Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-12-25

unfortunate us they may yet be, are only
incidental to the one great historic fact,
that SLAVERY EXISTS NO MORE. For tiHS
fact | devoutly thank God this day. And
OH many accounts:
!. For the negroes themselves. While
they have suffered and will suffer many
things in their struggles for existence,
do, nevertheless, believe that i'm the long
run it is best for them. How soon they
shall realize the possibilities of their new
relations depends largely, perhaps most,
on themselves. 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 70 be worked out on
the basis of cooperation; that is, they
must be helped to help themselves. 10
make their education an absolute gratuity
will perpetuate many of the misconcep-
tions and weaknesses of character which
now embarrass and hinder their progress.
Much also depends upon the Southern
white people, their sympathy. their JUS
tice, their wise and helpful cooperation.
This we should give them, not reluctant
ly, but gladly, for their good and for the
safety of all, for their elevation and for
the glory of God. How we may do this
may be matter for discussion hereafter.
2. am grateful that slavery no longer
exists, because it is better for the white
people of the South. 1t is better for our
Industries and our business, rs proved by
the crops that free labor makes. But by
eminence it is better for our social ana
ethical development. We will now begin
to take our right place among both the
conservative and aggressive forces OF the
civilized and Christian world.
g. lam grateful because it is unSpeaka-
bly better for our children and children's
children. 1t is better for them in thou:-
and ways. | have not time for discussion
i'm 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 to account for the six million bales of
cotton. Our children are growing up TO
believe that idlcness is vagabondage. one
other thing | wish to say before leaving
this point. We hear much about the dis
advantages to orr children ofleaying them
among several millions of freedmen. |
recognize them, and feel them; but l
would rather leave my children among
several millions of free negroes. than
among several millions of negroes III STAY
cry.
But leaving out of view at this time all
discussion of the various benefits that may
come through the enfranchisement OF the
negroes, | am thankful on the broad ana
unqualified ground, that there Is NOW NO
SLAVERY IN ALL OUR LAND.
Does any one say to me this day: on
have got new light; you have changed
the opinions you entertained twenty
wears ago" | answer humbly, hut CRATE
fully, and without qualification; l have
got new light. do now believe many
things that did not believe twenty years
ago. Moreover, if it please God to spare
me in this world twenty years longer,
hope to have, on many difficult 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 l now believe. And
will not be alone.
In conclusion, ask you to indulge ne
in a few reflections that are, believe. ap-
proprate to this occasion
And first, rs people, let us OF the South
frankly recognize some OF our faults ana
lacks, and try to reform and improve.
know this Is hard task. And it Is all the
harder because we are the subjects OF so
much denuncation and misrepreSenta-
and OF other countries. Much Of this
comes through sincere ignorance; much
of it through the necessities of party poll
tics; some of it, fear, through SINFUL
hatred; and much of it through habit
Many have SO long thrown stones at us,
that it has become Il habit to DO so. The
rather PhariSaic attitude that many pub
lie 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 reason for beginning the soon
er and trying the harder. What is really
good-and there is much that is good-let
US stand by, and make it better If we can.
There are some unpleasant things that
ought to be said. vii. you bear with me
while | point out some of the weaker
points in our social make up-some Of the
more serious lacks in Our development?
First, then, let us cndeavOr to overcome
our intense provincialism. 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 "tne South Is a
synonym for universe. As people we
have not enough felt the heartbeat of the
" Shut Oft from that world. Slavery did
this, and this suggests another reason for
gratitude that it exists no more. On this
point | will add only one word more.
Had we been less provincial, less shut i'll
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 Il vast mass Of Hitter
acy among us There is white as well as
black illtcracy. There are multiplied
thousands who can neither read nor write.
They must be taught.
Thirdly, let us recognize our want ola
literature. We have not done much in
this line of things. 1t is too obvious to
dispute about, il is too painful to dwell
upon.
Fourthly, let us wake up to our want
of educational facilities. Our public
school system is painfully inadequate.
Our colleges and universities are unen-
dowed, and they struggle against fearful
odds in their effort to Go 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.
And remember that nature never did more
to furnish Il people with the conditions
necessary to successful manufactures.
Does any one say, we lack capital? | an
swer, No, my friend it was always so. IL
was so when we had capital. ] have
thought of these things n great deal.
have been placed where was obliged to
think of them, and | have reached this
conclusion with perfect confidence of its
correctness: Our proyincialism, our want
of a literature, our lack of educational
facilities and our manufactures, like our
lack of population, is all explained by ono
fact and one word-slavery. But for slay-
~. 4 4, Il L.