Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-07
Education in the SOuth-An Interesting
Address on that Subject.


Education in the SOuth-An Interesting
Address on that Subject.
In addition to its work on the tariff Ques-
tion, laid over for the next session to await,
probably, the action of Congress on the re-
port OF the Tariff Commission, the Farmers
Congress, at It's recent session In st. Louis,
declared for immediate clearing out of the
Mississippi river, and then 1t considered the
question OF the distribution of the public
lands. On this subject Mr.. Kapp, of Iowa,
offered the following resolution
"HeSOLUed, That we favor the distribution
OF the proceeds realized from the sale of
public lands Of the United States among the
several States in proportion to their popula-
tion and illiteracy, for the following pur-
poses:
First, for providing or aiding an effective
school system for all persons under eighteen
years Of age; secondly, for the improvement
OF agricultural EXPERIMENTATION"
The resolution, says the st. Louis ReDasb-
dcan, gave rise to several very animated
speeches, In which all members concurred
In the opinion that the interests of the
Southern and Western farmer were closely
allied, as they were both compelled to fight
the monopolists of the East. Elk Gov. G. d.
Shands, Of Mississippi, obtained the floor
lion. His remarks will be found exceed
inQlY interesting:
Mr.. PRESIDENT once thought of pre-
pairing resolution on this subject, to be
presented TO this Congress, but l now have
cause to be thankful that l was delayed In
my purpose. The present proposition, COM
ing as it does from the great Northwest,
gives me cause for great Joy. Had uttered
the thoughts contained in the resolution,
they might have been attributed to desire
to gain for my State and the South some un-
due advantage; but, coming as theV do from
the distinguished gentleman from lows, they
are In the highest measure gratifying to us
CT the South. feel very thankful that the
opportunity has been afforded to me to
speak 10 the farmers of the North and
Northwest, and particularly upon this ques-
tion. / feel sure that | only utter the
thoughts that now find lodgment in the
minds Of all thinking Southern men. On
my part they are not hasty thoughts, but
rather they are the results of many years
reflection and observation.
1t is impossible that you should under
stand the peculiar embarrassments that have
surrounded us in our relations to the recent
ly enfranchised slave. We accepted at once
the issues Of the war as a finality on the
slave question and as was beftting for us
to do, we at once addressed ourselves to the
gigantic undertaking of making of the
OF the North have no adequate conception
OF the depth OF poverty In which the war
left US. Recognizing that the future safety |
and quiet Of our States depended upon the |
capabilitY OF the negro properly to exercise
the privileges Of citizen, we, as speedily |
as we could remove the gaunt spectre Of |
famine from our doors, at once cast about |
for some plan within our reach, whereby |
we might make our former slaves, now free |
men, better citizens. AS 1 now remember,
but few, II any OF the Southern |
States had, up to that time, organized any |
system Of general common school educa- |
ton. But the thought came with a rapidfty |
born OF the instinct of self-preservation that |
what was left of our property-aye, even |
our very lives and all our hopes of peace |
and sppiness-depended upon the eleva- |
tion in the scale Of intelligence and morali- |
tY OF those who, recently enfrauchised and |
newly endowed with the largest liberty, |
must for generations to come live with and |
among US. Allow me to say to you that we |
did then live upon the top of a smouldering |
volcano, but we trust now that all danger is |
fast disappearing. How to meet this i'm |
portant responsibility was the question to |
which these bankrupt and disorganiZed |
States betook themselves. AS II by magic |
school houses for black children eprang |
up all over the land; aye, the action fol- |
lowed the thought so fast that they are not |
divided apprecisblY iD point of time. Eve.
ryWhere and In every State OF the South the |
same thought took root and the same action |
followed. Whatever of property there was
left there belonged to white men, vet they
at once and continuously since then have
aided to impose upon themselves by taxa
tton burdens heavy to be borne to educate
these people. This is the settled policy of
the South, whether any aid come from the
General Government or not. Philanthropy |
prompts 1t and safety demands It. We felt |
that the time would come when a sense of |
duty on the part Of the great and prosperous |
North would prompt th@m to aid us in this |
herculean enterprise. We owed a debt to |
the freedman, because he had been our
slave: the North owed debt to him because
they had invested him with new and power
ful privileges ard rights which he was poor
ly qualified to exercise, and when the gentle
man from Iowa read his resolution / at
once saw that the day had fully daWned,
and when he further said that his |
resolution was IN accord with the predomi-
Dsnt thought In the great State OF Iowa, | |
then knew and felt fraterniZ ation-simple.
pure, genuine and unpurch ased-had taken |
growth In the heart Of the farmers of the
land. This work Of educating and elevat-
ing the negro must go on. As IL now is he
Is a most important political factor. Divided
in party relations as white men are, he by
his vote gives complexion TO each recurring
administration, and whether he acts for the
best or not, he does It. The great heart of
this nation is interested deeply in the fu-
ture. He holds In a great measure the dee.
tiny and happiness Of all our people in his
hands; and speaking for Mississippi. and I /
myself say for the South, for our thoughts. |
interests and destiny are identical, say to /
the gentleman from Iowa that his resolution
and utterances will cause thrill Of joy to
permeate the hearts Of all our people.
nj fIo- I, S.
the negro question by the side of which
all others sink into insigni1eance. We can
Dear burdensome tariff and oppressive
exactlons from monopolies and live in our
beloved la d, but It is within the bounds of
possibility that this vast, newly enfran-
chised race may yet exercise bsneful
influence upon our common country. do
not anticipate such result. The negro
is in the main good willed, and now, when
| see our efforts in his behalf, taken up,
aided and abetted by our former brothers
of the North, / now know that 1t will be
but generation or two until he shall stand
side by side with US In an intelligent en-
deavor to secure happiness and prosperity |
for the South and the whole nation.
How much better thus to use the money
arising from government land sales than to
give it to mcnopolies. The negro is q
farmer and the farmer sustains all ranks
and classes.
The negro is not represented here BY one
Of his race, but the great heart OF the gen
tleman from Iowa has permitted him to |
make the negro's cause his own, and we of
the South have profound cause TO be CRATE
full when he tells as that the great farmer
body Of Iowa stand behind him in bis ex-
pressions. You are richer and more power
ful than We, yet, In this generous emuIa-
ton FOR promoting the welfare Of the whole
country, we shall be your rival, and thIs
rivalry can produce naught but love between