Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-25
oU2 MAIL PoUCH.
In Approval Of she PrssIdsnf's Policy To-
wnrdlhe Brssdmnn.

wardlhe Breedmnn.
To the Editor Of The Dispatch:
On reviewing the message Of His ExceIlency.
President Harrison. am constrained 70 ask
you to grant me space In your columns for the
following. relative 70 the elevation Of the
freedmen. That itisa duty ~ wen asa wise
policy Of this Government 70 do something.
speedily and effectively in this matter, none
can consistently deny. Senator John A. Logan,
not long before his death, said: ''It is the In
herent right Of every child born in this great
country to be educated. He has an absolute
right to such an education a. will qualify him
to meet responsibility
Il was bold and startling measure that this
Government took when it liberated 100000
slaves, and so soon after made them citizens
upon whom dsVolved the gravest responsible
ties that can be thrust upon people. After
the race were enfranchised they were vested
with the privilege Of voting; even before they
could read the names on the ticket they voted,
or could spell single syllable Of the Constitu-
tion. Among the |, 10000 colored voters there
are. LOGS 900 illiterate These, it must be re-
membered. in the final summing up have the
same numerical strength as the same number
Of votes cast BY those who have been IA
vored with an education. It Is well
known that these votes, to an extent are
manipulatedb by unprincipled men. who in vari-
Gus ways are able 20 exert an infuencei and
often DO so deceptlyely. The negroes are fond
Of politics, and IN their present illiterate con-
dttion have but one thought Of political action:
and this Is to 60 with those who viii do most,
or lead them to think they will do most for the
negro. He has no confidence in himself and
no tangible idea Of party; and is swayed hitber
and thither ae his confidence is gained at the
moment; moment he Is naturally suspicious Of tne
in great measure controlled by those whom
he feels be has the most cause to fear.
We cannot hope that they can take broader
view OF their responsible situation as enfran-
chised citizens Of this country, while they
remains In this condition. Nor is there any
hope that their condition will be ameliorated BY
other than national measures.
NO stronger claim exists upon this Govern
ment than that Of the negroes, especially those
OF tne south. They are not here Of their own
volition. They assumed not the responsibility
as they can to he loyal to their country's flag
They mingled their blood with the noblest Of
patriots IN its defense. They have, so far as
tneir education admits, adopted our manner Of
thought and customs Of life. They want to be
taught. We must either teach them, or they,
IN measure commensurate with their rapidly
increasing numbers, viii teach Us. II is
solemn thing to stand face to face with nearly
.OO0.O0O Iliterate peoplel 1t is an appalling
thing to contemplate their influence.
Inc character OF q nation is certainly what
the character of the people Of which It is COM
posed make It The negroes stand before Us
nation longer afford to hear their cry without
needing? The freedmen have peculiar claims
upon Us as nation. We forced them from
bondage to freedom-a freedom Of ignorance.
degradation, poverty and the greatest Of re-
sponsibility. 1t is said that there are s. 100000
unclaimed In the United States Treasury be-
longing to colored soldiers who fought on the
field Of battle. If 50, should uot portion at
least be spent to Rmeliorate their condition,
especially since colored soldier only received
81 per month.
Can there be q nobler work for a nation
than to help . struggling people who Vainly
endeavor TO rise from the conditions in which
slavery left them? How sad to think that, of
the 900 900 negroes in our land, more than
three-fOurths can neither read nor Writel Nu-
merically they hold rs Of our 401 electoral votes
81 Of our 325 Congressman, and l6 Of our United
states Senators. Can our Congress fail to re-
spond favorably to the call, as outlined BY the
JOHN E KENNEDY.
LINCOLN AVENUE, E. E., City.