“This changed status creates new duties. The wardship has changed hands. Men of the North and of the South, of the East and of the West—I care not of what party—I would to-day, on this commemorative occasion, urge upon every one within the sphere of duty and humanity, whether in public or private life, to see to it that there be no violation of the Divine trust.”
To which the Independent gives its enthusiastic assent as follows:
“Amen and Amen! Statesmen, patriots, Christians, listen to the words of the Vice-President of the Confederate Government! They speak the deepest feelings of the best men who fought against the Union. There remains now for us the greater task of making the freedmen worthy to enjoy and fit to adorn that freedom whose proclamation was signed September 22d, 1862.”
DOUGLASS AND HAYES AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
Surely, the colored people of the South are receiving plain talk and good advice on all sides. Perhaps no one speaks more plainly and penetratingly, and perhaps no one has a better right or ability to do it, than the Hon. Frederick Douglass. At the reception of an engraving of Mr. Carpenter’s picture, from the artist, by the Howard University, he uttered honest words, and true. Speaking of Mr. Stephens’ speech, in which he said it was yet to be proven if emancipation was a blessing, Mr. Douglass replied that this question was to be answered in the future, and meant that his race was still on trial—on trial to see if they would be better masters to themselves than their masters were to them—if they would rise as early and work as late.
In regard to his own people, he said:
“Among the faults of my people are self-indulgence, love of ease, and improvidence. They must learn to spend their earnings judiciously. If one can’t get up, he will be helped down. They have a fair chance to get up. They are on the way to Congress, and if the negro can stand Congress, Congress ought to stand the negro. The colored men have been forced up by abnormal conditions, but they are now coming up gradually by their own exertions.”
This is the soundest kind of sense. Emancipation only struck the shackles from the slave; it had no power to lift him up. Federal force could hold him up by the arms, but he is still as limp as ever, for all that; his ankle bones could not immediately receive strength from it. “They have a fair chance to get up”; but that does not get them up of itself. The stairways of education are laid from the first story—yes, from the sub-cellar up through the basement, flight after flight, to the top floor. But stairways do not turn, end for end, to tumble people up. The paths of honest industry and thrift are open; but they are all up-hill, and never slide their travelers down into competence and respectability. There is a chance to get up, but the freedman must do his own climbing, after all. If there are some to dissuade him, by assuring him that for him these ascents lead up to nothing worth the effort, there are others to cheer him on, and to rejoice with him in each new advance. But even such will be compelled to admit the justice of the saying, “If one can’t get up, he will be helped down”; he must not obstruct the way. He ought, however, to be encouraged, by seeing such men as Douglass up so near the top. And those who cannot encourage him by example, because they were born on higher levels, surely may sympathize with him, in the remembrance of their own toil, as they ascended on the same scale, though higher. Let there not fail him, while he fails not to strive, cheers from above, cheers from below, cheers from all around him, and a hand, too, now and then, for him to grasp and get a friendly pull. The stair builders must be in the way to help a little, just when heart and strength are failing.
President Hayes spoke, too, on the same occasion, and in much the same line. Read this President’s Message: