Charles W. Chesnutt

Name: The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII.
Author: Charles W. Chesnutt

The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (1901)

Summary

“The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII.”, published in 1901, is a work by Charles W. Chesnutt. It explores elements such as Miller, buggy and ef.

Quotes from The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (Charles W. Chesnutt)

Charles W. Chesnutt, The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (1901)

“ Knowing that they themselves, if in the negroes' place, would have risen in the effort to throw off the yoke, all their reiterated theories of negro subordination and inferiority could not remove that lurking fear, founded upon the obscure consciousness that the slaves ought to have risen. Conscience, it has been said, makes cowards of us all. There was never, on the continent of America, a successful slave revolt, nor one which lasted more than a few hours, or resulted in the loss of more than a few white lives; yet never was the planter quite free from the fear that there might be one. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles W. Chesnutt, The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (1901)

“ By morning every train, every boat, every road leading into Wellington, would be crowded with white men,--as they probably will be any way,--with arms in their hands, curses on their lips, and vengeance in their hearts. In the minds of those who make and administer the laws, we have no standing in the court of conscience. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles W. Chesnutt, The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (1901)

“ The colored lawyer, Watson, came up to the buggy. That he was laboring under great and unusual excitement was quite apparent from his pale face and frightened air.
"What's the matter, Watson?" demanded Miller, hoping now to obtain some reliable information.
"Matter!" exclaimed the other. "Everything's the matter! The white people are up in arms. They have disarmed the colored people, killing half a dozen in the process, and wounding as many more. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles W. Chesnutt, The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (1901)

“ In this riot we are placed as we should be in a war: we have no territory, no base of supplies, no organization, no outside sympathy,--we stand in the position of a race, in a case like this, without money and without friends. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles W. Chesnutt, The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (1901)

“ I have a wife and children. It is my duty to live for them. If I died, I should get no glory and no reward, and my family would be reduced to beggary,--to which they'll soon be near enough as it is. This affair will blow over in a day or two. The white people will be ashamed of themselves to-morrow, and apprehensive of the consequences for some time to come. Keep quiet, boys, and trust in God. You won't gain anything by resistance."
"'God he'ps dem dat he'ps demselves,'" returned Josh stoutly. "Ef Mr. Watson won't lead us, will you, Dr. Miller?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles W. Chesnutt, The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (1901)

“ If you put the hood of your buggy down, and sit well back in the shadow, you may be able to reach home without interruption; but avoid the main streets. I'll see you again this evening, if we're both alive, and I can reach you; for my time is short. A committee are to call in the morning to escort me to the train. I am to be dismissed from the community with public honors." Watson was climbing down from the buggy, when a small party of men were seen approaching, and big Josh Green, followed by several other resolute-looking colored men, came up and addressed them. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles W. Chesnutt, The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (1901)

“ You needn't fear for them,--it is not a war on women and children."
"War of any kind is always hardest on the women and children," returned Miller; "I must hurry on and see that mine are safe."
"They'll not carry the war so far into Africa as that," returned Watson ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles W. Chesnutt, The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (1901)

“ They would kill us in the fight, or they would hang us afterwards,--one way or another, we should be doomed. I should like to lead you; I should like to arm every colored man in this town, and have them stand firmly in line, not for attack, but for defense ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles W. Chesnutt, The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (1901)

“ On the other hand, the slave had before his eyes always the fear of the master. There were good men, according to their lights,--according to their training and environment,--among the Southern slaveholders, who treated their slaves kindly, as slaves, from principle, because they recognized the claims of humanity, even under the dark skin of a human chattel. There was many a one who protected or pampered his negroes, as the case might be, just as a man fondles his dog,--because they were his ”

Charles W. Chesnutt

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Quotes from The Marrow of Tradition — XXXII. (Charles W. Chesnutt)

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