The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-10
EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO.
The Manly Stand Taken by the Leading
MethOdists of the South.

The Manly Stand Taken by the Leading
MethOdists of the South.
Rev. Atticus G. Haygood's Address before Southern
Sunday School Association.
But the question is no longer a question as
to what we prefer; it is now a question
as to what can be done. These millions are
here among us; they are voters-taking part
in the government of this whole nation.
When a man of sense can't have his own
way he will seek the next best thing that he
can get. 1t may be well that We would not
choose that the conditions OF our very diff
cult problem are what they are. But they
are what they are. Nor is it any longer a
question whether the negroes will be edu-
Gated. That work was begun before
Appropriations; it is now being pushed
with more vigor than ever before. Of
this we may be sure; the negro will
sooner or later be educated. The State gov
ernments recognize him in the public-school
administration Northern iberality has spent
more than twenty-four million dollars in the
South since the surrender of the Confeder-
ate cause. Without or with our approval
this work will go on, and it ought to go on.
| hank God for those who have carried it on
thus far; for the liberal men aud women who
have given great sums OF money, and for the
devoted men and women who have given
their personal service. That some cranks
and marplots have appeared among them in
the course OF twenty years is no more an ar
gument against the great work itself than is
the discovery of an occasional hypocrite and
scoundrel in the pulpit an argument against
Christianity.
During most of the time that this work has
been going on i'll our midst, its promoters
have had little countenance or encourage
ment from us. Many times they have been
opposed, and despised, and made to feel our
contempt. In all truth and common sense,
there is no reason for discounting in any re-
spect a white man or woman simply for
teaching negroes. 1t is utterly absurd. l
believe it to be also sinful. Let us consider
our attitude to this subject for a moment.
We have the negroes to cook for US, and if
they do not know how, as is often the case,
our wives and daughters teach them. We
employ them in all sorts of ways. When
elections come on we ask not only their
votes, but their social influence" Candi-
dates, from Governor to coroner. do this
earnestly, invariably, and without social dis
credit. We sell goods to them. We practice
medicine for them, and it is all well enough.
In all business relations, except teaching, so
far as l can remember our ways on this sub
ject, whether as employers or en-
ployes, we think it all fair, and so
do our wise ~neighbors. IHow utterly and
childishly absurd is it to make an exception
if one teaches a negro child how to spell, to
read and to write. Will some master in such
fine knowledge explain just wherein it is
very nice to sell goods to a negro or to buy
from HIM, or to practice law for him, or to
give him medicine, but a thing abhorrept to
teach him whatever be can learn that we can
teach? OF what shams we are guilty. Think
Of people going into raptures over David Liv-
ingstone, explorer of Africa and pioneer of
Christian civilization, and then turning up
their noses at a teacher, not because he is
ignorant, or bad, or ill-bred, but because,
forsooth, he teaches a negro SCHOOL,
A word more I add at this point: if the
best results are to be achieved, both for the
white and the black man, in the education
of the negro, then Southern white people
must take part ill the work of teaching negro
schools.
Let us tax courage; prejudices that must
hold their own both against conscience and
common sense must die after a time. Great
changes occur in the lifetime of one genera
ton, and the law of mortality buries the
bltterest prejudices in the grave.