The Dawson journal., 1883-05-17
THE NEGRO PROBLEM
A Letter From One of the PeO-
pie.

We give below a letter upon the
negro problem, written by farmer
in one OF the adjoining counties.
This is discussion which should re.
ceive the attention of all, and our
columns are open to all who desire
to treat it and us in fair and sensi-
bic way:
Editors Telegraph and .Nesseng er-
[ have read carefully the different
articles in your paper recently on the
education Of The negro race. Every
true citizen of Georgia and the
South should view the subject as
serious matter-one that will be a
serious question with our future
progeny. We have in Georgia sec
tions of country where there is little
attention paid to the education of
the white children. To those sec
tions let these noble philanthropists,
such as DR.: Haygood and others, de-
vote their attention rather than aid
the supremacy of an obnoxious ele-
ment in social standing over their
own people Hook around me and
see SO many poor white children who
are dependent upon the public for
education and who would make bright
ornaments both to society and the
welfare OF our government We do
not object to the education of the
negro race, by DO means. but we do
object to the elevation of the negro
race, to the sad neglect of our own
people. have children and can 1
bear too keep my tselings in this
matter hid within me, when | see so
much Of this African interest mani
tested for religious and political pop
ularity? Not at all Let every
true citizen come out boldly and cry
down this coming evil, that will soon
begin to be one of the great prob
lens of the day. We cannot afford
to cater to the good will of the rahid
North. We have tried every honor
able means that all honest and man
ly people can, to break down bad
feelings between the two sections +;
so let us, as one people, studying
each others interests, and the inter
est of our daughters, if not our sons,
cry down this growing cancer.
We, who know, can safely assert
that every negro who is educated
takes hand from the field Learn
negro his letters, then he becomes
unruly and wants to quit work. Just
here l will notice q circumstance
called to my attention by an old ne
gro, near eighty years old, who was
at station on the Georgia railroad.
When the train ran up, it contained
as a portion of its passengers a lot
of convicts, about thirty in number
all negroes but two. Almost the
last one of them sat back in then
seats, with chains on, reading q
newspaper. The old negro called my
attention to them, and I took it up.
on myself to talk with the two white
, men carrying them, and found that
nearly every negro in the lot could
read and write little, and neither OF
the white men could read or wlite his
: name. What does this circumstance
show ? 1t proves, conclusiyely, thai
when you put little education in the
negro's head, you either prepare him
for the ehain-gang or the hangman s
rope. 1t shows that education does
not diminish crime, but increases il
, instead among the race. The only
object the Great North has in edu.
eating this class of people is to hui
initiate the Southern people, rather
than benefit the negro. There is nc
l honesty in their purpose, and | must
r say that it is the most humiliatine
1 circumstance that has ever, OF even
will betall good people And to
think some of our own people are
/; aiding and abetting III this effort is
, more humiliating and we should
frOwn down this attempt to force
social equality upon us. Feeling, as
l do, an interest in our future pos
: terity, give vent to my honest feel
ings on this subject, and hope it
will be the means of opening the
eyes of some of our unsuspecting
people.
"PHGN1x.'
EAToNVoN, GA, May 7, 1889.