Milford chronicle., 1883-02-02
nLFORD, DEL, FRIDAY, Feb. aad, 1883.
EOUClT,Ha THE COLOaE0.

the lesl5iauOL NfVpostu luf buis 9eS'iNi
of our General Assembly. Question
that will tax the state-
nianship Of members, and which
successfully solved, will rank the di
recting minds for the blasting galitud
of our peonle. Not the least diflicul
of these questions is the better educa
tion ofthe colored people. Two gen
erations since their freedom has failed
to develop among the colored people o
ourstate, even 50 much as one philan-
thropic man with the ability and self
sacrifice to accomplish any material
improvement Of his race though there
are few coIored women who are do
ing a good work in the state as mis-
sionaries and teachers.
Coiored preachers have been a fail
ure if measured by any good results
obtained. In vain we may look in any
direction for nobler aspirations, better
morals, or more thrifty life, as the
result of their church life. Semi-relig-
ious platitudes, and physical excite
ment are the pabulum with which
these people are fed The highest
minds of the race have lacked the self
sacrifice to devote themselves to the
elevation of their people, but have
preferred instead some avenue Of self
emolument, so that now, when the
state is anxious todo soir ething better
for them, there is none oftheir number
able to suggest any method of proba-
lille success. The white maa must
plan and execute their improvement.
& serious mistake was made by our
churches when they ceased to furnish
one sermon per week from educated
white preachers to these people. The
sooner they are recognized as field of
missionary labor adjacent to the white
churches, the quicker will their moral
leprosy be healed, and tie more GER
tain will there come thence a higher
manhood and w0manhoOd, and a pur-
er Christianity.
A knowledge of letters is not all that
is needed by the colored people, any
more than It is all that is needed by
the white race. They need above all
things, to Be educated to the nobility
of work. They nee a habit of syste-
matte, methodical work, having for
its purpose some honorable end. Sup
plant their present life with this, and
a knowledge of letters in addition u
benefit them; butto begin W Mil
ing them letters aud 18th terch-
manhood, is aeglecting their
to society g make them burden
and a curse to themselves.
Their suspicion of each other will
make the day far hence before any OF
thkir own color can command their
earnest consideration ofthese matters.
{Fhat these statements al e facts, have
fbsen mournfully acknowledged by
their elders and preachers.
= IN consultation had with such, ten
wears ago in Milford, they were urged
to obtain some cheap farm in thestate,
where colored boys could be taught
both letters and the useful industries
of life with such method as would in /
sure industrious and frugal habits,
respect for their women and a COM
mendable self-respect; they were
shown how such au enterprise could
be self-sustaining and of incalculable
benefit to theirpeople. The arguments
IN its favor were granted, but with
unanimous voice they insisted that
eolored men could not make il sue
cess because of the suspicion and jeal-
ousy Of their race.
There are in the state hundreds OF
pleasant homes in white families
where a colored boy or girl would be
gladly taken to assist in doing the
eboirs. and be given liberal compen-
station in food, clothes aud schooling.
In such homes these youth would i'm
bibe better morals, more thrifty and
5nethodieaI habits of labor, and by the
well directed efforts of some control
ling association, or stale law might be
insured good common school educa-
fion. Against such a plan, or indeed
against almost any plan that may be
suggested, will be found arrayed the
preiudiees ofthe race itself to anything
that .eontemplates application and
thrift on their part But they are un-
der present circumstances, only wards
of the state, though made electors by
legislation more injurious to them
than to the whites. The franchise
should have come baud in hand to
them with knowledge of its power
10 effect better conditions in the world
only through labor and well directed
Effort. iustesd Of coming as it did, an
unknown something that was to
fbru,t competency and knowledge
upon them
with inferior opportunity hitherto {
they are now congregating more and
more ia villages by themselves, and
obleeting more ana more 70 that regu-
lar labor which in time past gave
them at least a chance to imbibe some
thing Of the thrift Of the whites for
whom they laoored. Now they are I
fast coming to have no higher infu-
ence than themselves, by which to
improve themselves; their principal
contact with the whites being at places s
of drink and carousaI where the baser A