We have nothing to say against those whom necessity compels to do these things, those who can do no better; we have only to do with those who can, and will not, or do not do better.  The whites are always in the advance, and we either standing still or retrograding; as that which does not go forward, must either stand in one place or go back.  The father in all probability is a farmer, mechanic, or man of some independent business; and the wife, sons and daughters, are chamber-maids, on vessels, nurses and waiting-maids, or coachmen and cooks in families.  This is retrogradation.  The wife, sons, and daughters should be elevated above this condition as a necessary consequence.

If we did not love our race superior to others, we would not concern ourself about their degradation; for the greatest desire of our heart is, to see them stand on a level with the most elevated of mankind.  No people are ever elevated above the condition of their females; hence, the condition of the mother determines the condition of the child.  To know the position of a people, it is only necessary to know the condition of their females; and despite themselves, they cannot rise above their level.  Then what is our condition?  Our best ladies being washerwomen, chambermaids, children’s traveling nurses, and common house servants, and menials, we are all a degraded, miserable people, inferior to any other people as a whole, on the face of the globe.

These great truths, however unpleasant, must be brought before the minds of our people in its true and proper light, as we have been too delicate about them, and too long concealed them for fear of giving offence.  It would have been infinitely better for our race, if these facts had been presented before us half a century ago—­we would have been now proportionably benefitted by it.

As an evidence of the degradation to which we have been reduced, we dare premise, that this chapter will give offence to many, very many, and why?  Because they may say, “He dared to say that the occupation of a servant is a degradation.”  It is not necessarily degrading; it would not be, to one or a few people of a kind; but a whole race of servants are a degradation to that people.

Efforts made by men of qualifications for the toiling and degraded millions among the whites, neither gives offence to that class, nor is it taken unkindly by them; but received with manifestations of gratitude; to know that they are thought to be, equally worthy of, and entitled to stand on a level with the elevated classes; and they have only got to be informed of the way to raise themselves, to make the effort and do so as far as they can.  But how different with us.  Speak of our position in society, and it at once gives insult.  Though we are servants; among ourselves we claim to be ladies and gentlemen, equal in standing, and as the popular expression goes,