The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-04-10

policy, may see moro clearly than
they have done the pure, .ne Chris
tian and patriotic motives Which have
actua;ed the Christian people general
y ofNorth to take deep interest in the
promotion Of education in the South.
Their efforts, their contributions of
Of teachers and Of money, are not
prompted by the spirit of Conquest or
party zeal, but by sentiments of phil
anthropy and convictions of duty.
But, after all that Christians and
philanthropists. of the North can do,
The labor the responsibility, the duty
of establishing free, universal cduca-
tion rests upon Southern men. The
Federal Government can not assume
the task and burden. 1t cannot pro.
vide the money, nor establish the
schools, nor enforce attendance
These things, if done at all, must be
done by the people on The spot, who
are to pay the taxes, and, in return,
are to reap an adequate benefit in the
diffusion of culture and the elevation
of society,"
A vast responsibility in respect to
the attainment Of these objects rests
upon the religious portion of the pop
ulatio,., upon whom also rest the
strongest obligations, both rs Chris
ftians and citizens. The collective ac-
tion Of this numerous and influential
class could not but be felt in cducat-
ing public sentiment and in directing
The general policy of the Southern
States. Indeed it is not too much to
say that if they will bat exert their
energies, the religious people OF the
South hold its social, moral, educa-
tional, and consequently It's political
dcstlnies IN their own hands; and if
they are true to the highest interests
of good citizenship, to the benevolent
spirit Of Christianity, to the welfare
ofthcmselves and their postelty, they
will make their influences potential,
and in molding public sentiment for
the benefit of all classes OF the popu-
lation, poor as well as rich, black as
well as white. Neglect will be sure
to be followed by disaster An avene-
Ing Nemesis pursucs States Us well as
private crimes.
When there is manifest il the South
generally the cultivation. ! spirit of
Fraternity toward their core, it;}ists
and iellow-countrymeu in The North.
Iot patriotism and loyalt5--;+sSass4Sil- slc
Nation and General Goy$.nine MT,
and OF justice ami bencyoienoe toward
the cnfraEchfsed blacks, there will be
no disposition in any quarter to inter
fere IN their local affairs. 1t was on
| ly because of the menaccs with which,
their attitude and policy have throat
ened the great interests OF the nation
itself, and those for which the Ma
tional Government had made itself
responsible, that the policy Of inter.
ference was ever taken. 1t has been
as disagreeable to the North as irk.
some to the South. Remove entirely
the sense of its necessity, and it will
Immediately and forever cease.
or this the people Of the South may
be sure, the people of the North are
not hostile 10 them. Even in the
raising of great armies and in hear
ing tire burdens and sacrifices of
war, they were not actuatcd by q
spirit of animosity, but by solemn,
overpowering sense of PATRIOTISM
They now desire only that the great
Interests of the nation, to which they
gave costly, ever memorable pledges,
Eshonld be protected and transmitted
to posterity unimpaired !. that equali-
ty before the law Shall exist not in
name only, but that equal and exact
justice shall be meted out to all by
the laws and in the courts. In seeur.
ing these objects the North--the peo-
pie generally-desire the hearty CO.
operation of the South and they do
not desire that 'thA South shall be
] subjected to iniIlstirn Or nnnrnssinn