The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-09-06
Catholic Schools for Rearoes.

10 In the acts of the Second Baltimore
Council, recently published, it is warmly
urged upon parochial authorities to organize
schools for the education of negro children
After setting forth the intellectual def.
cheney of that population, and their unfit
ness at present for the high and responsible
functions of self government; after regret.
ting that their enfranchisement had no,
been more gradually effected, like that Of
} European serfs, through the discreet
agency OF the Church, SO that they might
have been gradually brought to the stage O,
cultivation proper for citizens, the Council
advises that immediate steps be taken fol
their instruction and moral guidance.
Emancipation of the intelligence ought ia
keep pace with that of the civil status, and
ought not to be too far anticipated by the
latter. A child does not become man by
act of Congress; slave cannot become a
virtual monarch by the waving of a pfesi-
Dental wand.
However, that is all irrevocably past.
The deed 10 done and will never be undone.
The question is, how to obviate the evil it
has worked. To this end, the venerable
bishops of this country, in view Of the
forlorn condition" of the emancipated,
"urge upon the clergy and the people to
extend to them that Christian education
and moral restraint which they so much
stand in need Of" The response to this in
Junction has not hitherto been as enthusi-
astic as it might have been. The negro
population in this city is the largest in any
city of the United States; and this, there
fore, would appear the most appropriate
field for the prosecution of the charitable
designs suggested.
1t may be that every parish intends doing
something of the sort, but delays it's COM
mencement from the anticipation of great
difficulties. There could be no great diff
Guilty, however, in making very small and
rude beginning, in conjunction with paro-
chial schools already founded and prosper
ing. 1t is well known that the Catholic
Church does not neglect the poor because
of their poverty. Shall she be suspected of
neglecting them because of their color
The work might have less attraction. it ia
true, than that which is directed to pupils
OF a more intelligent and tractable race,
but its motive would be so much the more
pure.
1t is probable that many of the supposed
difficulties would vanish, if the merest be-
ginning were once made. st. Peter Clayer
found no difficulty, during his whole apos-
tleshlp at Carthagena, in converting every
negro slave who passed through that place,
no matter how british in vice and ieno-
'ance, how fresh from the cannibalism of .
Africa, how utterly ignorant of every Ian ,
,uage of which he himself knew a word. 1t
will be said that all this was miraculous c
True; but charity can always work mira t
les. "To charity all things are possible.n Il
Besides, there is a certain readiness of il
uccess sometimes due to the nature of the o
ield operated in. Dispersit superbos nsente a
ordfs SUI ct eraltavit huaiIes. The same &
are, the same zeal which is wasted with q
ut little fruit on one person pampered i,
nth the luxuries of the world and sodden q
nth its pride, might we'll touch the hearts Fl
nd win the souls of great crowd of the il
umbler and less favored children of mis- c.
'rtune. Yet, in the rewards promised to y
lose who shall save the souls of others, no n
istinction is made among those souls on IL
he ground of color. q.
Our people ought to take an interest in ci
lis subject, not only as Christians, but in
so as citizens. Public policy demands it, sc
i'd demands it urgently. We must deal
18th facts as such. We cannot afford to u,
more reality. The spirit of revolution is cl
broad; it leads to anarchy and thence to w
its whole route is marked with ty
God and ruin. The chief agents of revo- d,
tion are the passion and brute force of an Of
norant populace. If you sit supinely and m
the control of such an element pass into til
e hands of Jacobins, you may enable them r.
enter triumphantly on contest which, ia
18th proper activity on your part, would be
jmDOssihla for than, IT,. |