Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-14
EDUCATION FOR NEGROES.
THE CONVENTIONS SECONDARY
LESS FULL OF STORMS.


ments to be Addressed.
ATLANTA, GA, Dec. 13.-The Coloret
Educational Convention resumed its ses
sion this morning at O'Clock with
smaller attendance and fewer spectators
Hon. ID. 2. Farrow was invited to a seat
and IN thanking the convention said tha
no man in Georgia felt a deeper interes
in education than he. For fifteen year.
he had worked as a member of the BoarC
or Education and private citizen. Hi.
sympathies were still with the movement
to improve the educational advantages O.
the State. A communication was read
from teachers of Houston, Texas, in
regard to the defective and inefficient
school system in that State as well as
Georgia, and rendering sympathy. They
also suggested national education a.
convention of the race at New Orleans
! during the Exposition next year
| McCombs, of Athens. started
up rumpus and much time was lost in
the confusion. McHenery, of Fulton, said
that McCOmbs ought to be in lunatic
/ asylum. President White appealed to the
| delegates to maintain order. Such con-
| duct was a disgrace to their manhood.
| have to put out of the hall, so that those
who behave themselves could 90 on with
their business. This ended the bedlam
let loose occasionally yesterday and this
| morning by meddlesome and ambitious
politicians, who always disturb any con-
| vention they may attend. The order of
business was taken up.
The first topicwas 'The Deficiency of the
Present System of Education and How to
| Remedy It," Professor Carter, of Atlanta,
| opened the discussion. The State is not
| able 10 do all that is demanded.
! but the future promises more both from
the State and government at Washington
| We must ask respectfully for more liberal
| and general aid, and not create opposition
by mprudent demands. We ought to
have intelligent cOlored men on the Boards
of Education. We need better teachers.
as we'll as longer chOol terms. Mr.. Pep
per, OF Cuthbert, opposed the election of
| school commissioners. The people had
tried this in Alabama, and We're satisfied
after trying both systems that Georgia. s
| plan OF appointing was the best. Mr..
Wilkins, of Spalding, advocated greater
attention to temperance, and putting the
money saved into education. We should
encourage these white people who are
already our friends.
Wimbish, of Fulton. insisted that col
ored men should be on the boards of edu-
cation and more money be given to the
| colored schools. Rev. DR.. Gaines thanked
the State for what she had done. and re-
spectfully asked her to do still more. But
we must raise money among ourselves
and pay our taxes like men. Then, when
the White people see that we are trying to
help ourselves, they will help us. Petty
stealing should be stopped, and we should
| improve our own condition and educate
our children.
Floyd Snelson followed on the same
line. He would have every colored man
pay his poll tax and thereby swell the
educational fund. Then the State will
feel more like helping the race to more
and better schools.
The second question was THE Best
Means of Stimulating Interest in Public
Schools" John Mcintosh, of Liberty
county, opened the discussion by defining
it. He wanted an education based on
common sense, practically useful ele-
waiting education. We must lift up our
people, and to do this the blind cannot
lead the blind.
DeLamOtt, of Fulton, was Of the same
opinion. McHenery, of Fulton, wanted
more school houses and better houses.
Negroes must keep away from whisky
shops, and save their money for good
homes and good schools for their children.
| The less intemperance the more educa-
| tion.
Bryan, of Baldwin, said: We
must put more into and less on the out
| side of our children's heads. We must
also put our hands into our own pockets
| and help this educational movement
| along" He would be one to give So to
start an educational fund to supplement
the school appropriation.
wood, OF Morgan, plain, hard work
n ~ Ns,l1
by his hOmely but tcOmmOn-sense remarks.
He worked harder himself 50 that he could
send his children to school and also give
| them good home. Let us be sober, in
duStrl0uS and economical, and we shall
have no trouble about the education of our
children.
Baxter, OF Cobb, another plain farmer,
said that he had examined the tax books
! and was ashamed to see how many col
| ored men neglected to pay their poll tax.
''Let US come up like true men, pay our
| taxes and so secure a more liberal appro-
| prlatlOn for our schools. We must become
better citizens by paying our taxes"
Clay of Hancock and Fleming of Rich
mond spoke on the same line, and the
convention seemed to be in full accord
with these sentiments. Only let the col
Ored voters of the State pay even their
| poll tax, and better schools will multiply
| in every county.
At the afternoon and night sessions
| President White appointed several COM
mttees.
Rev. Josiah Clark, of the First district.
| is on the Committee on State OrganiZa-
| ton; w. III. Mathews on the Committee
on Memorial to Congress, with James
Blue for the State at large; L. NJ. Pleas
ant on the Committee on Resolutions
| j. q. Monroe on the Committee on
memorial to the Legislature, with John
Mcintosh and c. L. DeLamotta for the
! State at large,
A flood of resolutions were read and
referred to the Committee on Resolutions.
Some were in favor of county organiza-
tions tree from politics; others wanted no
man voted for as a legislator unless he
! pledged himself to aid the educational
movement.
The third topic was: Chow to Secure
National Aid to Education" The discus
sion was opened by Pledger in an earnest,
! forcible speech of twenty minutes, favor
| ing working themselves for better schools
| in addition to State and national aid
Leave no stone unturned to secure plenty
of schools all over the State. If we help
ourselves others will be more ready to
| help us.
Hart, of Twiggs, followed on the same
! line. Fleming, OF Richmond, went on TO
|
cratic party were under obligation to the
colored race, and, therefore, Congress
ought not to hesitate to give the desired
aid. Not less than $5,000,000 should be
given to the education of the cOlored race
in the Southern States.
| The Committee on Memorial
to Congress asked to be allowed
| to prepare memorial after the conven-
tion adjOurns, and to have u sub-com-
mittee of six to present this memorial to
Congress. The hour of speaking, how
ever, arrived, and Rev. DR.. Haygood being
| in Macon, and Gov. Mcdaniel being too
busy to attend, Prof. SALISBURY, OF
the American Missionary Association.
which is operating schools in the South,
| spoke briefly of the work of that associa-
ton. He congratulated the convention
on its earnest purpose, and gave good
advice as to the proper use OF
education. knowledge may or may
not be power. Well trained minds,
hearts full of moral teaching and hands
skilled to labor are power, and the COL
ored race cannot have too much of this
power. A piano was brought in and a
party of young people of both sexes sang.
"Marching Through Georgia." The gal
leries were full of spectators, Including
professors and students from Clark Uni
versity, the Atlanta University, and other
c0lored male and female institutions.
Pledger reported from the Committee ON
| State Organization plan and cOnstitu.
tion for State Educational Society.
Belcher reported from the Committee
on Resolutions that the present system OF
education in Georgia is defective. and
that men should be elected to the Legis.
lature who will vote for more school ap-
preparations for both white and colored
trINsI