The American Missionary — Volume 44, No. 04, April, 1890 by Various
page 39 of 106 (36%)
page 39 of 106 (36%)
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and wondered why they had not given him more time, but finally concluded
to preach on this text. He got up and said: "There are three points in this text: First, that men are always somewhere; second, that they are very often where they ought not to be; third, the text is dead set against infant baptism; and as the time is short, I will speak on point third." Now, I said to myself that either of these themes was a worthy one; but as Chinese comes first, Indian second, and Negro third, and, as the time is brief, I will speak on point third. Not long ago I saw in an illustrated paper President Harrison with his Cabinet, represented as all lolling over asleep; and in the group there stood a Negro, his mouth open, his collar open, his teeth showing, and with a large scroll in his hand. Beneath this picture was this remark: "Wake up to the question of the day," and on that scroll which the Negro had in his hand were the words: "What are you gwine to do with the black man?" Now, that question has been asked here indirectly to-day: and, my friends, do you know that sometimes, as we have heard this question discussed, we wonder just exactly how people do consider us in this country. There have been some who have advocated colonization. Some have said that we would have to be sent back to Africa or out West, or to South America. One man thinks that extermination will be the final thing to be resorted to. It may be a fault in my education, it may be that this American Missionary Association has not educated me all right--for I am a product of the Association,--but I have been taught to suppose that we Negroes were free, independent, American citizens, at liberty to choose where we will stay and how long we will stay. It seems that very eminent men are discussing the feasibility of sending us to Africa, and whether it is wise to go to the expense if it is thought |
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