Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-10
THE NEGROES
Must be Educated il They are Ever 10
be Equal TO the Duties of Citi-
Zenship.
Industrial Education a Particular Ne
eessity-A COlOred Editor Adoeates
State Industrial Colleges.
To the Editors of the Appeal:


foundly cognizsnt of the fact that the col
ored people OF the South, and OF the Whoie
couoFy Tor that matter, are not ready 10 |
accept and regard politics from a practical, |
an economical standpoint, and, / may as Weil
add, j large number OF whites of all sections |
are still looking at the present through the
spectacles OF the past, and we are therefore
disposed TO listen patiently to a colored man
who only asks for equal justice before the
law and lair chance in the race OF n1e
But the APPEAL has very kindly opened It's
columns TO me, and l speak. The colored
aud white people have never had their rela-
tlons discussed In any other than strictly
partisan sense, hence majority OF them
only look at politics from a narrow, partisan
point OF view. The proper way to look at
the question is, simply, how may the great
est COED be secured TO the greatest number!
IL Is not question of the past, but OF the
present. 1t has nothing to do with slavery
that is dead; it has nothing 10 do with the
war-that is settled question; it has moth
ing 10 do with reconsIruchon-that period
has become historic, and is creditable neither
to the Democratic nor the Republican
parties. 1t is a question of to-day and
the results OF the future, not OF tine
past, depend upon it. How can the South
preserve the letter as well the spirit of the
law and her vital interests a. the same time?
How can she give the people the largest
largest measure of security to the State?
How can she best stimulate her industries
and develop her resources? How can she
diminish crime and increase the scope and
efficiency of her educational system? How
can she best adjust the relations of her white
and colored populatioH-by mild and benef-
cent legislation, or by violent and tyrannic&l
methods of the law and individuals?
There is no running away from the fact
that the policy which has actuated Demo
cratic counsels in the past is highly preju-
dicial TO the best Interests OF the Sou h,
viewed from every conceivable standpoint.
The sentiments OF the editors of the APPEAL
in their comment on my article on education
are heartily Endorsed by me, in SO far as they
touch upon the right of the masses 10 uu-
trammeIed exercise OF the suffrage and the
effect of education upon the suffrage and the
good conduct OF the people. The question
OF education IN the South, permi; me to say,
Is largely inexperienced by Southern edu.
Gators. That the present So stem, as operated
by the State and by institutions supported
by philanthropy Ia largely pernicious is
demonsfrAble in this, that it fosters
contempt of honest toll and units The
bene6ciaries for the active and serious
concerns OF life, because preparing them for
duties which their own impecuniosity and
that of the masses OF their people offers no
employment. The only employments which
the colored people can suppoF. are those oil
preaching and teaching. Our lawyers are
supported, because their clients bring them
rough law cases in criminal law without any
fees attached. Our doctors are not sup
ported, because their patients bring them
complicated cases of disease without fees.
Our politicians are not supported, because
they do all the bowling and voting, and
their white leaders scoop in all the loaves
and fishes. The groundwork of peoples
greatness is predicated upon comfortable
affluence, and any education which diverts
the mind, by false inculcations of pride, is
pernicious and should be discountenanced.
A classical and professional education is
good thing only when il tends to ennoble
and enrich its possessor, and it can only do
this when all the conditions are favorable.
l need not say that this is not the case now,
and has not been.
1 DO not hide from myself this fact, that
as the people of the North were largely
instrumental in manumitting the slaves, so
it must remain with the South 10 make them
good citizens. The party which has assumed
the championship of the colored citizen up
TO this time has already turned him over TO
the mercy, the generosity and the poverty OF
the South, and it will be the duty OF the in
telligent and loyal colored men in future 10
aid the South to solve the problem con6ded
TO them by the people of the whole country
Recognizing this fact, l am not disposed to
revile the South for the past, which is past.
L am ready and anxious TO enter upon the
complex and laborious solution of the
problem before us. And / take for my text
the sentiment enunciated in the editorial
columns of the APPEAL, that GThe interests
of the white and colored people are one and
the same"
Now, the first move in this solution which
the South should originate is a comprehen-
- Of ~ alrr
junction with the common school system, to
be under the Immediate care OF the superin-
tendent of education. This can be done
with far less outlay than at first seems APP
parent, and can be made far more self-sus-
tanning than the peniteutiary systems of the
South and fraught with results upon the
prosperity of the State out of all proportion
to the trouble and expense of initiatory
operations. For example, each State has
a large surplus of public domain. Let each
State donate 500 acres of good land for an
industrial college" site, and appropriate,
say 100000 for building and REQUIREMENT
purposes, the surplus to be applied to the
running expenses of the first year. Let
there be selected from each county SO many
children above the age of twelve years from
the country schools for admission into the
"State industrial College," selecting, of
course, the brightest and most promising of
the pupils in the country schools. Farming,
shoemaking; blscksmithing, tailoring, ele-
mentary English education, ETC., in a few
years course, would turn out class of
citizens who would be an honor 10 themselves
and profit TO the State.
Such institutions could be made source
of revenue to the State. The farm products
aud the manufactured articles would find a
ready market in the large cities and towns
of the State. With the donation of the site
and the necessary funds for building and
equipping the institution, an annual appro-
pfiation for running the institution would
be absolutely unnecessary after the fifth
year, as the industries of the institution
would be ample for all such purposes, and
in ten years every such institution would
have reimbursed the State for all OUTLAWS. l
really believe this plan, adopted by the
Southern States, would do more toward the
solution of the race problem in the South
than any other l could advance.
l am proud TO number among the agencies
for uplifting the race TO which l belong
through the medium of education, industrial
and otherwise, so able snd widely circulated
journal as the APPEAL; and i take this
occasion to thank lis editors for the cour-
teous tender Of their columns 10 me for the
discussion of the race problem. / shall only
avail myself of the offer when by speaking
snme Oond m AZ possibly Ealla~- I H. sfIV I
South, my childhood home, and / am sim
cerely DESTROYS OF seeing her every interest
advanced. / can but be devoted TO the Ne |
gro race, of which l am a member. Let us
look to the present for judicious labor and |
thought, and the future will yield = large |
measure of happiness and prosperity.
New YORK. November 8. 1852.