The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-20

tat.ons upon this subject has developed some
strange things. 1t has seemed strange that
-he claim should be seriously put forward
that congress, composed of body of men
four-ffths of whom represent constituencies
having no direct interest in the matter. has
the right to control the application of funds
raised by taxation under state legislation. 1t
has seemed strange that an effort should be
made to compel under heavy pans and pen
allies, a personal association disastetul to
both the races to be effected by the legislation.
But the strangcst part Of all is, that the at
tempt should be made by our Lawmakers to
force the white children of the South into
daily contact with moral pollution. Not
outstanding the colored people have been
elevated, even in state OF slavery ny con-
tact with the whites, every southern man
/ knows that, even now to be unchaste, untruth
! ful and dishonest is the rule among mat GLASS;
OF our population; and TO practice the oppo
site virtues the exception. The loss OF virtue
upon the part of females, expulsion upon the
most conclusive evidence OF gulil from
church, nay even the conviction OF alelohy
| before the legal tribunals of the country, DO
not operate the forfeiture of cast among ms
people Whatever others less conversanl
with the true condition of southern society
may think, we know that we are right IN our
opposition to this forced in'ermingling OF
the races 1t Is a thing to which we never
will consent. We are willing to do what We
| can towards elevating the lnferlCr race. we
are even now dispensing the dement's OF our
school system, as far as we are able TO 90 SO,
without discrimination in favor Oh the one
race as against the other, and this, 100 IN the
face of The fact that the white people pay
twenty -nine-thirtieths of the taxes.
| The public mind is becoming more and
more inclined 20 do what they can Tor the
colored people. We feel, however, that this
is our question--that we are better quallLea
TO deal with it than the people OF any olher
state or of all the states, and all we ask Is 10
be- let alone.
Regarding the teachers of the State OF
Georgia, the Superintendent says:
Much complainthas reached mefrom many
portions of the state in relation to the lack OF
an adequate supply of competent teachers
Many of the teachers employed in the white
schools of the state are equal to those OF any
other state 4 considerable number OF these,
however, it must be admitted, are lncompe'
tent for the work they have undertaken New
Iertheless, in view OF the smallness OF our
state school fund and the general condition
| of the people, | cannot recommend the eX.
penditure OF money, at present, Tor thelr I'M,
provement, either by the establishment OF
teachers institutes or normal schools, or
by the endowingof department for training
in the State University, or in the colleges OF
the state. We must, for the present, trust Tor
our supply to such Of the young men and
young ladies coming out annually from uni
versties, colleges and high schools, as may
voluntarily adopt the teacher profession.
The want Of teachers for our colored
schools is much more serious matter. The
number of colored men or women capable OF
teaching is very small--so small as to into. e
fere seriously with the establishment Of col
ored schools in various localities To EN-
plOy the rude and untutored is evidently
waste of time and money, and yet it has often
been found necessary to relax the require
ments for obtaining teachers licenses in order
to procure teacher at all. White teachers
cannot be had to teach colored schools; any
well qualified white teacher who i'll engage
in the work of teaching c0lored school is
doing service for which he deserves the
highest commentator. He Is comforting
benefit upon the colored race by devotirg to
their improvement his superior abilities, and
upon the white by having the inferior race
put under his control at the only time which
gives promise to mould them into peaceable,
yirtuous and useful citizens.
Every good citizen should give counter
anCe and encouragement to any of our white
teachers who may be induced to enter into
this inadequate supply. If we mean to seek
the elevation Of the coOred race, we must
take steps to insure them supply of teachers
from their own ranks.
at would not be necessary, at this time, TO
make the institution of collegiate grade. A
colored youth with collegiate training, in the
present condition of his race, would find but
few avenues Of employment open to him.
Should he enter the secular professions, he
could find patronage only among his own
race from which he could derive but little
remuneration for services performed. Should
he devote himself to teaching, his higher at
tainments would be of little value to him in
the elementary schools-7the only schools for
which his people will have any occasion for
years TO come. 1t would be sufficient, at
present. to give the pupils IA thorough ele-
mentry English education, thus fitting much
larger number OF them, with the same eXpen
diture of means, for making themselves use
full to their race in its present condition.
| give you the above in order to show the
feeling of the southern people towards their
former slaves, which you will see is quite
to what northern people are gener-
ally given to understand by parties whose in
crest it is to circulate such rumWs and 10
make believe that the southern people are
rea'ing the colored race imhumanly.
During my attendance at the Tennessee
Teachers State Convention, a few weeks ago,
listened to paper which was read by a
southern gentleman and which was received !
With the greatest satisfaction by all, in which
le set forth his views regarding the educa
ion Of the colored race. He said:
"The Incorporation of new element-the
.olored race-into our governing class very
greatly enlarges the demand for and The OBJ
igations TO provide elementary education.
The public safety and humanity forbid us to
disregard the pitiqble need OF these people
or knowledge and morality. The race was
invested with political power before it had
'btained the guiding hand Of the commonest
ducation, or the restraining iniluence Of