Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-15
The Negro Must be Educated and
Trained 10 be Made n Good Laborer.

| The Negro Mu-t be educated and
Trained TO be Made n Good Laborer.
| To the Editors of the Appeal:
Upon first reading the communication of
your correspondent, ARKANSAS" in this
mornings issue, the thought at once arose
that the difficulties urged by "Arkansasn
could not be considered insurmountable from
his own showing, though they are unques-
| tionably difficulties of q grave character
! The gravest difficulty which presents itself
| to ARKANSAS" is that of the low standard of
morals exiting among the colored race.
This is unquestonably The question for the
Southern people TO solve. In IT is involved
our very existence as people, and only
when our people look ~ It;S matter in its
proper light will any solution OF the problem
be possible. The only thing which made it
possible for the "prodigal son" ever TO reform
and return to his 'fatner's house" was the
fact that "he came to himself" Now this is
just what we must do. We must come to
ourselves and recognize the fact that if there
is ever to be any improvement worked with
the colored people, SO that they may learn
the evils and wrong of such conduct as TAR
kansas" attributes TO them, and of which
they are undoubtedly guilty in too many in
stances, who, in the name of all
that is reasonable and charitable
can possibly occupy such an advantageous
position for giving practical lessons in this
improvement as the toIite people of the South?
Without meaning TO be personally offensive
to ARKANSAS" will he state to what extent
he has exerted himself for the moral and in
telleciual improvement of the negroes around
him? or whether any individual or number
of individuals in his county have everyone
assiduously to work 10 raise the standard of
morals, intelligence aud religion among
these people? The statement of what the
county has done in the way OF paying taxes
for school purposes will not suffice. Tue
payment of those taxes is compulsory, as
the result of legislation compelled by the |
circumstances OF the case, for public senti- |
ment would not permit the organization of |
schools for the whites and moi for the blacks; |
besides, it has not been clearly proven that the
knowledge OF how 10 read and write will |
make an honest man out OF dishonest one,
SO that there might be ever so many schools |
without the bottom of the matter having |
been reached. The information wanted is |
as to what amount OF voluntary effort has
been put forward by individuals and COM
munities with the determined intention of |
making out of these recently emancipated
slaves good citizens, good christians, and
good neigbbors. Unless "Arkansas'" neigh
borhood is an exceptional good one, we
think the answer will be nothing" or "al-
most nothing" 1t was stated but few days
ago in the hearing of the writer that in
some neighborhood not far from Memphis it
was thought that the services of an able
bodied negro man could be obtained for half
the year, or for the cultivation of a crop, if
only be was furnished with house eft for a
human being to live in," and sight of many
OF the houses furnished by planters TO their
tenants goes far TO confirm the truth of this
statement, and it 10 we'll known that the
planters and farmers who keep their tenants
comfortably housed have none of the
troubles about scarcity Of labor attending
The operations of those who only provide the
cabins with which we are too
familiar, and the associations of which must,
aud do, positively preclude the possibility of
any advancement in the morals, religion and
Intelligence of their occupants. The remedy
ior this portion of our ills is with ourselves,
and only ourselves. No outside influence
an be brought 10 bear. Shall we under
axe il? OLD CONFEDERATE.