The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-27
The Education Of the Freedmen.

States are hereafter to form a prominent part
of the political power of that section of our
common country. During all the preliminary
stages of the work of reconstruction they are,
by acts of Congress, endowed with the full
powers and privileges of citizenship. In
many of the States, by virtue of their own
numbers, as well as owing to the indifference
and apathy of the former ruling class in re-
gistering themselves for voting, the colored
citizens are likely to be in an absolute ma
jority. 1t will be their own fault if, in the
constitutions about to be framed under the
provisions of the Reconstruction acts, they do
not place their enfranchisement upon
the most substantial and unassaila-
ble foundations. We may, therefore,
assume it as true that the reconstructed States
will commence their new career in the Union
with governments giving to the colored men
the fullest enjoyment of all the rights and
privileges of citizenship, and very probably in
many of them with that class of citizens con-
stituting the recognized and dominant political
power in the State. We have no belief that
these rights will ever be wrested from them.
1t could only be done at the expense of a bitter
and bloody struggle, which every good citizen
would be interested in avoiding. The enfran-
ohisement of the blacks is probably on as sound
foundation as their freedom itself. Neither
will be seriously called in question.
II is useless to speculate upon the most
wonderful train of causes by which this result
so unexpected and so little provided for, has
Ioo l,k oh ic 4ha Nor4 of
statesmanship, as we'll as of true philanthropy,
to take accomplished facts as we find them,
and from the actual situation deduce the duties
of the hour. In this view the prompt and
speedy education and elevation of the freed
men, by all the appliances that can be brought
to bear, becomes the great, pressing, and in
dispensable work to be done. No matter how
much some good men may have doubted the
wisdom of putting the ballot into the negro's
hand, now that it has been done, and he has
become and is likely to remain constituent
element in that political entity which we call
the State, all must agree that it is
of the highest Importance that he
should WELD his new-found powers in
obedience to the dictates of intelligence and
moral enlightenment, rather than those of
ignorance and prejudice. The education of
the negro becomes thus patriotic as well as
a philanthropic duty. Fortunately he is docile,
and not only willing but anxious to learn. He
has responded most enCouragingly to the
efforts in this direction that have already been
put forth. Wherever the fountains of know
ledge have been opened to him in the South,
he has rushed to partake of their ife-giving
waters. We know of nothing more nearly
approaching the morally sublime than the
avidity with which this race, just freed from
the shackles of slavery, has seized upon such
opportunities of education as have been thrown
in their way. From the grey-haired sire to
the little child, common inspiration to seek
knowledge seems to have seized them. The
educational records and statistics of the Freed
mems Bureau, and of the various Freedmen's
Aid Societies, are full of the highest promise
for the elevation of this race. But the work
that has already been done is only the merest
fraction of the great undertaking. Where
hundreds of dollars have been contributed,
thousands are demanded by the Importance
and urgency of the enterprise. For our
churches it is missionary work of the most
interesting and promising character. They
have not yet displayed tithe of the zeal in
prosecuting it they ought to have done.
And just here we may suggest to such Of
our conservative friends as believe in the ad-
vantages of education and Christian elevation,
if not equal civil and political privileges, for
all men, whether they are doing their whole
duty by the freedmen9 How much are they
doing to give to these late slaves the bless
ings of light and knowledge? Is it not a fact
that this great work is being carried forward
almest solely by the much stigmatized and
abused radicals9 We will not press the ques-
tion. but there is food in it for conscientious
conservatives to reflect upon.
To all who love our country this subject is
one of great Importance. The elevation of the
,nasses-their education, their Christianiza-
ton--is the only sure ground of hope for the
rernatuity of our institutions. Permanent
nonular government is not possible to an ignO-
rant and morally degraded people. In some
of our great cities we are already beholding
tho ovrneriment of selfgovernment confessed
allure. The multiplication of such examples
and their extension to wider districts OF coun
a. vvorId soon involve the whole grand eifor'
- t.;Iura We have no faith in repressiy'
-oI,o;es. The masses must be elevated-tha
:. o,r only salvation. We have now the oppor