The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-08-23
A PROMINENT COLoRED TEACH
Err CRITICISES THE LATE Me-
GRO CONVENTION.


Messrs. Editors You will please
allow me room in your next weeks
issue to express myself in con-
demnation of the action OF, the col
ored convention that assembled in
Columbia on the 18th of July ult.,
intermeddling with the Free School
System of this State. ..,......,
Sirs, they have intermeddled with
the Free School System, and have
spoken of it as being an evil in
stead of blessing to our people.
They have said that inefficient teach
ers are largely employed on account.
Of cheapness, and that the colorcd
teachers have to sell their claims at
a considerable discount. to prevent
their starving. While / will not
say my brethren lie, l will say they
are certainly an ungrateful set of
men. struggling hard against the
truth: 1t is a matter of fact that
we do sell our claims at q discount,
but it can't be remedied just now,
from the simple fact that when the
present administration went into
action they found the State in debt;
and if they had any Free Schools
at all, they had to run them on a
credit system. But the system is
getting better every day. In
some of our counties they have
money on hand to pay every claim
as they are presented.
Now in regard to inefficient teach
ers. and small salaries. there is not
one teacher in the State but will
admit the fact, that the teachers
who have obtained their certificates
under the present administration,
are better than they have been since
the reconstruction. About 1881
Col. Hugh s. Thompson was elect
ed Superintendent Of Education.
He found the system in a manner
dead, and went to work to increase
the efficiency of the teachers
throughout the entire State, he him
self being decidedly one Of the best
judges Of proficient teachers in the
South. And / don't think I would
be saying too much if Iwere to say
in the United States. He at once
prepared an examination (written)
for the first, second and third grade
teachers, sent them to each county
throughout the State, for the exam
ination of teachers. AS negro
teacher, l will say that those who
obtained a certificate under the
examination in question are as pro-
fcient, and more so, as those who
complain Of their ineficincy. So
much for that. / will now say that
the teachers get better pay, consid-
ering circumstances; and it is get
ting better every year. So the ar
raignment, as far as it applies to
inefficient teachers and low salaries
will not hold. ~ ~ -,
There is nothing good to be deriv-
ed from our convention any way:
Why! It does not properly re-
present us. Why are we not pro-
perly represented? Because eight
tenths Of the eolored people of
Edgefeld county don't know that
such a convention was ever called
or held. Therefore [ am compelled
to disapprove of it, and at the same
time regard it a stigma upon the
intelligent and thinking men of our
race in Edgefeld county. Lam not
with it for more reasons than that.
While I am hewing, let me hew to
the line, and the chips may fall
where they will or may. We
negroes are certainly tired being
led by single idead men, who know
nothing and care nothing about the
interest of the people, as Prof. D.
j. Straker has it, one of the satelli-
ties of our race, eff the convention
be composed of good men it will
certainly accomplish something"
but, in my judgment, cannot with
the present representation. Why
some of the delegates to the con.
yention are our old leaders, who
can be bemeaned by the State press
from head to foot. And if each
press had the voice Of an angel,
trumpet tongued, they could not
speak their condemnation more
loudly than the truth would warrant.
Why l am surprised at their allow
ing themselves to be delegated to
such convention. They certainly
ought to know that this is the shift
ing scene Of the political drama,
and that they have acted their part
and should now disappear from the
stage; for we have better actors
tnan they have proven themselves
to be, such actors as will act well
their part, will do honor to the race,
and at the same time render the
play more interesting and agreeable.
Now in my conclusion, I look up
on a portion of our representatives
in the national negro convention,
as nothing more than ludicrous
and at the same time shameful
parody upon popular representation.
For those who are acquainted with
the human character, as displayed
in the histories of the nations, know
such men to be the most dangerous
the world ever saw, and the greatest
curse to any form of government
that ever befell it. And before l
would consent to be led one inch
further by such men, l would live,
die, and rot under the present form
of government, until the great I Am
shall intervene and bring about a