The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-08-16
Mr.. Haygood's Address.


IN the brief address, and so much in accord
with sentiments we have been presenting
through the columns of the VIRGINIAN
for the past ten years, that we surrender
large portion Of our available space to its
publication. Coming from such man as
Mr.. Haygood, engaged in the work he is,
and moved by the high considerations
which govern him, the good to be accom-
plshed in the field of labor he is occupying
is incalculable. Mr.. Haygood is now
President of Emory College, Ca, is quite
young man, only "a years of age. Two
years ago the General Conference Of the
M. e. Church, South, in session at Nash
Vile, Tenn, elected him Bishop, but be-
lieving that his mission was on another
theatre of duty, he resisted the pressure
that was brought upon him to accept and
rejected the highest position in the church
of his identity. 1t was the first time in the
history of the church in this country that
such an hon or had been declined. He,
however, said that he did not think he
had call for that service. His field was
broader and the work to performed such
that to accept the BishOpric would pre-
clude him from entering upon it. He was
brought face to face with the ignorance
and moral poverty of the colored people OF
his own section. He recognized the fact
that they had souls and minds to improve,
enlarge and elevate, and it was here that
his mission directed him. Lifting him.
self above the prejudices and hates OF
race, and moved by noble christian emo
tions and principles, he threw himself into
his life work, not stopping to enquire
whom it would please or displease. Spleen
didly equipped in cul ture, native genius
and christian philanthropy, he marched
forward in the great cause of humanity,
as well as advanced social Demands
Both Church and State are intimately
| identified with the interests he espoused,
as he understood them, and losing sight OF
distinctions and honorS which were held
out to him in other fields of labor, dis
daining the narrow and reactive views OF
political parties, and recognizing alone his
human souls. he has gone forward spread
| ing the truth, confronting and disarm-
| ing prejudice, and blazing the way for a
moral and religious liberalism, that is as
| far divorced from the selfish and restricted
aims of the political mountebank, as it is
possible for christian minister to be sep
arated from a low political schemer. He
traversed the North and spoke as plainly
| to the people there as il. he were addressing
an audience in his native South. He
pointed out to them that there was a new
| South coming on-that the young men
were advancing to the front, and that it
| was the duty of the North to look to them
as the opponents of public sentiments I'M
der new dispensation. He was met eve
rywhere with the most cordial sympathy
and encouragement, and as result, a New
Jersey millionaire bequeathed million OF
dollars for the education of the negro, the
| interest on the fund to be disbursed by
him under the direction OF Board OF
| Trustees of which ex-President Hayes, of
Ohio. and Gov. Colquit, of Georgia, were
designated as members. Through his eff
forts. the Paine Institute, designed eXclu-
sively for the education of colored people
| for teachers and ministers was established.
| The Southern Methodist Church, and Cit
liens of the North and South contributed
literally of their means to make it sue
cess, and now it is in healthful operation,
dispensing it's benefits and shedding it's
rays of religious and educational light
throughout the dark places of the South.
He is in addition to the agency of the Slater
fund, and being the moving spirit in build
| ing up Paine Institute, the President OF
Emory College, in Georgia, where over 300
of the poor children of the South are be-
| ing educated for the useful avenues of
| life.
1t is this young man, so Indifferent to
the honors of his church, and so full of
work for humanity, who delivered the ad-
| dress that will be found on our first page,
and to the reading of which we invite the
careful attention of the public.
While MI. Haygood views the field be-
fore him solely from religious and moral
stand -point, doubtless, the influence he is
| exerting and the good he is accomplishing
should impress political parties, and teach
them their duty in the spheres they act
Public sentiment should be educated up to
the high ideal MI. Haygood is reaching for
and the political forces of the South should
| be moved, directed by patriotic leaders, in
a channel that cannot fail to contribute its
| flow to the object Mr.. HI. has in view. Par
ties and politicians are guaged by too low
| a standard, in dealing with the colored
race. They recognize and court it merely
| for negro votes, and not, as gener rule,
| as these votes may contribute to the enact
| ment of wise laws and the conservation Of
| philanthropic ends, such a Mr.. Haygood
is pressing upon the attention of the coun-
| try There is moral force, however, I'M
/ der all this agitation which neither parties
nor politicians can control. Designing
| men may think they are directing it to the
purpose of party and self, but they are
| merely the instruments, unwittingly, per-
haps, of charging the opportunities and
crystalizing the means, which will be
eventually used to attain the great object
which is so forcefully and convincingly set
| forth in the address to which we refer. 1t
| is to educate the people to the sincere and
practical realization of the fact that
the negro has soul and a mind, and that
/ they were not implanted in him to be de-
based and benighted. but to be improved
and expanded into usefulness, in all the
walks of life. Political parties and de-
signing politicians may not understand
this, but whether they do or not, they are
laiding in the work as effectually as though
| they did. There is no better platform for
any party than the Constitution and
laws of the country, and the party in
the South that seeks to educate public
opinion up to their intent and meaning
and the adoption thereof, are giving needed
aid to MI. Haygood and the noble men
| who are working with him, in the mission
they are engaged in. Legislation is es-
sential, in many cases, to this. work, and
as parties reflect the wishes Of the con-
stituents which compose them, liberal laws
will be enacted, affecting the interests of
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