All we ask is
Liberty--the rest follows as a matter of course.
XXII
THINGS AS THEY ARE
"And if thou boast TRUTH to utter,
SPEAK, and leave the rest to God."
In presenting this work, we have but a single object in view, and that
is, to inform the minds of the colored people at large, upon many things
pertaining to their elevation, that but few among us are acquainted
with. Unfortunately for us, as a body, we have been taught to believe,
that we must have some person to think for us, instead of thinking for
ourselves. So accustomed are we to submission and this kind of training,
that it is with difficulty, even among the most intelligent of the
colored people, an audience may be elicited for any purpose whatever, if
the expounder is to be a colored person; and the introduction of any
subject is treated with indifference, if not contempt, when the
originator is a colored person. Indeed, the most ordinary white person,
is almost revered, while the most qualified colored person is totally
neglected. Nothing from them is appreciated.
We have been standing comparatively still for years, following in the
footsteps of our friends, believing that what they promise us can be
accomplished, just because they say so, although our own knowledge
should long since, have satisfied us to the contrary.
Pages:
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226