The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States | Page 8

them. At least, it was expected, that in Anti-Slavery
establishments, colored men would have the preference. Because, there
was no other ostensible object in view, in the commencement of the

Anti-Slavery enterprise, than the elevation of the colored man, by
facilitating his efforts in attaining to equality with the white man. It was
urged, and it was true, that the colored people were susceptible of all
that the whites were, and all that was required was to give them a fair
opportunity, and they would prove their capacity. That it was unjust,
wicked, and cruel, the result of an unnatural prejudice, that debarred
them from places of respectability, and that public opinion could and
should be corrected upon this subject. That it was only necessary to
make a sacrifice of feeling, and an innovation on the customs of society,
to establish a different order of things,--that as Anti-Slavery men, they
were willing to make these sacrifices, and determined to take the
colored man by the hand, making common cause with him in affliction,
and bear a part of the odium heaped upon him. That his cause was the
cause of God--that "In as much as ye did it not unto the least of these
my little ones, ye did it not unto me," and that as Anti-Slavery men,
they would "do right if the heavens fell." Thus, was the cause espoused,
and thus did we expect much. But in all this, we were doomed to
disappointment, sad, sad disappointment. Instead of realising what we
had hoped for, we find ourselves occupying the very same position in
relation to our Anti-Slavery friends, as we do in relation to the
pro-slavery part of the community--a mere secondary, underling
position, in all our relations to them, and any thing more than this, is
not a matter of course affair--it comes not by established anti-slavery
custom or right, but like that which emanates from the pro-slavery
portion of the community by mere sufferance.
It is true, that the "Liberator" office, in Boston, has got Elijah Smith, a
colored youth, at the cases--the "Standard," in New York, a young
colored man, and the "Freeman," in Philadelphia, William Still, another,
in the publication office, as "packing clerk"; yet these are but three out
of the hosts that fill these offices in their various departments, all
occupying places that could have been, and as we once thought, would
have been, easily enough, occupied by colored men. Indeed, we can
have no other idea about anti-slavery in this country, than that the
legitimate persons to fill any and every position about an anti-slavery
establishment are colored persons. Nor will it do to argue in
extenuation, that white men are as justly entitled to them as colored

men; because white men do not from necessity become anti-slavery
men in order to get situations; they being white men, may occupy any
position they are capable of filling--in a word, their chances are endless,
every avenue in the country being opened to them. They do not
therefore become abolitionists, for the sake of employment--at least, it
is not the song that anti-slavery sung, in the first love of the new faith,
proclaimed by its disciples.
And if it be urged that colored men are incapable as yet to fill these
positions, all that we have to say is, that the cause has fallen far short;
almost equivalent to a failure, of a tithe, of what it promised to do in
half the period of its existence, to this time, if it have not as yet, now a
period of twenty years, raised up colored men enough, to fill the offices
within its patronage. We think it is not unkind to say, if it had been half
as faithful to itself, as it should have been--its professed principles we
mean; it could have reared and tutored from childhood, colored men
enough by this time, for its own especial purpose. These we know
could have been easily obtained, because colored people in general, are
favorable to the anti-slavery cause, and wherever there is an adverse
manifestation, it arises from sheer ignorance; and we have now but
comparatively few such among us. There is one thing certain, that no
colored person, except such as would reject education altogether, would
be adverse to putting their child with an anti-slavery person, for
educational advantages. This then could have been done. But it has not
been done, and let the cause of it be whatever it may, and let whoever
may be to blame, we are willing to let all that pass, and extend to our
anti-slavery brethren the right-hand of fellowship, bidding them
God-speed in the propagation of good and wholesome sentiments--for
whether they are practically carried out or not, the profession are in
themselves all right and