The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-03-29
4 celered Mans Plea for tho zducstion Of
HIS Race.

= oelored Mans Plea for the xduostion Of
HIS Race.
Mr.. EDIroR.-I have been asked by a
number OF my race to write something for
the TrMEs relative to the celored race. but
hardly know how to begin such delicate
TASK. In my opinion, Of all tho means
calculated to advance his interest and Gle.
: sste the colored race, know Of none moro
enective and certain than education. L.,
Alone, will remove pref sjudice and ft mon for
npaniouship with'the good Of all oolors
and conditions. You may give tho celorsd
s man freedom, citizenship, houses and land,
and religion itself, but without education
ne viii still be dangerous and degraded
member Of society. II his emancipstisn 10
= be . blessing 10 himself and TO his county
no must have this mighty lever Of progress
IN - bands. In the condition Of slavery
3 his sxistance was very we'll secure. He
could live, for then he had q master to
! think and plan for him, but now he is do.
pendant upon his own exertions-hs must
think aud plan fof' himself. He comes new
directly in contact with race thousand
years in advance Of himself, but separated
rom him by color and, it must be con-
iessed.: not over friendly to each other,
from wrongs which ono, through ignorance,
thinks he has received from the other in
pact days.
Inc alternative presented to the oolored
man p speedy education or gradual extine.
tion. Humanity may pity tho helpless and
iguorant, but the masses OF men despiss
the weak, and take advantage Of the iguo-
fsnt: Qoly tho eplishtaped and the virtu-
"a "a i1ashanimity. Al the
Z otoseof the war this class did much for us.
but owing to many causes this fountain is
dried up, and the cry comes back to us
I'm all quarters, "let the colored man
care Of HIMSELF We have done enough
him )" and, whether it DO true or false,
It Is this condition Of affairs which the
oolored man has now to face, and face
successfully or die, as other races have
died out before him. There is one fact
that stands strongly in our favsr, and that
10 our education is important 10 tho welfare
Of both races. Pitch cannot be touched
without de6lement. The djoining garden
must DO cleaned, or the birds Of the air
and tho winds Of heaven will scatter the
bad seeds in the well titled soil Of the in
dustrious and fill i. with .noxious weeds
and destructive vsrmin. Wealth NAV
EANd her-wxiis-high and strong, but il it
sffows filth and stagnaticn close to the out.
side, disease and death will defy its walls,
devour its inmates and drug its dearest
possessors to tho grave. No community
can afford 10 permit an ignorant and de-
graded class to dwell long in its midst.
Diseases Is no moro dangerous than such
class. They make it unwhelesoms for
themselves and all around them. Self.in-
terest should lead the white race to do its
best to educate the colored man, for only
education can break the spell of ignorance
and superstition by which they have been
bound down for ages. Enlightened colored
men sec and feel thi. truth, and are doing
what they can 10 promote the educa tion of
themselves and their children, and have
made considerable progress in the work
no man with any faith can now 40 into tho
IIcolored schools without having his hope
Frightened from what he will there sec aud
hear. Il is not the children in the streets,
nut the children in our schools who are to
be taken as the basis upon which to cal
culats tho future of The colorsd race.
Iknow there is much to be lameuted in
the condition Of tho oolorcd people. Our
supply OF muscle 10 far greater than its
demand. Causes over which We had no
esntrol brought US here, and the large num-
bsr Of VS. together, combined with our is-
noranoe, makes us largely psuper aud
criminal Glass.
With sincere sofrew we see numbers of
our race tried and condemned for petty
offences, then hear the whole race pro-
nouuced unfit for freedom, on account Of
few Of its ignsrant members. have no
reelection 10 cast upon tho mercy of our
Judges or the charity Of eur Juries. L
S0fy> >yish to create . deeper impression in
hhalf Of the education Of an ignorant race
the hands and. with the help of our
Mrmer msstcrs. JOHN d. NorR,s