claim our attention.  Society regulates itself—­being governed by mind, which like water, finds its own level.  “Like seeks like,” is a principle in the laws of matter, as well as of mind.  There is such a thing as inferiority of things, and positions; at least society has made them so; and while we continue to live among men, we must agree to all just measures—­all those we mean, that do not necessarily infringe on the rights of others.  By the regulations of society, there is no equality of attainments.  By this, we do not wish to be understood as advocating the actual equal attainments of every individual; but we mean to say, that if these attainments be necessary for the elevation of the white man, they are necessary for the elevation of the colored man.  That some colored men and women, in a like proportion to the whites, should be qualified in all the attainments possessed by them.  It is one of the regulations of society the world over, and we shall have to conform to it, or be discarded as unworthy of the associations of our fellows.

Cast our eyes about us and reflect for a moment, and what do we behold! every thing that presents to view gives evidence of the skill of the white man.  Should we purchase a pound of groceries, a yard of linen, a vessel of crockery-ware, a piece of furniture, the very provisions that we eat,—­all, all are the products of the white man, purchased by us from the white man, consequently, our earnings and means, are all given to the white man.

Pass along the avenues of any city or town, in which you live—­behold the trading shops—­the manufacturies—­see the operations of the various machinery—­see the stage-coaches coming in, bringing the mails of intelligence—­look at the railroads interlining every section, bearing upon them their mighty trains, flying with the velocity of the swallow, ushering in the hundreds of industrious, enterprising travellers.  Cast again your eyes widespread over the ocean—­see the vessels in every direction with their white sheets spread to the winds of heaven, freighted with the commerce, merchandise and wealth of many nations.  Look as you pass along through the cities, at the great and massive buildings—­the beautiful and extensive structures of architecture—­behold the ten thousand cupolas, with their spires all reared up towards heaven, intersecting the territory of the clouds—­all standing as mighty living monuments, of the industry, enterprise, and intelligence of the white man.  And yet, with all these living truths, rebuking us with scorn, we strut about, place our hands akimbo, straighten up ourselves to our greatest height, and talk loudly about being “as good as any body.”  How do we compare with them?  Our fathers are their coachmen, our brothers their cookmen, and ourselves their waiting-men.  Our mothers their nurse-women, our sisters their scrub-women, our daughters their maid-women, and our wives their washer-women.  Until colored men, attain to a position