Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-15

With the exception of a few noisy poll
ticians who made themselves nuisance,
the Colored Educational Convention in
Atlanta seems to have been composed of
earnest. conscientious and right thinking
men. The sentiments expressed in the
majority Of the speeches will, no doubt,
meet with the approval of all who sincere
" wish TO see an improvement IN the
condition of the negro race. Inc
leading ideas that cropped out
in the discussion of matters brought De
fore the convention were that the negroes
must bear their just share of tina burden
Of maintaining the schools and educating
their children; that they must cease vast
ing their money for whisky and apply 1t
10 the improvement Of themselves ana
their children, and that the General Gov
eminent is under obligations TO aid them
TO increase their educational iaelll-
ties. Ideas like these show that
the negroes are aware OF the re-
sponsibilities resting upon them,
and are striving, though it may be in
weak sort Of way as yet, to discharge
their duty as men and citizens. Too
much. however. must not be expected OF
them. Their improvement must De
gradual. Ignorant and poor, with
no past to encourage and sustain
them. it is impossible for them
IN recognize fully the motives
and principles which control those who
stand upon a higher plane of civilization.
The Rev. Or. Gaines spoke the truth when
he said that if the negroes paid their
taxes like men and showed the white peo-
ple that they were trying to help them
selves. the white people would help
them. The white people of this state, and
every other Southern State, are taxing
themselves To educate negro children.
They do this without murmuring, not only
because they want to see the condition OF
the NEGROES bettered. but also because
they have a very kindly feeling for them.
! This feeling was shown in remarka-
BILE degree in this city Immediately after
the late great fire. Almost all the suffer-
| ers were negroes. Thousands of dollars
were contributed for their relief without
/ solicitation. Contributions continued to
flow in even after the necessity for fur
/ Their HELM ceased. The negroes have no
| truer friends than the Southern white peo-
ple. This fact the negroes are beginning
to understand. If the negroes will but
show themselves worthy they will not
| want for help. On this point Wood, of
| Morgan county. member OF the
convention and described as a
| hard working farmer, said: Il
work hard so that l can send
ray children to school and give them a
good home. Let us be sober, industrious
| and economical, and we shall have no
| trouble about the education of our child
| rem" This man knew what he was talk
| ing about. If the negroes of the South
would follow his advice and example they
would make more progress in improving
their condition in the next five years than
they have in the past twenty. The
General Government ought to con-
tribute towards the education of the
negroes. They are not yet able to con-
! tribute much themselves, and the burden
is too great for the white people, who are
themselves just beginning to fairly re-
cover from the ruin and desOlatiOn OF
war. 1t is urged by those who are OPP
posed to Federal aid to education that ii
tends to Capitalization. But does not
ignorance, in more marked degree, tend
to Capitalization? The preservation oil
the principles of republican government
in all their purity must depend upon IN
telligemce, not ignorance.