Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-07-13
FRIDAY JULY il.
THE NEGRO or THE NINE
TENTH CENTURY.

II THE NEGRO OF THE NINE.
TENTH CENTURY.
Special to Bvstander.
Continued from last week.
And l am so thankful that the
noblest off-springs of time are the last
and the best, for it has brought grea,
tidings Of Joy to us and it, is but EN-
bodiment Of vision which our fore
n fathers from the beginning Of slavery
cherished, when they thought of free
dom some day beyond the mountains
and seas, but in the South very little
freedom is given the Negro today and
as have afore said no civilization
praeticed at all. have often wonder
ed it some of the white race know the
words in which one of their own poets
defines civilization he says, ''the free
mir Of q free country the thought of
independently given to every man re-
CARELESS to race or color would lessen
the idea of distinction between the
white and black" but why is it they
don't practice that formula, surely they
have read it, but l suppose it is as
usual certain class of them are too
ignorant to understand it. Returning
to my subject say again can we look
back upon those uninspired predictions
and not feel the weight of our obliga-
tions which they imply? Here must
those bright fancies be turned into
truth, here must those high visions be
realized in which the se-rs and sages
of our fore-parents took refuge from
the great calamities of slavery, there
are no more plans Of escaping the aw-
full horrors of the anti-bellum days to
be revealed for the fartherst point is
reached, there are no more retreats
beyond the sea, no more discoveries,
ane best of all no more hoping to be
free from bondage, we are free from
the letters and that is all for in some
places the Negro is really afraid to
speak his opinion, if so he must stay
awake several nights afterwards to see
whether Mr.. white man has fully made
up his mind to produce some great Of
tense against him or whether he will
save him for some other purpose.
Speaking to Negro race, are we justi-
tying our selves by allowing such hor-
rible misdemeanors to go on and not
resent them? If so, why it is no wonder
we are called coward by the caucasian
until the hardsh.ps of war comes and
then they push us to the front and the
only reason that I can give for that
movement Of theirs, is that the Negro
makes such 9 fine appearance, and we
AL know the American people have
great liking for beauty and good looks
though they receive no compliments
from the foreign nations for they all
know the inferiority of few of them
in comparison to the honest Negro. If
you want to test the intellectual facul-
ties Of the Negro place him in the stage
of life today with only thirty.dve or
or forty years of real life beside the
centuries of advantages of their race
and now they are farther back in the
barbarous state then the Negroes of
Africa one hundred (lOo) years ago.
The only way in the world for US to
fall heir and to come into possession
TO that which is due US, will be BY our
own perservering and now we only ask
for equalization of rights Grant US
only this and as people likened to the
giant that wrestlesd with Hercules he
gathered more strength every time he
tuched the earth, and sprang up with
more vigor and power. Think Of the
proud galaxy that adorns our progress
i've stage with a rich splendor which
nothing but regenerated liberty can
give. oh what guarantee to the per-
petuety and stability of our own people
and the proud prosperous independent
solely unaided. Permit me to say to
the white man that as deep and as firm
q your foundation is still deeper will
ths honest and just policy of the Negro
continue to rise in opposition against
you until we are given the just posi-
ton which the constitution of the U !.
S. has given us. Now let me beseech
YOU to cast aside your prejudices, to
throw off from your eyes the scales
which have so long blinded you, come
mn to this mighty and momentous
question with nothing but the holy
impulses of patriotism directing your
heart and you will see inscribed upon
yours as well as our banners truth and
iustice all for whichever would appeal
to you or ask at Gods hands that the
glory which surrounds US will radiate
effulgence to every portion of this COM
mon country, and the same destiny
& Z z L. h. -.