NEGRO NOTES.
HOME.
—A colored gentleman of high standing and great influence—a life-long resident of Philadelphia—was invited by Mrs. Hayes to “be seated and talk on the political situation,” when the following conversation took place: “It is very quiet now at the South, we learn?” “Yes, madam; it is the quietness of death to the colored people. My son is in jail for the crime of aiding in carrying the State of South Carolina for the President.”
—Senator Blaine, in a speech at Hot Springs, Ark., put the Southern question aptly thus: “Perfect peace in the South will everywhere follow perfect justice. There is no man in the country who desires strife for the sake of strife, but there will always be strife so long as there is wrong.”
—There is a quaint, straightforward way of putting things sometimes that strikes right at the root of things, an art which our colored friends of the South seem especially to understand. And here is what was sung recently at one of their meetings in Jacksonville:
If you see Peter asleep at de gate,
Kase de night befo’ he was up so late,
You needn’t ’spect, with your load ob sin,
Dat you’ll slip past him and steal right in:
De angels always acts on de squar’;
Dey know you here, an’ dey’ll know you dar.
Such singing would not be in order in our churches. But, after all, isn’t there a bit of truth right here, and may not these lines be reflected on with considerable profit?
—A colored man, who very sensibly consulted President Hayes, before migrating to San Domingo, received a letter in reply, from which the following is extracted: “I have given some consideration to your question as to the emigration of colored people from Florida to San Domingo. I am not well informed as to the advantages offered by San Domingo to immigrants, but my impression is that your people should not be hasty in deciding to leave this country. The mere difference in climate is a very serious objection to removal. The first generation, in all such removals, suffer greatly. It is my opinion, also, that the evils which now affect you are likely steadily, and I hope rapidly, to diminish. My advice is, therefore, against the proposed emigration.”
FOREIGN.
—Stanley’s African expedition cost $115,000, and he discovered 15,000,000 uncovered Africans. The Worcester Press says six heathen for five cents is very reasonable.
—The missionaries of the Church Missionary Society to Lake Victoria Nyanza have been cordially received by King Mtesa. When the passage was read in the Society’s letter, in which a reference is made to our Lord, the king ordered a salute to be fired, which was explained to be for joy at the mention of the name of Jesus. The king wished especially to know if the missionaries had brought the book—the Bible. He has himself since acted as interpreter to his people at the Sunday services.