The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-05-08


invited to be present.
DEDICATION OF THE AVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL
Pursuant to notice the above institution was
formally opened yesterday afternoon. We have
| already given the public description OF the
premises and the object for which they were
erected. The audience was composed chiefly
Of colored persons, but there were also present
Gen. R. z. Scott, Judge Bryan, Col. Willard,
and number of the officials connected with
the school department Of the Freedmen's Bu-
reau. To General Scott is due the credit OF
having begun and completed the undertaking,
which has added another to the handsome
public institutions of the city.
The exercises were under the direction OF
Rev. F4L. Oardoza, and were commenced by
the singing Of q childrens chorus. Selections
from the Scriptures we're then read by Rev. j.
Adams (colored), afts. which prayer was Offer
ed by Rev. N. Pease.
Rev. Mr.. Hicks, Pastor Of the Dutch Re-
formed Church, of Brooklyn, was then intro
duced, and delivered strong, instructive,
sensible and eloquent address. he said that
tor of the occasion because he was repre-
sentative of the true and tried friends of the
colored man in every section Of this vast coun-
try-not in q partisan sense, but in the
broad catholic humane idea that free-
dom means nothing unless it is based
upon education. The dedication Of this school
in the City of Charleston was an event big with
promise, because it indicated the true line OF
PROGRESS and unfolded the correct and only
method Of restoration. School houses are the
missionaries Of freedom, and the tIllot with
out the school would be murderous and ter
rible bombsheD fired unfortunately and at
random into society. A representative govern
ment presupposes popular education. Its per-
manency depended upon general intelligence,
and in the proportion that ignorance prevailed
there was positive danger to the government.
Education Is the cohesive power Of nation,
but ignorance in the end would swamp popu-
lar government anywhere. Each man is the
only proper and safe guardian OF his own
rights, and no one could claim as personal
rights things which conflict with and prevent
the general welfare OF the whole community,
Of which he is an integral part. Hence no
rights, individual or national, can be long
maintained where the masses are uneducated.
Hence every attempt to establish liberty Tor
an uneducated people has signally failed. and
must fail to the end Of time. Look at France
Who can compute the wealth Of life that has
been lavished by her patriots to secure national
freedom. And yet has she ever been free 2
Can she be free? Never, 80 long as twelve
millions Of her people are unable to read and
write. So in Acknowledgements is the dead
rot Of national progress.
Yours, said the speaker, is situation
which, prior to the election Of Abraham Lin
coin, was not contemplated as possible. 1t Is
situation for which you have made no prepa-
ration, and yet which requires experience
and degree Of mental culture-a situation
rich in priceless blessings, but full OF dangers
that may bring curses upon your heads IN
single night. 1t would be unjust to the coun-
try to you and to myself were we not to re-
cognize the fact that your emancipation and
elevation to citizenship was an event OF fearful
violence and of sudden result. This fact adds
to the precariousness Of your present status.
Public sentiment is not to be played with.
1t is something that must be educated before
it can be Notwithstanding that must be
won to your side OF the question, and, let me
say to you, it can never be done by violence IN
free country. In little while the protection
thrown around you by the Freedmen's Bureau
will be removed You will then be compelled
to exert yourselves for subsistence among
those who are opposed to you politically. Self
interest should compel you to cultivate friend
ly relations with these people; and to
cooperate in all that tends to promote
harmony prosperity and progress. You are
to look upon the man, not the politician; upon
the citizen, not the partisan; upon tine patriot,
not the carpet-bagger; upon the American, not
the negro; upon the domiciliated neighbor, not
the predatory mischief-maker and street loafer
who, having no visible meals of support, preys
upon the resources OF the country. Form your
children into line and march them to the
school house; but let politics alone.
Another reason why you should move to-
gether is this, that the disabilities which have
been thrown around the white people Of the
South will soon be removed, and their energy,
endurance and fertility Of resource will be
more than match for your ine1perience. You
may monopolize the labor, but they will OBJ
tain the ascendancy in the administration OF
public affairs. Your first duty, therefore, is to
become intelligent and educated. Until then,
all the suffrage you can employ, all the ballots
YOU can cast in the great elections, will not be
worth the snap Of finger to you. Your future
no more depends upon your right to vote than
upon the incantations of sorcerer.
This is but q meagre abstract Of the dis
course of DIR. Hicks. It was listened it with
marked attention, and the views enunciated,
startling as they occasionally must have been
to somsof the 'ebright and shining lights of
the party, were enjoyable and suggestive.
The children again sang, and the benedic-
ton was then pronounced.