Year: 1863

BRETHREN AND FRIESDs :-TBenty-nine
years ago, a littlefew OfyOur numbers, and
timid little few of the white folks, met
me in the lonely anti-slavery prayer meet.
ings in the basement story of the Stone
Church, with, now and then, painting fu-
gitive hanging to our skirts. Then the
negro was ostracised-by which, I mean,
Sentenced by public sentiment to per-
petual exclusion from the esteem, conf
dence, hOnOrs and emOluments of his
country"


Now, the Attorney General of the United
States, in thoroughly digested argument,
has Hdjudged to him the right Of citizen
ship, and the President Of the United
states has proclaimed freedom to millions
of the enslaYed. In strong sympathy with
your joy, under these glad tidings, and to
encourage you to meet, manfully, your
new and cheering responsibilities, affec-
tionately present to you, as my "New
Years Gift, the following article, which
is already in the hands of my colored
friends in oberlin.


While preparing short address to be
offered at our Jubilee meeting on the first
day of January, as my New Years gift 10
our cOlored people, the Springfield (Mass.)
Republican brought to my table the very
article needed. This article publicly read
as happy substitute for what was brew
ing in my own brain. Please acceptit as
an index of the deep interest have long
felt and still cherish for the oppressed ne
gro race in our country, with my prayer
that all our cOlored population may be-
come imbued with its spirit sentiment
and views.


JOHN KEEP,


oBERLIN, January 7, 1868.


THE MISSION OF THE CoLoRED PEOPLE.


"Great opportunities are about to open
before the free colored people Of this
country-chances for usefulness, wealth
and position, such as have been denied to
their race through many weary ages of
injustice and contempt. Do they begin to
comprehend the future that awaits them ?
Four millions of their race, born in sls-
very, are about to be transformed into
freemen. They are to begin a new life,
in which they will come into possession
of their own persons, their own physical
and mental powers, and viii be thrown
upon their own resources for self-direc-
ton and support. Their long degradation
has rendered most Of them mere children
in intellect nation of vigorous ami
mails, who are to be trained to intelligent
manhood. Consider how many teachers,
how many preachers of the Gospel, how
many instructors in the mechanic arts
and the routine Of civilized life will be
needed as these untaught millions enter
upon their new existence.


"Who so well fitted to be the teachers
and guides of their emancipated brethren
as the intelligent and Christian cOlored
men and women Of the free States, and
especially of New England, who have
grown up in our schools and churches,
and who in real culture and character are
very much above the average white men of
the slave States. Many white people will
doubtless be found, like the missionaries
and teachers who have gone to South Car
NAAhof " NAANA AnD OpGnluk uElu OF LlG
South from motives Of philanthropy. But
the colored people Of the North have be-
sides, the sympathy that comes from race
and blood, and will naturally be attracted
southward just as soon as the freedom of
their race is established. They will be
the most acceptable instructors of their
emancipated brethren. And to them will
be offered not only opportunities for phi
lanthropic effort but for enterprised and
skilled labor. The rude cabins Of the
slaves are to give place to the neat cot
tages Of the free laborers, and thousands
Of school houses are to be built for the ed
ueation of the negro children. And there
are young men and women of color, trained
in our public schools, who are competent
to this great work of lifting up the de-
graded millions of their race, and educa-
ting them for civilized life.


1t would be great thing for our free
cOlored people if they could rise to the
grandeur Of this conception, and prepare
to undertake the mission that Providence
is just about to offer to them. Our colored
people have complained with good reason,
that the avenues to influence and position
were closed against them in the Free States
and that the education of their children
only made them discontented with the me-
nial pursuits to which the negro is limited
by popular prejudice. But this is TO be
true no longer. There is to be demand
for the services of educated colored men
add women, which is not likely to be half
met. The next half century is to be one
of unprecedented activity and progress
among the colored people of this country,
and talent and industry will gain their
just rewards without respect to race and
complexion. Let no smnrt coIored boy,
then, lay aside his books, with the i4oa
that he never can be anything better than
a barber, q boot-black or a waiter. He
may become lawyer, a preacher, an edu-
Gator, and win his way to fortune and dis
tinction at the same time that he does in
valuable service to his race. The emanci-
pated slaves Of the South will make much
more rapid progress than those Of the Brit
ish West Indies, because they are within
the sphere of more vital and active
civilization. Hundreds of enlghtening
and inspiring influences will be brought
to bear upon them that the negroes
of the West India Islands know moth
ing Of; besides, the christianity of this
country will rightly consider the South its
peculiar field, and concentrate its chief ef-
forts upon the heathenism of a false civil
ization, until it is obliterated. Whether
emancipation shall be quick or slow under
the Presidents proclamation and the pro-
gress of the war, it is beyond doubt that
the peculiar institution has received its
death blow, and is doomed to utter destruc-
tion. And there can be no nobler mission
for either the eolored or psle-faced Chris
tians Of this country than cooperation
with Divine Providence in the elevation Of
a whole race to therapeutics and blessings
of American citizenship. Will the educat-
ed Christian negroes Of the North think Of
it, and prepare to do the great work that
lies Just before them n


nENTI0TpV