The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-03-22

the negroes. / am sorry to say it, and
shall be glad to find that l am mistaken.
shall be glad to find that the resistance
to education, the opposition to school
teachers, the hatred exhibited toward
them socially, and the uniform disposition
to misrepresent them and undervalue their
self-denying labors, proceed from the hos
tility engendered by war, because then
such feelings will be temporary.
But my impression is, from conversing
with many Southern men, that promi-
nent gentleman gave me, somewhat In an
ger, an expression of the truth. He said,
81 would rather see the building now oc-
cupied by colored school burnt to the
ground, than to have it used for such
purpose as that to which it is devoted"
| l believe there is fundamental preju-
dice, false theory really existing as
that, in feudal times, of the mobiles against
the masses of the common people it is
that the negroes were never intended by
nature for education. off you educate
them," they say, sit will upset them !;
unfit them for the duties imposed upon
them rob US of our position aud consider
alton among them. Educate them, and
you will not only render them disconten-
ted laborers, but they will get into all
sorts Of political jars and exctements !;
they will become prey to ali the sophis-
tries and isms of New England, and bad
politicians will guide them to our detri-
ment. In brief, all the beautiful natural
order that God has imposed, making us
! superior, wise and provident, and them
confding, childlike and dependent, will
be destroyed as much as the peace of Eden
was by allowing Eve to eat of the tree Of
knowledge. Fix it SO that we can be the
mind and they the obedient muscle, and
all will be WELL whether you call it free
labor or not"
A general belief, North and South,
existed not long ago, that the negroes
| could not learn, certainly not beyond
certain prescribed limit. Fortunately,
few fanatics and radicals would try the
experiment, and the experiment has proved
completely successful. These schools have
sprung up as if by magic. [ report up
ward OF seventy thousand children atten-
ding regularly organized schools in the
Southern States.
Whole regiments of grown men have
loarDed to read and write during the past
two years, anG l would not be surprised
to find that there was not plantation in
the United States where already a part of
the people were not able to read.
There is a soct Of freemasonry among
the negroes, and news spreads like wild
fire. No news seemed to rejoice their
hearts more than that the privileges of
learning were open to them. Their thirst
for knowledge, their efforts to gain it, and
their perseverance in this work, strike me
as almost miraculous. Our hope of the
future rests in nc small degree upon the
negroes themselves, that they will strug-
gle to cooperate with all who favor edu.
cation; also upon the churches at the
South, that they may perhaps get at least
the leaven of contention In this matter, If
not of Christian spirit, and We hope
truly Christian spirit, which will make
them strive to gain the confidence and at
fection of the freedmen. Already | hear
it whispered in Virginia, at is no longer
question whether the negroes shall be
| taught, but who shall teach them" Some
add, ''If we do not, the Yankees ill.,
The whole North is combining and organ.
lzlug In grand associations for educating
| the freedmen, and everybody else who is
| poor and needy, and public sentiment is
so generous as to tolerate and demand the
| efforts of the Government in the same di-
| rection. Brt, my friends, we should not
be satisfied till education is placed in the
South 1t Is in the North, beyond any
spasmodlc efforts, beyond the dependence
upon churches and voluntary associations
If rhe simple truth could at once break
into the minds of all classes at the South,
that the elevation Of their common people
to higher plane of knowledge and skill
would be a positive advantage 20 the
whole, so that In each State there would
be established such a system of schools as
would bring the privileges of learning to
the children of the humblest, then, in
deed, could we count upon substar tial
growth. 1t may be some time before this
state of public sentiment is reached, yet
the leaven is working. Every German,
every Northern soldier, every shrewd
Yankee going South, carries with him the
convictions of his youth. The constant
Influx of men who believe In education,
coupled with the negro's desire for it,
will, with the movement already given,
and continuing, make rapid headway in
the right direction. Que of our first
statesmen said to US few days since
"my only doubt is whether there will be
virtue enough in the North to sustain the
expense of the efforts necessary to be made
for the freedmen, during this transition
period"
While on the subject of education you may
be curious to know what is proposed III
the way of assistance by the Government.