The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-06
BETTER LATE THAN MEYER,

Mr.. RiGhardeon, Speaks Plainly Of Demo-
cratic NJ engagement of the Public Schools.
Mess"s. EdStors,,: Our attention has
been called #ttFairfelds Vindica-
ton" in your paper Of July 3. 7Ye
Have never seen the article referred to
in tile associate Reformed Prcybyte-
rian, and have not the rcmotcst itlca
as to who was the author or where lie
obtained his information. We come
home for recreation and leave our work
behind us. The fault,ip1lnd with us
is, that we sec too much ground for
praise in the support given to common
schools for negroes in South Carolina:
The genial countcnance of Hugh S.
Thompson stands prominent among
our photographs in our home and the
last idea any ohe gets is, that Mrs. r.:
dcprcciatcs tho educators Of 'Fairfcltf
There arc benevolent societies and
individuals that take special interest in
the negroes, and they make use Of any
items they may obtain TO help their
cause. The following statctpcnt in
your issue Of July 81, over the siglia-
turc of the Rev. II. W. Baylor, would
be eagerly seized upon, not to COM
plain of the Southern people, but. to
enlist sympathy for the needy: "Mahy
OF OUR people cannot furnish them.
selves a decent STROUD to bury their
remains in, even if their relatives
would sell all their property. Widows
are left penni less, not morsc] Of meat
or even shoes or decent garment to
put on their backs. This is but hint
of my people," 1t IS a strong hint, n
"startling statement, that they have
not even decent garment to pin
| on with thorns, and it is not mentioned
as an individual case, but of "many".
With such statements before them
these societies and individuals will
come to tho conclusion that the negrbcs
gre needy and will make use Of such
items, exaggerated, perhaps, a little, if
they conid he exaggerated, to secure
means Of aiding them. In this way
!
for without any wrong intentions. :, II
assurance can be given that 'tl,cy have
the necessary s5hool-houscs, books,
dress and shrouds, tho, streams of
b.encyolence. will be turned in differ
cnt' direction. - = 49,. ;,
The Presbyterian Church, North and
South, considers Tho work among the
negroes one of their benevolent axeh-
cics and is pushing it with zeal and
energy; and tho two sections will Hoon
unite in this work, and us fir aS we
arc concerned any, help from these
churches societies or. individuals to aid
MS in, Gducating capable teachers will
be thankfully received.
| 7 speak with confidence df the gen
er0us liberality Of the Southern people
towards common ;scho9ls, both for
white and colored, as | have had a
chance to test it. In the spring Of 1877
Colonel Rion had the $4,777.Ol (funds
obtained from tho dcfaulting treasurel)
placed in tlio hands Of Mr.. Nclsolh to
be drawn out on my Orders as school
commissioner, to pay the indebtedness
of 1874. Tho deficiencies Of other
years were not provided for. At the
| request of MIR. Nelson, who settled up
his accounts satisfactorily, 1 trans
terred the funds to Treasurcr Jas. @.
Davis and we undertook to give valuc
to school certificates, which were al
most worthless. l advanced 81 500 to
meet, in part, outstanding claims, and
the result was, that in the two years
every certificate was fully paid or pro-
visions made for it, and got back my
$l,6OO, with tho exception Of my dona-
tion to fit up the college buildings for