The American Missionary — Volume 33, No. 07, July, 1879Various
History
The American Missionary — Volume 33, No. 07, July, 1879
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
“Having accomplished this much of their intention, about thirteen
or fourteen hundred moved to town on May 2. In the evening, the
white people became excited over the action of the colored people.
They came to town and held a meeting. Then the colored people
became excited over the action of the whites, and made ready to
protect themselves.
“By night there were 2,000 persons in town, all armed. The sheriff
was dispatched for; he came with many others. The next morning he
went to the camp of the colored people and examined their arms. All
but one submitted to his authority. The man drew his gun and the
sheriff drew his pistol. If either of the two had fired there would
have been trouble all around, but, thank God, there was none. This
man was arrested and sent to jail.
“The town is crowded now and is guarded at night (every night)
by the whites. It seems that they will not allow the boats to
interfere and convey these poor people to St. Louis. They have been
waiting on the bank four days. Yesterday (Sunday) it rained very
hard, and the women with their little ones and household goods were
out in all of the storm. We have had very heavy rains; the thunder
and lightning was as if the world were coming to an end. The people
are exposed to the weather, but determined to go to Kansas.
“The whites are doing all they can to get them back to their homes
to stay this year. They go to the camp, talk and coax, but the
people have not yielded yet, and it is doubtful if they will.
“I cannot relate the whole story; it is very long and sad.”
Another letter just received says the people returned to the farms
for this year. Hunger and the necessities of the case compelled
them to yield. Both the writer of this letter and the young man
called to Kansas, expect to return to Le Moyne next year and
graduate.
We do not graduate a class this summer, but shall give diplomas
to a large and well prepared class next season. If we are denied
the privilege——or deny ourselves——of graduating students, we find
ample compensation in the excellent work and character of our young
people. I wonder if Mr. Steele has told you of our five ministers
scattered around in different classes——two Baptist, two Methodist,
one Christian Adventist. Four of the five are settled over churches
and are of excellent spirit, possessing fair ability.
Yesterday the churches had a grand union picnic. A procession
headed by a band of music marched to Estival Park, which has
opened its gates to colored people within the past fortnight. A
few of our scholars were excused to attend, but all the older
students preferred to continue at work and were entirely unaffected
by the excitement. Three years ago, two days had to be given
to Sunday-school picnics——the Thursdays when the Baptists and
Methodists held anniversaries. We think it quite a triumph to have
reached the point of ignoring such events.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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