The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1866-06-09
MISCELLANEOUS.

ED1rcATJNG THE SOUTH. - 1he N
'Eribune refers with some degree OF PRIDE
TO the report of the American Freedmen's
Commission. which shows what various
Northern societies have done and are do
ING in the way of educating the people
of the South. From this document it
anuears that during the last year 3O7
schools and 773 teachers have been main
tained. and that 10000 pupils have been
neducateG.'' Educated is the word used
nv the Tribune from which we can infer
a combination of extraordinary skill on
the mart of the teachers, and of remark
olle ATTITUDE on the part of the pupils,
a,ob as never before has been witnessed.
The completion of an education on the
wide basis of Industry, freedom and
Christian morality" in the short space of
one wear, is something which could be
achieved only by the rare ingenuity of
the New Englander, aided by the exalted
genius of the African.
It has heretofore been supposed that
these Northern organization were intend
cd exclusively for the benefit of the freed
men-that the thirsty soul of the eman-
cipated bondman was to be the only re-
ceptacle for that accumulated and over
y
with which New England expects to in
undate the outside heathen world. We
now learn that it is an article of the con-
stitution of the American Freedmen's
Commission that it shall aid and cooperate
with the people of the South, without
distinction of race or color, in the i'm
proyement of their condition upon the
basis of industry, education, freedom and
Christian morality and we are further
informed that no invidious distinctions
are to be made in favor of negroes since
'sno schools or supply depots shall be
maintained, from the benefits of which
any shall be excluded because of color.'
Y The Tribune thinks that the white peo-
4 ple of the South ought to be extremely
grateful for this permission to attend
negro schools, and does not see why they
should not welcome the enterprise with
cordiality. Very much obliged to these
learned and pious northern missionaries
no doubt we ought to be. They give us
all they have to give, and though the
offering be poor perhaps we ought to
praise the motive rather than despise the
gift. But we have some human frailties
and among them is the weakn ess of be-
lieying that we knowsalmost as much as
New Englanders of things that are worth
knowing; and that there is about as keen
perception of ethical truth in New Or
leans or Charleston as in Portland Or Bos-
ton. To be sure we have not yet turned
fraud into system, and refined murder
into science we have not acquired a
reputation for igneous oats and supposi-
titious pumpkin seeds; neither have we
learned to apply chemical science to
the purposes of the assassin. When
we wish to improve ourselves in these
exquisite refnements of knowledge, we
may apply, with abundant hope of sue
cess, to the willing and accomplished
missionaries, of whom New England can
furnish a supply for the whole world
] and the 'srest of mankind"
But as to going to Boston to be ms
{. tructed in the principles of freedom, or
Of Christian" morality, one might as
well dive for diamonds in the soundless
sea, or undertake the confessedly hope
less task Of converting q sow's ear into
a silk purse.
Perhaps the Tribune may understand,
from this little exposition of our senti-
ments, why we do not hail the advent of
the sehoolmasters and schoolmarms with
that exuberant and grateful enthusiasm
which is, perhaps, their due.-Crescent.
-~>~---