First, because of their ignorance of our country; its history, constitution and government.  Some will think that this is a danger which will soon pass away, as the older and more ignorant ones die.  It is true that the number of those who were advanced in years at the close of the war is rapidly decreasing, but there is an astonishingly large number of those who were young at that time and are now in the prime of life.  They are ignorant of our National history previous to the Civil War.  What they have learned since, has been politics rather than patriotism.  They look upon our nation as two great political parties, each struggling for the mastery.  One they regard as hostile, and the other friendly, to them.  This is the extent of their knowledge of United States history.  Although they have been told that we are a great nation under a beneficent government, such a fact is difficult for them to comprehend, since all they see is the by-play of party politicians.  They know they have a right to vote, but how can they respect a government that does not always and everywhere protect them in the exercise of that right?

A second reason why patriotism is in danger among the colored people:  They are not surrounded by that intensely national spirit which prevails in other parts of our country.  By this, I would not take one iota from the loyalty and patriotism of the Southern people.  The fact cannot be denied, however, that one in the South hears and reads but little about the United States of America.  Much is written and said about the State, but little genuine enthusiasm for the whole country is displayed.  A general spirit of distrust of the Federal Government is constantly coming to the surface.  Newspapers and men talk as if they were constantly afraid the government would overstep its bounds and encroach upon the rights of the States.  The Southern press is ever complaining of the sectionalism of the North.  And when confronted with the necessity of teaching United States History in the public schools, it rejects the current school histories.  It is not the present object to remark further upon this than to call attention to the fact that there is a state of public sentiment which is not productive of warm patriotism.  Two years ago, the writer, while attending an anniversary in a Northern city, witnessed a scene that will not soon be forgotten.  Fifty thousand people were gathered on a public square, and at a given signal a beautiful new flag was unfurled, and the band struck up “America.”  Fifty thousand voices took up the tune.  Men cheered until they were hoarse.  One gray-haired Irishman with tears shouted, “Thank God I live under the American flag.”  Such scenes develop patriotism.  They are rare in the South.

In the midst of indifference toward the national government, the colored race is developing and multiplying, and that so rapidly that it is a most important factor in the political affairs of the nation.  Like begets like.  Indifference toward the government on the part of the whites, breeds the same in the Negroes.