The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-12-31
Great Work Accomplished by
the Freedmens' Bureau.

without having received any previous pre-
paration for an intelligent exercise of the
rights of Freemen. They had been left
among their old oppressors who had done
nothing for their enlightenment. The
negroes emerged from state of bondage
necessarily ignorant; unused to care for
themselves, and unaccilstomed to depend
on themselves for support II was very
natural they should be distrustful Of their
old masters, who had robbed them of their
earnings for life time. They encounter
ed the prejudices of the white race, and
were i'll most instances obliged under
great disadvantages to protect themselves
as best they could. Reckless men through
out the Scuth, vented their spleen and
heaped every sort of indignity and out
rage upon the freedmen The question as
towhat disposition should be made of the
newly liberated race, could be answered
in no other way as well as the establish
ment of Freedmans' Bureau. And not
withstanding this measure for the benefit
of the colored race, has been denounced
without stint, and has been the constant
theme of abuse by the Democratic press
of the country, it will be pronounced in
impartial future history, as one OF the
noblest enterprises of philanthropy Of the
present century 1t has taken the late
slave population of the south, in q state of
ignorance and degradation, and put in
operation means and instrum eDtalities
which will work out their elevation to all
intelligent exercise of citizenship.
Where murder and abuses IF the ne
graes, had been INDUCED in as mere pas
times, the presence of the Bureau officer
gave protection and security. Where
contracts had been violated with impun-
ity by the employees Of thefreedtnen, they
were enforced. Gross impositions were
rectifed, and where just compensation
for labor had been withheld, payment
! was properly compelled. The Agent of
freedmen, and impositions OF pro=sfaFery
tribunals were rectifed. The Bureau has
been the means of the revival of industry;
it has stimulated the employment of the
negroes, and without the encouragement
which it has afforded, vast area of coun-
try would have remained uncultivated.
The Bureau has also been the means of
relieving the terrible restitution among
both the white and colcred population oil
the South The war left the south poor
and without sufficient supplies to meet
the absolute wants of the people. A large
class of the whites, were equally as desti
tute as the blacks, and without the inter
vention of the Bureau, must have endured
suffering and starvation. BIS
The Freedmans' Bureau has been sue
cesstul in inducing the late slave popula-
ton to secure homes of their ewn, and
thus acquiring habits of1self-respect and
independency Under the liberal pro
visions-of the Government, many thousand
of homestead entries, have been made by
negroes.
But the greatest of all blessings confer
red by the Bureau on the. freedmen of the
south, has been the encouragement given
to education and the establishment OF
schools. The revolution which has been
( lnaugurated in this.direction, is of untold
Importance Che freedman were anxious
te learn, but how should the opportunities
be afforded, unless through some such in
strumentality' Within the short space OF
two years after the Bureau went intooper-
alton. over 1900 schools were opened
mostly supplied with Intelligent and
earnest teachers from the north Thou
sands of adult negroes of all ages received
for the first time the elements of educa
ton. The official report of the Bureau
says that in 1868 there have. been 31,21s
pupils in the study of Geography; 4s, a6t
in the study of Arithmetic, and nearly
5000 in what are commonly denominated
High School studies.
= Such shut an imperfect outline O
what has been accomplished by the Freed
mans, Bureau. And yet al this effort fol
the elevation of the colored race. has beer
continually denounced as piece of Re
prblican extravaganes and folly. 1t hal
paid moro than hundred fold, for all tn,
expenditure on the part of the Govern
ment, and all the time and selfsacrifcins
laborsit has received from the philanthro
pistG Of the country.