Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1902-12-12

negro
/ II we are rot broad and charitable
enough 30 feel this interest for their
sake, assurcdly we must for or
oyB:
Years aae zse had aesnc Missionaries
who Thought and hclsd that at no
distant day the negroes would hs esl-
onized; that they would be sent to
some faraway country. and neither
benefit aog ifoslbss tbs south
imOre.
| Bit pow. the most optomistic en-
4ariaiias no such idea. and we all pa
alize that the colored race is not only
with US now, but win remain so to
the cad Of fiIlse, asld fny that r6asoR
if for no other. we most ardently
wish them to acquire the qualities of
good citizens.
The negroes best friends cannot
deceive themselves with the belief
that their present condition is good
ale, or that as people they evince
the slightest dasire 10 isapsoFa.
The good old uncle and 'asintie
of the olden times, who entertained
the highest respect both for them
selves and the whites, have about
passed away; and we have in their
stead the younger generation conn
posed largely OF young bucks, who
tpy to dress themselves and act the
dude. but wk9 rarely, if ever, follow
any honorable mode Of livelihood, but
live in idleness, and by pilfering and
upon what is handed them from the
white men S kitchen.
That esass is utterly debauched by
whiskey, gin, and gambling.
| Ia fact the younger generation
seem perfectly fascinated by any
game of chance, and especially craps,
which seems to be the negroes game
and has done more TO unfit them for
lives of usefulness than all other evils
combined; and did we have such a
thing ~ crap statistics we venture
;te assertion they would show hun
dreds of murders committed yearly
and always for disputes over only a
few cents.
Legislatures have made laws, and
the courts have underworld assidu-
ously to enforce them, calculated 10
PVT q stop to this porniciouS practice,
but all in vain. Young Africa" is
going from bad to worse, and at
no uncertain gait.
When the negroes, young or old,
get into difficulties, they always look
to the whites to help them out; but
other than this, the whites have little
influence with them. 1t is hard for
them to comprehend that what is for
the interest OF one is for the interest
of both.
The better class of white people
wish to help the negroes to become
better men and more useful citizens
Ia this state for example the whites
spend millions of dollars in the effort
to edEeOte tie negroes, and still it is
a mooted question as 10 whether /:
Goes most harm or good.
The negro question is entirely too
il tricatc, and has too many sides for
one editorial IN newspaper; but
while the condition of the race is to
be deplored, it is not utterly without
possibilities of amelioration.
we weald not have it thought that |
the. above description applies to all
of them, for such is not the case.
On the contrary, many good and
noble members of tho eolGred race
members of the colored race are to be
found in all walks of life who are do
ing their best TO advance Gad elevate |
the others; and it was to refer to two
Of these especially, that suggested
the subject. According to Memphis
Scimitar:-
Prof. J. n Wilson. president of
the Meridian Male Academy and In
drr trial Co!legs, cQl9red, having
about four hundred students, has
written letter for publication say
ing there is no hope for his race as
long as the mou,hsris give their time |
10 gambling. loafing, whislzey drink
ing and stealing He urges upon the
better class of negroes III Meridian
40 saise 10 naacsfs tLese spring
members along the lines of truth
and virtue; and he tells them plainly
that until they change their manner
NJ living, they will never work out
that dsstiay which the leaders hope |
for, nor will they ever command the
respect OF the white people OF the
south, who are now, and always have
Iseen. their best friends and most help
full advisers.
We arc glad to know that Missis-
sippi has at least one colored teacher
who fully appreciates the condition
af the r.scoi ana rha Fealises Just |
where they are, and whittier drift
ing, and that he has the courage of
bis eonyictiqns.
Prof. Wilson il net ontisely alane
in his good work. A dispatch to the
Tisaas. hs.4acrat from Wnodville has
this to say
The Mississippi canferenee Of tho |
African Mathodist Episcopal Church |