works. But it must be remembered that, to a large extent, through the public schools and other methods, they have become amalgamated with the general citizenship, and a race paper does not appeal to them with the force which it did a quarter of a century ago.
The great field for journalism to be represented by the Afro-American Press must be in the late slave states; and it is a field which promises an abundant harvest, in both literary and pecuniary results. To mold and solidify this race in the South-land, to inspire and direct the Afro-American, I conceive to be, in conjunction with other forces, the mission of the Afro-American Press.
Opinion of Prof. J. H. Lawson.
To the 1st and 2d questions, I answer, I do. I use the term success as commonly understood. The negro Press is part of the American Press. It is a vital part. It has done much in elevating a favorable sentiment in regard to the negro question. This I consider a positive gain. It has done much in vindicating local rights of negroes. It has been the chief source of knowledge as to how the machinery of government is operated. It has demonstrated negro capacity. It is the mouth-piece of negroes in legislative halls, where they can not speak. In fine, whatever claim is set up for the great American Press, a proportional part is due to the negro. As the body is not whole if deprived of any of its members, so the American Press is shorn of its full praise, if the negro's contribution to it goes unnoted and for naught.
To the third question I must say: I think it does. Colored papers are too costly. I can buy The New York Tribune for three cents, but I can not buy a negro paper for less than five cents. I have yet to see the colored paper,
