The American Missionary, Volume 34, No. 12, December 1880Various
Religion
The American Missionary, Volume 34, No. 12, December 1880
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
spiritual grace that alone can anoint him as a king or priest.
The source of the special irritation in regard to these races is
not far to seek. If a man moves into your neighborhood who is of
your own race and color, though you may differ from him in theories
of trade, politics or religion, yet assimilation and esteem may
arise. But if he has a tawny skin, delights in the promiscuous use
of the tomahawk and scalping knife, and withal claims an ancient
title to the very land you occupy; or if he has a yellow face,
wears a cue, eats with chop-sticks and is willing to work fifty
per cent. cheaper than you can; or if he has a black face, with
the stigma of slavery and caste-prejudice upon him, then the case
is altered; assimilation and friendship are not so easy. But these
people are here and they must stay; they are so numerous that you
cannot ignore them; you must choose between leaving them as they
are, a perpetual source of annoyance and danger, or training them
to become useful citizens. Moreover, they are your neighbors,
fallen among thieves, which stripped them of their raiment and
wounded them, and you must choose between the part of the priest
and Levite or of the good Samaritan. The meanest of them all is
your brother, and you _are_ your brother’s keeper.
But if you mean to act the part of a neighbor and a brother to
these great multitudes, you have no small job on hand--which brings
me to my next point.
2. The dangers and the duties of emancipation.
The nation that emancipates a large number of slaves assumes a
grave responsibility. This is increased if the emancipation is
immediate and the ex-slaves remain on the soil, and especially
if they differ widely in race from the master-class. All these
difficulties attach to our Act of Emancipation; but they are not
an argument against emancipation. The old abolitionists were
right--immediate emancipation was the nation’s duty. No preparation
could be made for the change before it took place--slavery
must be supreme or nothing. The safety lies alone in the wise
_after-treatment_. Then or never, and soon if ever, must the
Freedman be prepared for his new position. We have striking
illustrations at hand. We begin with the nearest in point of time:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account