The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-04-30
Wednesday, April 80. 1884.

Wednesday, April 80. 1884.
Tho Negro.
we arc satisfied that crime Ia not In.
~.reasing in our county, and We hope that
1t is not increasing in the State. The fact
that the number Of convictions al our
Surfing term of court In 1854 exceeds the
nutnl,er IN 1888, does not, ne think.
provo that crime Is increating. Nor does
the fact that tho majority of the ronvirts
arc "eduratcd' negroes, that Is able 70
write their names prove that education
will not make the negro q better citlzcn.
Most Of the young negroes can sign theiI
names, but we have never yet heard II
insisted that the ability IN read and write
should cure all defects of character. we
have moi tried sufficiently to ascertain
whether education will make the negro a
better citizen. We are told that no e
not improve his advantages; by this we
suppose it il meant that he does not come
mp to expectations. But history proves
4liat we must not expect too mucn OF the
first, or even :he second generation Of
freedmen. History also proves That n"
race over improved more in 4 gwen
space of time than tho negroes Of the
South.
Those who are disappointed that the
negro has not assembled to the moral ana
iniellectual level of the white man. and
who arc astonished that most Of the con-
ric,s Of the state are negroes, should re-
membcr that the advantages OF the ne.
croes do not extend over q period OF
twenty wears. Prior to 1876. his school
facilities were meagre n tho very gov
erinent under which no lived was I'M
1uoral and dotasing in all its tendencies.
The political training Of tho negro has
been bad and his school teachers, even
now inefficient.
We know that the negro might do bet
Tor, and We hope he will; but we must
admit that lie has done remarkably well,
considering his surroundings. Six. ~
least, Of the thirteen convicted Mt our last
term Of court, could not write their
names; va do not know whether the
Others ~could-but this little learning
should not be OK pacted to work miracles.
Ne,UJerry Herald.
Public education in the Sonth IL a de-
parture from the old plan which gave
South Carolina the highest stand IN point
Of an educated citizenship. Under re-
construction and the moral force OF the
Government at Washington, together
with a desire on our part to conciliate
Northern sentiment, We were induced to
adopt the new plan, which, it was con-
tended, would cure all tho Ills with
which we were afflicted. The Press ana
Bunner partook Of this sentiment and
for years cheerfully supported the tax Tor
public education, but upon more mature
reflection. and after having had All OPP
portunitv of observing results, We have
come to the conclusion that all public ed
ucat,on is wrong Is principal and demon
elliziny in its effects. No sophistry or
false reasoning can ever convince us thai
the Industrious and self-denying citizen
should be- taxed to educate tho children
Of indolent and immoral parents. 1t Is a
delusion and snare to suppose hat edu-
ration affects the morals Of q ~citizen-e Ell
ucation is a negative force which may be
used for gool or for evil, as the individual
may be Inclined.
All morality, culture and true religion
Il based on material prosperity. While
there are noble exceptions to the general
rule. in individual cases, yet it Is abso-
lutely certain that no people ever attain
ea any croditable degree of morality who
did not possess some Of tho comforts OF
life. and who did not live In comfortable
houses.
It is n physical impossibility to expect
morality. decency or refinement where a
large family occupy n house of only one
room, and where only the scantiest sup.
ply Of even the necessaries Of life are to be
found. The condition of the negro will
improve as long "a one large family or
two small families occupy n room-for
cooking, eating, sitting, slecpins-in sick
ness and in health.
The negro, before he can rise above his
present level, must live in better houses
and must nave something OF the comforts
Of life for his children. They must at
the Preside, lie taught those most impor-
1ant lessons, which his white ncighbor
impresses upon his children.
The mere ability to read a newspaper
in an unintelligihle way and the art Of
signing ones name to a note In a mcchan-
jcal manner will never supply the more
important lessons Of morality and self
respect which must be taught by the
mother at the fircside, and which must
be maintained by tho independence and
manhood Of the father
The negro, u learn the value OF
time, and must learn to work six days In
the week. One reason the white man Of
this country Is richer than the colored
man is to be attributed to the fact that
the former works moro than the latter.
Hundreds of colored men are to DO found
every Saturday In the various towns and
at tie different depots, even In the bust
est months Of the year. No a white
or slack. can prosper who has to neglect
his business day in the wee:i to 81 to
r.saching, and thon has an excuse for
ec:ng to town every Saturday.
Public education has turned the heads
CT the negroes, and nine-tenths Of them
to-day believe that tho ability to read and
write is Of first importance. This fact
has done much to retard the progress OF
the negro. The ability to merely read
and write is OF very little practical use to
the great mass Of bread-winners, but Il
good house, decent furniture, and re-
spectacle clothing IS Of ten thousand
times more value to thom. People who
liza -, ,,n,>S hN,yas x,n1t tiiIaA tvifh nfca
furniture, and who VICAR good clothing
will always command tho respect Of their
fellows, whether they have education or
not. The man who lives in a house
which is not fit for a horse stable, can
never expect his children to stand the
peers Of those who live in better houses
and observe the decencies Of life, no mat
ter how much book-learning they may
have.
Then. we say, 1t Is an injustice to the
negro to take his children from tho farm
to school before a good home and decen,
furniture are secured. \ good dwelling
house, with separate comfortable rooms
for the children is of first Importance,
then furniture, then education. and, then,
TO crown the whole. that morality, which
IL beyotten Of independence and SELF
respect, and that Christianity which has
for its foundation All intelligent convic'
tion Of right and wrong.
1t requires time to bring tho colored
race to our standard. They need a sym
tnetrical Development. az the white race
have. The abnormal development Of the
intellect while tho morals are neglected
Is not worth the coat. Tho public
schools are dcn,oralizinG our W. people
and teaching tho negroes that they arr