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While the relations and strong attachments still existing in the south, between old masters and former slaves, are well under stood at the south, northern peo ple do not, or cannot, appreciate how close and lasting these rela tions are. Everywhere, almost without exception, the old time darkey of slavery times, now booty with age, but retaining those traits of courtesy and polite ness which he learned in the long ago, is held in high esteem by his former owner, and by all classes of white people. The white people of the south owe these old time negroes, who remained faithful to them during the war, a lasting debt of gratitude. Thousands of men went to the army and left their wives and children to the care of trusted servants. And we have never heard of an in stance where that trust was be trayed. They worked by day to support the family and feed the army, and stood guard by night over the sleeping wife and children of the absent confederate soldier. There ought to be, and there will be, erected, somewhere, a monument of imperishable mar ble, to these faithful slaves. They are fast passing away, and with them will disappear a class whose record will never be blotted from history. They are, today, by far, the best types of the negro race. They are not law breakers, but industrious, good citizens. It is the younger generation of ne groes which has brought shame to the race. They are the perpetra tors of about all the crimes com mitted by the race. And, not withstanding the quick and fear ful punishment which they meet, their lust and disregard of law, makes life in isolated places a living terror for women. We have been led into these reflections by the following letter published a few days ago, in the Waycross Herald: “Thomasville, Dec. 28, 1900. Judge A. P. Perham, Waycross, @a.— Dear Old Master: I wish to thank you for the kind words ex pressed in your editorial of last Tuesday. The white folks have always been my friends, and it has always been very gratifying to me that they have stood by me and protected me in this trouble. And I am more than gratified to hear such kind words from my old master in slavery times. Thanking you for send ing me the paper, I remain your old servant, “Billy Moore. ’ And there are many ‘Billy Moores’ in Thomasville. As a class we have the best colored population in Thomasville with in our knowledge. As a rule, they are industrious, many of them frugal, and trying to make good citizens. And in this they have received, and will contious to receive, the aid and encourages ment of all good white people. If northern fanatics, who do not understand the negro, will keep their mouths shut, the race prob lem will solve itself in the south. The southern white man under stands the negro and thinks more of him than a northern man who was not raised up with him. The negro is given a better chance in the south, than anywhere in the north. Llere all the trades are open to him; there he is boy cotted and restricted to the most menial service. Harper's Weekly recently stated that the negroes were rapidly disappearing from New York, run out because em ployment there was denied them, even as hotel waiters, boot blacks and barbers. Not long since a half score of negroes were killed in Illinoia because they sought to come in contact with white labor. Not so in the south; every negro, whether boot black, waiter, bar ber, carpenter, brick mason, or laborer, is given a fair showing to earn a living, working along side of white men, and, where equally skillful, receiving the same wages. E. M. Mallette has sold to W. A. Wells the cottage on Hansell street between Mrs. Cook's and Mrs. Pollerd's place. Mr. Wells will move his family back from Waycross and make Thomasville his home.
Newspaper Details
Thomasville Daily Times Enterprise
Thomasville, Georgia, US
Thu, Jan 03, 1901
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 08 Feb 2026
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