the country
in idleness, which has ever been a
procurer of crime. Therefore, be.
cause Of his Incidence and unreliable
ity, he is no help to agriculture, and
because he is sordid and for sale
at all elections, he is scorned by the
upright and law-sbiding of both
races.
What is the remedy for all these
evils 7 AS we have intimated, we do
not believe that it lies in any thing
the whites can do of themselves.
They have done all they can do with
out success. We believe that if there
is any redemption for the masses of
the colored people-most of whom are
ignorant, idle and shiftless- it lies in a
united effort Of the educated, progress
sive, intelligent leaders of the race.
They must reach down and lift up the
masses and instill into them some
adequate appreciation Of their citi-
zsnship and a proper pride of their
manhood and race. This should be
done by bringing to their assistance
all classes Of the colored race, as far
as possible, and continue these united
efforts until the object is attained. II
this effort is made in good faith the
leaders in the movement will find as
sistsnce and such aid ss can be af..
forded by the whites who are much