planation, have seemed
unaccountable, in view of the implacable distrust, not to say hatred,
which this stern prohibition so clearly discloses, that our author
should, nevertheless, rely on the efficacy of white authority and
influence over Haytians.

In continuation of his religious suggestions, he goes on to descant
upon slavery in the [210] fashion which we have elsewhere noticed, but
it may still be proper to add a word or two here regarding this
particular disquisition of his. This we are happy in being able to do
under the guidance of an anterior and more reliable exponent of
ecclesiastical as well as secular obedience on the part of all free and
enlightened men in the present epoch of the world's history:--

"Dogma and Descent, potential twin
Which erst could rein submissive millions in,
Are now spent forces on the eddying surge
Of Thought enfranchised. Agencies emerge
Unhampered by the incubus of dread
Which cramped men's hearts and clogged their onward tread.
Dynasty, Prescription! spectral in these days
When Science points to Thought its surest ways,
And men who scorn obedience when not free
Demand the logic of Authority!
The day of manhood to the world is here,
And ancient homage waxes faint and drear.
. . . . . .
Vision of rapture! See Salvation's plan
'Tis serving God through ceaseless toil for man!"

The lines above quoted are by a West Indian Negro, and explain in very
concise form the attitude of the educated African mind [211] with
reference to the matters they deal with. Mr. Froude is free to
perceive that no special religion patched up from obsolete creeds could
be acceptable to those with whose sentiments the thoughts of the writer
just quoted are in true racial unison. It is preposterous to expect
that the same superstition regarding skin ascendency, which is now so
markedly played out in our Colonies in temporal matters, could have any
weight whatsoever in matters so momentous as morals and religion. But
granting even the possibility of any code of worldly ethics or of
religion being acceptable on the dermal score so strenuously insisted
on by him, it is to be feared that, through sheer respect for the
fitness of things, the intelligent Negro in search of guidance in faith
and morals would fail to recognize in our author a guide, philosopher,
and friend, to be followed witho