In many States in the South they could not get the place of a policeman if it depended upon the integrity of the ballot.
What sort of an education, a finishing school, wuz this for the young colored man of the South? Wuz such unblushin’ fraud, and lies, and cheatin’, and heart-burnings, and sickenin’ disappointments, and deeds of violence, a wholesome atmosphere for young people to learn morals in?
Felix, as he looked about him and saw the thousands and thousands and thousands of young men, graduates of schools and members of churches, in jest the same condition as he himself wuz—he might be pardoned if he asked himself if the long horror of the War had been in vain.
If Lincoln and Grant and all the other pure souls had toiled and died in vain.
If the millions of dollars given by Northern philanthropy, and the noble lives of sacrifice in teachin’ and preachin’, had been given in vain.
He might be pardoned if he said:
“Give these young colored people new doctrines or new laws; teach them less Christianity by book and a little more practical religion and justice by object lesson; give these law-abiding, native-born citizens of this Republic a tithe of the rights and privileges enjoyed by the lowest criminal foreigner newly landed on our shores, or else let this addition be made to their creeds:
“‘Merit has nothing to do in determining a man’s future life.’
“‘Injustice shall conquer in the end.’
“‘Fraud shall be victor over honest and Christian endeavor.’