New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-01
EDrCATE TIE EREEDMEN.

Our doctrine is that all people should learn TO help
themselves: if they do not know bow The best help
we can give them IS by teaching them how. The
paupersm that had circumstances make is DEF lorahle
enough, but the paupersm that lmable men make
is in some respects worse for this might be avoided
The only effort for the Blacks Of the South that we have
encouraged has been effort 70 put them on their feet;
To this ond we rcjoiced in the abolition Of Slavery:
10 this end we have claimed the full results Of that
abolition. In pleading for impartial suffrage we plead
in behalf Of the Nation that needs the support Of this
great number Of citizens In demanding evil and
social rights We have insisted that the hitherto dis
franchised should have the laws and usages u the
communities in which they lived on their SIDE and
not against them. In arguing for personal rights
have deeply felt The importance Of rou5ng The per.
sonal selfrcspect, the pride, the ambition Of those
who had formerly been chattcls knowing igii well
that till they we-o secure 10 their lives and property
there was no chance for them improve their social
condition. Give them al The advantages that the
Whites possess. The sense Of responsibility 10 and
for the Government, equal benefit Of The laws com
pete protection in health and wealth, far chance az
labor and labors wages, and then leave them II they
canno, make their wey then il, will De their own fault.
SO we have preached; the Government has not
practiced; and until the Government does practice
preaching has the fate Of all preaching II not for
Us to grant impartial suffrage or to equalze laws.
70 pledge protection b persons and property. orr
influence here is indirect.
In one respect however, and that a most important
one our influence may be direct. Immediate and
radical education IL as vital an element in Republi
can institutions as the suffrage is. Education
mid
opens opportunity for personal and social improve
ment. without education, the suffrage would pos.
soss but half It's value, citizenship would be an i'm
perfect boon, and opportunities would be missed. At
present, the Blacks can have education but what
the educated North is willing TO bestow. They can
not pay for it, and ii they could We should have to
furnish apparatus aud teachers. The Bureau, We are
sorry to say, W II be able to DO little nothing in
this direction; nothing in the way Of supplying books
aud instruction. little in the way of providing school
houses. 1t does guarantee protection, encouragement
and moral support, and that is much The Bureau
relies Oh the people of the North to select commits
sion hire and sustain the men and women who have
heart for the work Of giving those poor people the use
OF their brains. An official letter from Galveston,
dated Sept ~ informs that by direction Of Major
Gen. J. B. Kdder Assistant Commissioner for Texas,
the part of that State has been assigned
to the American Freedinens aud Union Com
mission" to be by them supplied with free schools
and teachers for tho Blacks. The district
contains about 10000 square miles; it comprises
much of the fertile wheat and cotton lands. Its pop
ulaton was noted for loyalty during the war The
call for Freedmens schools all through the section,
says our letter is loud and urgent; no less than 60
schools, well furnished and differed, needed to
meet the instant demand From New Orleans comes
the same cry The colored people eagerto receive
instruction ambitious TO elevate themseves-but ask
aid in starting on their course. Gen. Gregg, one
of Sherdans men, very anxious for aid from the
New ork Freedmen's Relief Association in keeping
up Freedmen's schools" The Bureau appTopriates
money for rent of buildings but nothing for teachers
Many excellent women, dismissed by the Public
School Board for not being Rebels stand ready TO take
charge of the schools at moderate salaries but the
money cannot be raised there. In Virginia the Freed
| men are clamorous for education. The Bureau Off.
GERS write urgently for help. Mr.. Armstrong, ono of
the ablest and most discriminating of them, regards
education as the most eficacous-indeed as the only
efficient means Of permanently eleyating their condi-
ton The primary aud intermediate schools in Rich
mond are 30 rapidly bringing forward class Of intel
lgent and ambitious young people, that the project
of establishing there Normal School to provide the
Blacks with teachers Of their is not only en-
tertained bnt advanced. The colored people them
selves take the lead in the enterprise, contribute
labor and money for its promotion to the extent oil
their ability, have provided already three-fourths OF
the sum needed to erect building, and appeal to the
above. mentioned Commission to help so that before
4 IN fho lie ms he
Frightful accounts Of restitution come from Alex