Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-03-22
DIX Sabbath night last. Rev. Mr

Bureau, at the close of the regular SER
vice at the M. E. Church, made a brief
statement Of what was being done by
the charity Of the North and the con.
tributions of the Freedmen for the cdu-
cation of those who have been freed
from slavery by the recent Rebellion
and the Constitutional Amendment
abolishing slavery in the United States. |
Four hundred thousand Of these freed
men have been taught to read and write
since the organization of schools for
that purpose large number of them
have been educated as teachers, who
are now engaged in teaching others
a wide spread inquiry after knowledge
has manifested itself among these lib
Grated slaves, that the means of the
Bureau are inadequate to supply, and
an appeal is made to the charity of the
people for means to carry on this work.
In this enlightened age and country,
where the education and elevation Of
the laboring population has been and
is regarded as so essential to the safety
and prosperity OF the country that pub
lie sentiment has demanded and seour-
ed, through legislation, the taxation of
the property Of the rich, that the poor
may be educated without money and
without price," these facts, one woald
have supposed, would have been re-
ceived with qualification by every one
who heard them. 1t was evident, how
ever, from the restless manner Of some
and tho sneoring smiles of others dur
the relation Of them, and the abrupt
manner in which few left the church
when the speaker was introduced and
the object of his visit made known,
that there are still few persons in the
community whose prejudices against
the.ncgro are stronger than their feel
ings Of charity and bcnevolencc or
their love for the elevation of the labor
ing class of community. And what
seemed most strange was that most of
those who manifested their dislike for
the speaker and his facts were of the
laboring class.
Senator Hammond, of South Caro-
lima, declared that mechanics and labor
ing men were the "mud-sills" of 80.
ciety Another equally prominent
Southern man held that Slavery was
the normal condition of labor" The
theory Of aristocracy. especially OF
that avistocrary that ,was fn"ndnh On
human slavery, was that, in all well
regulated governments, there must be
governing class, and class to be
governed. That the wealthy and edu-
Gated should constitute tho governing
class, and the poor, the ignorant, and
the laboring element should constitute
the other class. This theory has never
been practically adopted in this coun-
try excep. in those States where unre-
Quilted labor In bondage sweat and toll
ed for bread that others ate; and,
thank God, the day Of human slavery
10 past and gone forever.
There still Is, however we may wish
it was otherwise, strong tendency to
establish distinctions in society between
wealth and labor; and, unless this ten
dency is guarded against and constant
effort made to cOunteract it, there il
danger that In tho end wealth, with its
subborning and converting influence
will succeed to an undue share of in
nuence There is no possible way by
which thls tendency can be so effectu
ally counteracted US by the elevation
and education Of the laboring classes
Constituting as they do large major
ity OF the people, it is only necessary
shat they become intelligent enough tc
comprehend what their power in thi:
Government Is, to free them from al
danger from wrong or aggression from
wealth or aristocracy; and yet this
prejudice against the negro-cultiva
ted in the Interest Of Slavery, and in
famed by political demagogues for par
tisan purposes, seems strong enough
in some Of them to close their eyes OF
their own interests, and make then
wish and work for the degradation o
labor, because that labor happens tc
= have black skin.
Whatever tends to educate and ele
vate any part of the iaboring popula
ton OF the country, tends to educate
and elevate Labor in the aggregate
sad should receive the support and in.
Ruenee OF every man who labors for g
living. The five millions of negroes In
this country constitute part of its
laboring population. Their education
and elevation will make them more