Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-02
The Problem OF EduetIon for the Freedmen

ment OF our pOpulation - l.
bondage and intrusted with the power OF
the ballot, system of free schools has
become means of selfpreseryation. 10
educate the colored race and tit them to
exercise the privilege Of voting intelligent.
ly-to perform all the sacred rights OF
treemen to enjoy their liberty, to become
wise and good citizens-imposes upon us
task to perform, a responsibility from
which we cannot escape. Then let US set
about the work cheerfuliy. Message Of Coz.
Dre,r, Of Florida.
This extract from the first message OF the
new Democratic governor of Florida, Is
quoted by some of the political optimists, as
evidence that there is little ground for tine
prevalent fear among Northern Republl-
cans. that Democratic success at the South
means danger to the colored schools. we
are glad to accept it for all it is worth-as
evidence that the Governor of one Southern
S.ate-a Democratic carpet-bagger-desires
that the colored people shall have the
blessings Of education ami is not AFRAID to
recommend care VI INT iec ''hVO
public duty. But il is to be remembered
that Florida Is peculiar community. 1t
has already considerable population oil
people of Northern birth, and Northern
seekers for health bring good share OF all
the money that comes into the State. The
native Floridian knows that he cannot
afford to quarrel with this source Of such
prosperity a. he enjoys, and he is more
tolerant Of the Northern sentiment which
demands equality of civil rights and prl7i-
leres for men of all colors, than the average
S,utherner. There may be here and there
other Southern communities controlled by
minds wise and philanthropic enough
to see that education, intelligence, and
wise and earnest care for the minds
and morals of the ignorant, blacks
and whites alike. furnish the only
solution of the great problem of the South,
and the only hope Of a continuance of genuine
Republican government there. But SUCH
we fear, are the exception and not the rule
We suppose it to be true that in large por-
tons of tie South the freedmen are retro
grading, rather than making progress in in
telliscnce that the colored schools in many
places have fewer scholars than they had at
the close of the war. that many children
who had begun to learn to read and write
are relapsing into the dense ignorance OF
their race in is condition Of seryitude; and
that it is the settled purpose of d large and
controlling portion of the whites to keep
the blacks in ignorance, as means OF hold
ing them in practical subjugation.
An incident or two which have come to
our knowledge will illustrate this feeling.
A yermonter of high standing in our State,
was spending several months at the South,
within a year or two. At the hotel where
he was staying in a Southern city was also
boarding Northern clergyman and his
wife. They were pleasant people, and the
relations between them and the Southern
gentlemen and ladies' in the hotel appeared
to be perfectly cordial, till one day il
was whispered about that the clergyman
and MS wife had been taking some interest
in a freedmen's school, and had promised
the scholars some books to exc out theil
scauty stock. From tina. moment
every Southern man and woman in
the house gave them the cold shoulder
They were Stunned by all but our Northern
friend, as if the7 were lepers and were
made in every way to feel that they hat
committed an objectionable offence. Short
" after our friend was talking with an in
fuential Southerror, who dilated with much
feeling on the outrage of enfranchising the
colorei people, and of making all the prop
erty and intelligence Of the State subject tC
densely ignorant mass of black voters. "l'
as serious state Of things" replied ouI
friend, "and it is no wonder that you find il
irksome but Providence has so ordered
things that there is remedy for ignorance
Tha. is education. When you accepted the
results of the war, aad it became plain tC
you that your former slaves must hereafter
participate with you in the government oil
your State, i. was, as it seems to rue, the
plainest dictate Of policy and duty to take
every possible means to educate them fol
their new duties and position" The South
erner would hear no more, but broke in
with angry tone ari heightened color ave
don't rGnf to educate them said he,-
"D-n EN-, we d rather shoot them"
The controlling class of whites, in most Of
the Southern States, We fear, agree entirely
with this Southernsr. And such control
ling sentiment affords doubtful outlook for
the future of that great section of our repub-
lie. The only hope lies in the continuance
of Republican supremacy in the nation, and
in the purpose of the best minds, North and
South, in some way to break up the color
liue, and to secure to every child the bless
ings Of education, and to every man the
privilege and opportunity to be the most Of
a man that he can be. It will be long and
slow process, at best.