The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-08-07

colored people as mass are generally lmproV-
ident, have no consideration as to the des' inies
of their posterity, are able to fathom BOT very
short distance in the future. And inasmuch as
suchis the case the State ought to take the
matter into consideration, and make every man
do his duty to and for his State, because the
State has provided for the education of the
masses. Therefore, it is duty required at the
hand Of every man by the State without any
compulsion whatever, to educate his children
and to prepare their minds for the important
duties of life. IF the colored element are not
educated and prepared to use the rights of cit
izenship, which have been recently given them
by the Constitution of the United States, fas-
ter than they are now being educated, why the
doom of this country is inevitable. 1t seems tnat
Providence has seen fit to free them for some
duty OF rather to serve Him, and they can neither
do service to their God nor their country in
proper manner, unless they are educated and
brought from an iIliterate state to an enlight-
ened one. Therefore, it is the duty of every
sensible, man to put all efforts forward in edu-
eating the colored element of the recently
emancipated States, which will be the only way
to redeem these badly governed States in my
judgment. Redemption cannot be brought
about in any .othef way, because they have
been endowed with citizenship regardless of
their untutored condition, and possess, in the
midst of that citizenship, a very meagre knowl-
edge of governmental affairs; will cast their
votes for corrupt leaders, and inasmuch as they
must be endowed with the right to vote, why
let them be informed and instructed in man
ner advantageous to the State The State needs
purifcation, and it must be purified, or else we
will drift to an irrecoverable misery. That
compulsory school law is all important for the
colored element Of this State, no one will deny.
The following facts and figures will explain
themselves. According to the report of the Su-
perintendent Of Education, Second Annual Re
port,a there are two thousand six hundred and
. (2eO3) three colored persons between the ages
of six and sixteen years residing in Anderson
County and out of this large number OF coioFeo
children residing in this County, there are only
three hundred t9O9) and nine in attendance on
the public schools, all Of which goes to show
that the colored man is really improvident in
his habits. You will find bya rough ,calcula-
ton that only, or thereabouts, one-eighth part
Of them (colored children) are attending the
public schools in Anderson County. In con-
clusion, I trust that men who can use the pen
with more skill than the writer will give this
matter their considerations in the future.
Let others war on languages, creeds or fame,
We yield this people what they justly claim. x
I trust the time is not far distant when all
cause of complaint shall cease, national preju-
dices be entirely forgotten, and that the only
remaining rivalry between us shall be IN the
diffusion of learning, patriotism and fraternal
affection. u. u. WILLIAMS: Lila
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