From Our Regular Correspondent, p. 2
Dublin Core
Title
From Our Regular Correspondent, p. 2
Description
"Mud Hill, January 17th, 1873 Mr. Editor: - Judge of my great surprise on receiving the last Elevator and to see no report of the celebration in Marysville in its columns. I am sure my letter will read strange to many. I supposed you had received a full report, and I was to pick up crumbs; and that is just what I am doing now.
A friend in Marysville told me he was opposed to a first of January celebration, believing we ought to let all recollection of former years die out. I have thought much of his words since, and I must say I think them altogether wrong. It is an established fact that our appreciations of everything is commensurate with its coat, and our fathers well understood that fact, and so gathered every item of the great struggle that gave America her independence, gave it to us in history; for our schools in paintings for our parlors, and monuments for our public squares, and still fearing or forgetful they even keep the great anniversary day – July 4th. And decreed it should be celebrated by American citizens to all coming time. Now have we not more to remember than they? What was the oppression of the British yoke compared to slavery, taxation to stripes? Was there ever anything so unhuman so devilish as American slavery? Could the graves of its victims open and their dead come forth – think you they would say “cease to remember,” no their words would be “cry aloud to your children, and let childrens’ children never forget what liberty cost, never forget Emancipation Day; never forget the immortal Lincoln, who by God’s permission gave us that great day which has brought together many long separated families, husbands and wives, parents and children which cruel slavery had separated. I think every American ought on that day to rejoice, let them be colored or white, and all ought, as in Marysville, unite in celebrating the Emancipation Act; and, also, as orderly citizens in a becoming manner, avoid of drunkedness, for not one drunken person did I see on that day. And none should fear getting too much piety in such gatherings, for God has said “Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
When I looked around the theatre in Marysville and saw colored and white sitting together in every part of the home, I thought of my text, especially the latter clause of it: “Learn to labor and to wait.” Three years ago I went to the same theatre, accompanied by a lady whose skin was dark enough to class her as colored, and they wanted her to go in the gallery, I told them then what I thought, and said “not much longer will we have to wait;” and thank God the waiting is done. Right here by me sits one who went to Marysville to attend in agricultural fair about the year 1860; and Wednesday morning he went to the gate and was refused admittance. They told him on Fiday; he could go in, - that day being set apart for colored folks. He has it in his heart against Marysville to this day, and when I tell how nobly the citizens did this first of January he said, “They had better do works meet for repentance.”
I accompanied Mrs. Duplex to the colored school. It is taught in the basement of the Baptist Church and is small in numbers, only thirteen children were in attendance. I found the room furnished with modern furniture, maps, and a faithful teacher, who has had charge of the school only one week. I was convinced no discipline had been maintained by the previous teacher, and I earnestly implore the parents to give the teacher their co-operation and see that their children do obey, for I can assure them they will lift great burdens from the teacher’s shoulders, and reap a harvest of joy in the conduct of their children. Again parents should see that children are in school every day, for nothing serves more to discourage a child than to have his class ahead of him; and by all means the child should be encouraged to steady attendance. Parents, visit the school often, and see for yourselves the progress our children are making.
While in Marysville I stopped with your friends, Mr. and Mrs. McGowan and to him and his family I am under obligations for hospitality extended, and that I dearly love Marysville with its long streets, wide side-walks, and beautiful gardens I can assure you; and that I love the dear friends there better than all is truth; and the greatest celebration there will be a joy to me forever; for in it I see the fulfilment of learning to “labor and wait.”
-Semper Fidelis
[We regret not having received any notice of the celebration except that furnished by “Semper Fidelis,” last week. We did expect to have received a copy of the oration and the poem, or at all event a synopsis of the proceedings. Mr. Doplex wrote that he had sent us a paper containing a report of the proceedings which we have not received. – Ed. El.]"
A friend in Marysville told me he was opposed to a first of January celebration, believing we ought to let all recollection of former years die out. I have thought much of his words since, and I must say I think them altogether wrong. It is an established fact that our appreciations of everything is commensurate with its coat, and our fathers well understood that fact, and so gathered every item of the great struggle that gave America her independence, gave it to us in history; for our schools in paintings for our parlors, and monuments for our public squares, and still fearing or forgetful they even keep the great anniversary day – July 4th. And decreed it should be celebrated by American citizens to all coming time. Now have we not more to remember than they? What was the oppression of the British yoke compared to slavery, taxation to stripes? Was there ever anything so unhuman so devilish as American slavery? Could the graves of its victims open and their dead come forth – think you they would say “cease to remember,” no their words would be “cry aloud to your children, and let childrens’ children never forget what liberty cost, never forget Emancipation Day; never forget the immortal Lincoln, who by God’s permission gave us that great day which has brought together many long separated families, husbands and wives, parents and children which cruel slavery had separated. I think every American ought on that day to rejoice, let them be colored or white, and all ought, as in Marysville, unite in celebrating the Emancipation Act; and, also, as orderly citizens in a becoming manner, avoid of drunkedness, for not one drunken person did I see on that day. And none should fear getting too much piety in such gatherings, for God has said “Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
When I looked around the theatre in Marysville and saw colored and white sitting together in every part of the home, I thought of my text, especially the latter clause of it: “Learn to labor and to wait.” Three years ago I went to the same theatre, accompanied by a lady whose skin was dark enough to class her as colored, and they wanted her to go in the gallery, I told them then what I thought, and said “not much longer will we have to wait;” and thank God the waiting is done. Right here by me sits one who went to Marysville to attend in agricultural fair about the year 1860; and Wednesday morning he went to the gate and was refused admittance. They told him on Fiday; he could go in, - that day being set apart for colored folks. He has it in his heart against Marysville to this day, and when I tell how nobly the citizens did this first of January he said, “They had better do works meet for repentance.”
I accompanied Mrs. Duplex to the colored school. It is taught in the basement of the Baptist Church and is small in numbers, only thirteen children were in attendance. I found the room furnished with modern furniture, maps, and a faithful teacher, who has had charge of the school only one week. I was convinced no discipline had been maintained by the previous teacher, and I earnestly implore the parents to give the teacher their co-operation and see that their children do obey, for I can assure them they will lift great burdens from the teacher’s shoulders, and reap a harvest of joy in the conduct of their children. Again parents should see that children are in school every day, for nothing serves more to discourage a child than to have his class ahead of him; and by all means the child should be encouraged to steady attendance. Parents, visit the school often, and see for yourselves the progress our children are making.
While in Marysville I stopped with your friends, Mr. and Mrs. McGowan and to him and his family I am under obligations for hospitality extended, and that I dearly love Marysville with its long streets, wide side-walks, and beautiful gardens I can assure you; and that I love the dear friends there better than all is truth; and the greatest celebration there will be a joy to me forever; for in it I see the fulfilment of learning to “labor and wait.”
-Semper Fidelis
[We regret not having received any notice of the celebration except that furnished by “Semper Fidelis,” last week. We did expect to have received a copy of the oration and the poem, or at all event a synopsis of the proceedings. Mr. Doplex wrote that he had sent us a paper containing a report of the proceedings which we have not received. – Ed. El.]"
Creator
Semper Fidelis
Publisher
San Fransisco Elevator
Date
1873-1-25
Collection
Citation
Semper Fidelis, “From Our Regular Correspondent, p. 2,” African American Fourth of July, accessed April 28, 2024, https://africanamerican4th.omeka.net/items/show/52.