Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-15
A rEMrTArIoN ro rERIrRY.
CABLE AND THE SOUTH.
Talk With the Distinguished Writer
on Problems of the Day.

Mr.. George W. Cable, the distinguished leo
turer and word painter o; creole character,
formerly of Louisiana, but now of Northamp-
ton. Mass, is In the city for few days on his
way south for pleasure trip. As an incident
OF the tour he will lecture here under the
auspices of Howard University, his theme be-
ing The souths first great need
MIR. Cable was seen in has quarters at the
Ebbitt today by STAR reporter. and, though
Prof. Gregory had just called to show the Wis
itor around tie capital few minutes were
given to an expression Of opinion on national
questions. lie was Just from his quiet New
England home and had. he said no news to
bring, hut was ever alive TO the problems
affecting national life and destiny.
You were with and for the south during the
war. suggested the reporter, but seem wholly
reconstructed now
Il was a confederate soldier" he replied
but went into the service so young that I
hardly had an opinion then, and. II would be
more accurate to say, have been constructed
since
lis not that true of many confederate soI-
diers?'
Certainly; but not of southern soldiers
alone, for IL is a principle the world over that
the few do the thinking for the many"
"lou call yourself New Highlander now"
Il call myself AN American. was educated
on that kind of food and like il yet"
What about the Blair blil?"
Il am m favor of national aid for education.
but would be more enthusiastic supporter OF
such measure II there was not a cent Of sur
plus Ia the treasury. One of the grounds OF
opposition to the Blair bill was. / think the
feeling that ii would open the way for a raid ON
the treasury. ana other measures would pass
under its shadow. To think that such aid
would pauperize the benefciaries OF the law
is an entirely wrong conception. for TO give
an Inc fr..., 80,
make them get move On themselves"
is not the tendency of the times 10 run ND
education 70 peak rather than 10 lay solid
fOundation!"
Il do not think so. Wherever there are coli
leges there are also found the best common
schools. Ii Is impossible to separate the
higher from the common education as to sepa-
rate the head and the body. They 20 naturally
and necessarily together. I-beieve in indus
trial education, but If IL must be given at tho
expense OF our present system | would cry
enough. by educating the mind the hand will
gam deNterlty much better than the mind can
he reached by the reverse process. person
ought TO know about ten times as much AZ he
undertakes to teach, and thus the higher edu-
cation is essential to the maintenance of the
lower grades.
The south seems willing TO let the colored
man work and the north to let him vote. 10
there not more labor antagonlsm against him
III the north than ID the former slave statssy'
That Is easily explained. White laborers
are la a great majority IN the north, and in the
fierce competition for bread and butter there
will be friction where there is such obvious
difference. But the colored laborer has the
south practically 10 himself, and through edu-
cation, If not for political reasons, he does noe
crowd or elbow hls white competitor"
Are you ON record favoring q national
election law
II am not in favor of any law made for the
south alone. such law should affect every
state alike. But when all is said and done, 10
must be admitted that the tuteage of federal
intervention has done more than anything else
to bring about reconsidered and better pur-
poses on the part OF the southern people"