Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-21
outpouring Of society. All the married
element and ell the prominent bellies
and beaux were present MrdSoS.
Negro schoei.Teacbers.
RICHMOND, December III, 1890.


Sir,-As constant reader OF your pe-
per respectfully request that you grant
me space enough In Its columns TO mako
q brief reply 10 M extract OF a commune
cation which appeared in last Sundays
issue over the non dc plume L,--viz. I:
Verify. il ia time TO coll halt. for nine
teuths OF all the teachers employed 10 the
colored schools are LangstoDs and Mitch
ellis. and instead of trying TO teach those
committed to their charge TO be industri-
| Gus, quiet, and peaceful citizens, they are
laboring TO bring out the very worst Gle
ments III their character. and succeeding
too.
This assertion, as an almost universal
statement, has tendency to be far
reaching in its results, and does injustice
TO the largest class Of intelligent negroes
in the State. / have had tho advantage
of being thrown IN contact with as many
colored teachers as any one IN the state,
| and have never known one-either
male or female-to express anght other
than feelings OF gratitude towards the
whites for efforts and contributions In
the line OF negro education. As far as
nv knowledge goes this feeling OF graft
tude is true of all classes OF colored peo-
pie. 80,
IL is unnatural that any teacher OF the
colored youth should breath spirit OF
hatred in his pupils for the people to
whom they are IN such large measure
| indebted for the support and
maintenance OF their public schools and
charitable institutions / have taught IN
several teachers Institutes where l had
| the daily association of large numbers OF
colcred teachers. aud have not seen nor
! heard anything that would cause one TO
believe that the colored teachers Of our
State, "instead OF trying to teach those
committed 10 their charge to be IN
dustrious, quiet, and peaceabie citizens,
are laboring TO bring out the very
worst elements in their character. Ibis
would indeed be unnatural.
Once in awhile some negro who has
arisen to political leadership, smartlng
under what he regards as unjust to him
sell or his people and forgetting the best
interests of his race, makes use OF an IN
discreet remark or commits a rash act ;
but respectfully submit that the entire
race should not on this account be
charged with ingratitude and deep-seated
hatred of his white fellow-citizene.
Having been ushered into citizenship IN
a state Of ignorance end dependence,
lead and schooled for the most part by
designing politicians whose only aim
was 10 rise, at his expense, to political
prestige and power, other circumstances
| considered. il is not unnatural that the
| CHI RI
with doubts and fears the good intentions
and advice OF his former master. With
a sober second thought, no one who has
made history study would regard such
an attitude under such circumstances as
hatred.
Lam not by myself when state that |
am in favor of the negro and white man OF
| the South adjusting all race troubles and
| differences without the Interposltion OF
Federal legislation. We dwelt together
for two hundred and fifty years under
| the same vine and fg-tree. Why should
we not live together on terms OF peace !?
There is that understanding OF each
other and sympathy between us that can
never exist upon the part and between
the negro of the South and the white
man of the North. The negro
must cease to look to the Fed
eral Government for aid, cult
vato State pride, support the best south
ern men in politics, divest himself of old
time prejudices, teach his children to be
sober, economical, industrious, and
thrifty, and with the exercise OF patience
and wisdom upon the part OF the whites,
we need have no fear as to tie future.
With malice toward none and charity
for all, am for better feeling between
the races.
With all due respect for L., en- of
the opinion that his conclusions are
drawn from altogether too narrow prem
| ises. WILLIAM Ii. SIXTH,