The American citizen. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1888-1909, 1889-06-21
GOV. LEE ON THE NEGRO.

hOm mdny Ne8roeS redu InSlTuc-
''tive and healthy periodicals? Very
''few. They don't rush from their
workshops, or labor to the news
"stands and secure papers and books
with which to cultivate their minds.
''People who have very imperfect
ideas Of the subject, talk hippantly
"of the compulsory intercourse of the
Caucasian and African races as if
''the intelligence of both races were
equal"
We quote this that our people may
see themselves, as others see them.
1t is true to great extent, that the
older Negroes do not read the pc
riodicals, or even the newspapers, as
do the whites. There is, however,
some excuse for this.
The class of citizens represented
by Governor Lee, enacted the most
stringent laws prohibiting any one
from teaching Negro to read and
write. Hundreds of persons have
been imprisoned for haying taught
the Negro his letters. The writer
has known Of a number o" master
mechanics, engineers, brick layers;
tailors, carpenters, plasterers, and of
other trades, who we're slaves, whose
masters had placed them to learn the
trade, but made it impossible for them
to learn to write. The writer also
remembers the fate of the white lady
who gave him his first lesson.
The inability of the older Negroes
is evidence of the manner in which
those laws were enforced. Gov. Lee
and those Negroes who were thus
precluded from learning are passing
away and there is coming upon the
scene new set of men.
Although the schools in the south
are scattered far apart so that only a
small percentage can reach them, yet
we find the colored youth rapidly adj
vancing. Each year brings us q
smaller per cent of ignorance. Even
the older Negro, of whom Governor
Lee must be speaking, is much farth
er advanced than his enemies give
him credit.
{ It's not to praise, that we cal
this matter up, it is because there il
much truth in the remarks.
Our colored men who can afor'
do not usually take enough papers
I They may not be able to read, am
may be too tired when the days worl
is done, to listen to their children
+, read. But this is no reason why
they should not take papers so tina
their children may become well in
formed upon current topics. Ever
colored home ought to take at lea:
two newspapers, Gle of which ougt
. to be a colored newspaper. The
would thus be able to talk intelligent
ly on current news.
Besides there would be a niue
better subject for conversations tina
can be afforded by neighborhood COS
sip or scandal, Every man owes
to his race to raise his children i
: such manner as to make them USE
full citizens. He should strive
> have them better educated than
IS. To leave them some money to b
= gin life with, and if possible to mai
: them mentally, morally and fnancia
= lv better off than he is. If such
= course should be followed, we, Ill
" the Jews-who have always be'
. persecuted-would by 0 ur wealth al
: intelligence command that re'pe
: that We so much desire.
= 1t may be said the young Negro
= far above the old; this may be 30, e
" ucationally speaking, but educate
as alone, without wealth or charact
is but little consequence. While
are educating eur children lei US 2
J., them access to the world by placi
FL r;.bir thair reach the greatest of