Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-24


it is DONE this also is history that We of the
South should accept, and that our fellow
citizens Of the North should never disturb.
But all these things, bad as they may have
been, and unfortunate as they may yet be,
are only incidental TO the one great historic
fact, that SldcJy CriStS no more. For this
fact / dcvOutly thank God this day, And
ON many accounts:
1. For the negroes themselves. While
they have suffered and will suffer many
things IN their struggle for existence, | do,
nevertheless. believe that in the long run it
is best for them. How soon they shall real
ize the possibilities Of their new relations
depends largely, perhaps most, on them
selves. Much depends on those who, under
God SET them free. by every token this
whole nation should undertake the problem
of their education. That problem will have
to be worked out ON the basis of cO-opera-
ton that is, they mus. he helped to help
themselves. To make their education an
absolute gratuity will perpetuate many OF
the misconceptions and weaknesses of char
acter which now embarrass and hinder their
progress. Much also depends upon the
Southern white people, their sympathy, their
justice their wise and helpful cooperation.
This VIC should give them. not reluctantly,
but gladly, for their good and for the safety
of God. How We may do this may be mat
ter for discussion hereafter.
,. ! am grateful that slavery no longer
| exists. because it is better for the white peO-
pie of the South. 1t is better for our indus
tries and our business, as proved 10y the
| crops that free labor makes Bat by emil
nence it is better for our social and ethical
development. We will now begin TO take
our right place among both the conservative
and aggressive forces of the civilized and
| Christian world.
| ,. | am grateful because it is unspcakably
better for our children and children's chill
dren. 1t is better for them in thousand
ways. have not time for discussion in
detail now. But this, If nothing else, proves
the truth of my position; there are more
white children at work in the South to-day
| than ever before. And this goes far 10 ac-
count for the six million bales of cotton.
Our children are growing up to believe that
| idleness is vagabOndagr. One other thing |
wish to say before leaving this point. We
| hear much about tho disadvantages to our
children of leaving them among several mil
| lions of freedmen. | recognize them and
feel them hut | would rather leave my
cAldren among several millions of free ne
grOes, than among several millions Of ne
| grOcs in slavery.
/
have got new light you have changed the
| opinions You entertained twenty years ago:''
| answer humbly, bnt gratefully, and with
ont qualification | hire got new light. /
do now believe many things that did not
| believe twenty years ago. Moreover, If 1t
| please God to spare me in this world twenty
years longer, | hope to have, ON many diff
cult problems, more new light. | expect, if
see the dawn of the year 1900, to believe
some things that | now reject, and to reject
some things that now believe. And will
not be alone
In conclusion. ask You to indulge me in
a few reflections that are, believe, appro-
pirate To this occasion.
And first, as 4 people. let us of the South
frankly recognize some of our faults and
lacks and try to reform and improve. |
know this is hard task. And it is all the
harder because we are the suhjectSof So much
| denunclationand misrepresentation by our
critics of the Northern States and of other
| countries. Much of this comes through sin
cere ignorance much of it through the
necessities of party politics some OF it,
fear through sinful hatred and much of it
through habit Many have So long thrown
stones ut Us, that it has become Il habit to do
So. The rather Pharisaic attitude that many
| public men at the North have assumed to-
ward us. has greatly embarrassed and ar
rested our efforts To- discover our faults and
| to amend them. But all this only furnishes
I a reason for beginning the sooner and trying
the harder. What is really good-Ind there
is much that is Sood-lct Us stand by, and
make it better if we can.
| There are some unpleasant things that
/ ought to he said. They are oumy conscience.
| First, then, let us eudc,svor to overcome
our intense pruvincialsm. We are too well
satisfied with ourselves We think better of
ourselves than the facts of our history and
our present state of progress justify Some
of us are nearly of the opinion that the
words ''thc South" is synonym for uni
verse As people we have not enough felt
the heart beat of the world outside of us.
We have been largely shut of from that
world. Slavery did this, and this suggests
another reason for gratitude that it exists no
more. Had we been less provincial, less
| shut in by and with our own ideas, had We
known the world better, we would have
known ourselves better, and there would
have been no war IN 1861.
Secondly. there is vast mass of illiteracy
among us. THERE'S white as well as black
illiteracy. There are multiplied thousands
who can neither read nor write. They must
be taught.
Thirdly, let us recognize our want of a
literature. We have not done much in this
line of things. 1t is too obvious to dispute
about, it is too painful to dwell upon,
Fourthly, let us wake up To Our want OF
educational facilities. Our public school sys-
tenn is painfully inadequate Our colleges
and universities are mendOwed, and they
struggle against fearful odds in their effort
to do their work We are one hundred
years behind the Eastern and Middle States.
We are also behind many of the new States
of the West
Filthy, consider how behind hand we are
with our manufacturing interests. Our pro-
vincialism, our want ut literature, our lack
of educational facilities and our manufac
lures, like our lack Of population, is all eN-
planned by one fact and one word slavery.
/ But for slavery Georgia would be Is denSely
pcuplcd as Rhode Island. Wherefore,
among many other reasons, | say again,
thank God that it is no more among us
| mention, lastly, Spae traits ot character
tcs NtoUd cUltirdt,.
First, the humble but all-prcvaIlins viz
tues of industry and economy in business.
There should he no npn-producins classes
among us no wasting classes. The North
ern people have more money than the South
crn people. chiefly Tor the reason that they
work more and save more.
Secondly, let us cultivate the sentiments
and habits oi political and social toleration-
/ This is sOrely needed among us We need
To feel that man may vote against us and
I be our friend We need To feel that We can
/ hc his friend although We vote against him.
/ Thirdly, let us cultivate respect for all
law and authority Is Gods appointment.
/ This is net 4 characteristic quality Ot our
people. The educating influences of many
/ generations have been uniavorahlc To the
/ development of tins sentiment is mental
/ habit, or rather, a mental characteristic
| We must plant ourselves and bring up our
| children On the platform ut ~. Paul and st.
/ Peter. as read and considered in the begin
ming of this discourse. Law, authority, We
must reverence and obey rs the ordinance of
God.
/ Finally, let us cease from politics rs a trust
and trade. cur duty Ui citizenship We
must perform hut We should look no longer
to political struggles as the means uf dclv-
/ erancc from all our difficulties. If We sue
/ coed We would be disappointed. Political
success may enrich few place hunters, who
ride into oilicr upon the tide of popular en-
thusl:tsm but it will bring little reward 10
the nrlsS,'S ot the people. There is no help
for it IT We prosper. We must work for II.
| cur dcllvcranCc will come through millions
of hard lickS and millions of acts of self
denial, through industry, economy, civil or
| der, and the blessing ui God upon obcdi-
cucc.
Secondly, let Us hook forward do the
heroic dead no injustice. Eut the only IA
I tional way in which W. can emulate their
virtues is 10 live Tor the country they died
/ for We are not called ou 10 tie for II. hui
Z To live for it believe me. good friends,
much harder thing toGn,
We should not forget what General Lee