The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-02
SLATER EDUCATIONAL FUND.

We are IN receipt OF copy OF the proceed
ings Of the trustees Of the John T. Slater
fund for the education of freedmen. at their
last meeting, and have read with interest tho
special report of the Educational Committee
Of which Hon. J. l.. N. Curry is chairman,
and the report of the general agent, Bishop
Haygood These two reports will be found
to throw G very important light upon the sub
ject Of negro education in the South, for
thorough and accurate knowledge OF which
both DR.. Curry and Bishop Haygood are dis
tinguished. the positions Of agents OF the Pea
body and Slater funds which they have re-
spectively filed for so many years so usefully
and satisfactorily having furnished them the
fullest opportunity of acquiring the most e1-
tensve practical information as to the edu-
catonal needs of the Southern negroes.
While both of these gentlemen express
themselves as being confident Of the benefits
which education is comforting on the negro.
yet they do not overlook the enormous diff
cuties which stand in the way of the eleva-
ton Of the race through the operation OF
educational influences. Making brick with
out straw remarks Dr.. Curry. Seems easy
compared with the results achieved by some
Of the laborers" in this field. Bishop Hay
good admits that 80 far the education OF the
negro has developed wants faster than his
ability TO earn means 10 satisfy them. in the
most Of them the result is discomfort with
many, unhappiness; in some. sort Of de-
speration; in not q few. dishonesty"
The only argument which the bishop draws
from this state of facts is that the negro
needs better" education-that IS. not the
regulation college curriculum" but special
training. The educated negro grayitates to-
wards the school-room and the pulpit because
there he fndo an unobstructed field. which Is
not the case in the professions. As the work
in the school-room. pulpit. the legal and med
ical professions, so far as dependent upon
the patronage of colored clients and pa
tents, must necessarily be limited. both DR..
Curry and Bishop Haygood lay the strongest
emphasis upon the importance 10 the negro
Of acquiring some mechanical or manual skill
which will be Immediately available III wage
earning Half the importance Of acquiring
such skill is to be found in the inculcatiOn of
habits of steady labor, which would be bene-
fetal even if the special skill acquired were
never turned to account
Neither the ordinary training OF schools
nor the special instruction of industrial insti-
tutes seems to be capable of eradicating the
fundamental defect Of the negro, namely,
lack Of character. In this connection the
words of DR.. Ctrry have special weight. In
our consideration Of the perplextles and diff
ficulties of the race question, it Is too COM
mon TO confne our views TO the male sex.
We are too apt 10 ignore or underestimate
the influence Of woman on home life, on re-
ligious and social life, on civilization. 1t Is
essential for the elevation Of the race that
wider. wiser larger effort be made for lifting
up the women. There is no substitute for cul-
tivated Christian wOmanhoOd. A nation
or race cannot rise higher than the sources Of
social. moral and spiritual life. A race can
not be improved except by ennoblng the wo-
men. If deficiency of character be a racial
defect. then Improvement of home-life IS a
racial imperative. With crowded and filthy
homes, with loose notions OF personal chastity,
with false ideas Of social responsibility, with
coarse, sensual. ignorant unframed, Stat
ternly, improvident, low-standarded mothers,
wives. sisters. daughters, with erroneous and
deficient training in what and how to buy and
wear, to cook and eat-to expect satisfactory
and hopeful progress is shooting Of
Niagara Improved family life, elevation Of
home-lfe, intellectually important, must be
accomplished by trained colored women"
This IS undoubtedly true but how are the
colored women to be trained: BY the iniu-
ence of the whites? The gulf between the
homes Of the whites and the homes of the
blacks is so wide that it is impossible BY
the influence of the public schoolsy A gem
Grafton of schools has produced little effect
upon the character of colored women, either
in town or country. How, then. are they 20
be trained? This Is question which we
would commend TO the further attention both
of Dr. Curry and Bishop Haygood, for the
elevation of the negro race must begin with
the elevation of their domestic life. How
this is TO be accomplished has never yet been.
so far as we know, adequately answered and
IN our judgment never will as long as such
earnest, Jealous yet temperate and practical,
friends of the negro as General Armstrong. Of
Hampton Institute. arc compelled 10 admit
that deficiency of character is ID dlstln-
gushing mark Of the negro"