New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-18
THE FDrClyIOA or THE NEGRO.

THE EDUCATION or THE NAGRD
dispatch yesterday gave an expression of
opinion regarding the education OF the colorcd
race from an Athens Georgia. journal. The
words used were at is to De hoped that the
"ncxt House will kill the Public Education bill
passed by the 5 nate. Educate the negroes OF
"thc southland YOU ,strOy the only Labor Of our
Farmers. Give SambO q sma'tcring OF book
"lcaun2 and along linen duStcr aud he at once
"deyclops into a first-class vaglbOnd, whose
ultimate doom is.thc pcnitentiary.' This sem
timcnt is no doubt largely entertained through
ont the South. Recently some statistics were
published, showing that illtcracy is on the in
crease among tine Southern negroes and this is
what might have been expected from the pre-
yailins opinion among the Southern Democratic
white men. Having failed IN their efforts to
prevent the colored race from becoming
citizens; fading that intimidation could
not permanently exclude them from the
exercise OF their political rights, but deter
mined never 90 give the dcSpisrd race equal OPP
poumi!cs. they have sought In many ways TO
d. bar them from the advantage, of education,
and have hoped thus 10 keep them in a ScrNiie
tondiiiou. not far removed from actual slavery.
The brutal luntncs, Of the Georgia paper cited
above reveals Tie READ thought of q large per-
ccutase of The Southern whites. They still re-
gard the negro as having no rights which a
white man is bound TO respect; Is having no
claims upon the futur. or the country; a hay
img gained nothing through emancipation or
elevation to citizenship in short.
They are afraid OF education for the negro.
Not, as the Georgia paper says because it will
destroy the only labor of our farmers; but
because it Will make the race Independent,
teach them to protect themselves, undo the
work o. Intimidatpn eXiuguish the wort hc>s
class of poor whites by forcing them to
wofI, for their living and put an end 10 the
prepostcrous and BARBARIAN swaggcr affected
by a set Of nurow-miinGnd. half-sava-o people,
whose pride il only cquallel by their lazincss.
The Democratic politician also IL ARE that the
negro should be kept as illitcmte a. possible,
for il is through the negro vote, perverted,
msrcpro ,cntcd. outraged, forged aud stolen,
that they expect 80 maintain a "Solid
South for the Democratic Presidential ticket
in November. Anl there can be no question
that Democratic victory would have the effect
OF sp,p"udnE all projects for the education of
the negro. With the Administration Demo
craft" t.r Last prctcnre OF accepting political
equality with the colo,cd citizen would be lung
aside, and Che southern press generally would
no longer hesitate 10 uubo.om itsolf after the
manner ud IN the tono of The ddcaS tanner
and lldiDim1a.
This Queston of negro education Il one
which clu only bee solved satisfactorily under
Republican auspices. and unless it Is deter
mlurd rightly thc most srriou, consequences
IA.
culs rrlcslto the negro to his old scnilc !
position and smut him ont from the !
means of enlightenment, thcy would have in
their hanlsa formidable political machine, by !
which tAcy would or cnlblrl ID VI 'Ii'lniz' the !
country at every Presidential election. They |
rodId then always count On, negro vote To suit |
themselves, and the c10rcd people would find |
that citizenship had ony supplied their enemies |
with the means of re-cnsilyihE them, while the |
North would be piitcd forever against an adyer |
,ary who played w.,h loaded dice.
If the country il ever to atone 10 the negro /
rIce for the deep injury done it through slavery; |
if emancipation and citizenship are to !
bring that race their legitimate benefits |
and blessings, the fruiti0n of these |
measures must be attained by means OF educa
ton. That alone, moreover, can prevent the |
negro vote from being source Of danger and |
confusion throughout the country, and there
fore national conscience, national duty, and |
self-intcrcst are alike enlisted in the cause OF !
negro education and by consequence in the |
cause of Republican Success. If the negro Is |
not educated he will not merely sink himself |
but h. will drag others down with him and !
the one power which can prevent this mischief |
is the Republican party.