The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-13
he mountain whites and the negroes in

the mountain whites and the negroes In
this country. He spoke at length OF the
conditions and needs of the South. He
said that the educational work done by
Northern Christians. not for the s. re OF
reward. but as work and labor of love-"
is essential for the solution of the South
ern problem The Southern problem IS q
many-sided problem. Education is needed
to help the South solve It's industrial prob
lem. A very grave question confronting
the Southern people to-day Ia the question
of how they are To secure the means of sub
sistence. The chief industry has been the
raising of cotton. But owing TO the ex-
tenslve cultivation of cotton In this and
other countries, the price received by the
producer has fallen from 40 cents To @ cents
u pound and last year many OF the planters
did not receive enough TO pay the expenses
of cultiyati Without education. how
ever. the laboring people are not lifted TO
develop and carry Oh new industries sue
cessfully. But the religious problem or
the south also demands our assistance.
The religion of the negroes ana mountain
whites is largely sentiment aud supersti-
ton. In many places the fact that man
is a church member is no Indication of hon.
esty, chastity, or morality of any SOFT:
The speaker told OF one woman VINO hao
been guilty of stealing a turkey. Her
pastor knowing the facts, chided Der for
coming to the communion table without
making restitution. Why" said she. ala
yOu suppose l was going to let one poor
little turkey keep ME away from the Lord 8
tablet" This is a good sample of many OF
the church members In some Localities.
The religion of the masses needs 60 be
made intelligent, that it may become
strong and moral.
The South must not be left TO take care
of itself In this matter, for 1t will not face
the problem. Che public-schOOl system
has not yet become rooted, and the upper
classes do not believe In educating the
masses. no matter whether they be white
A w tar
SAYS that in 1850 there were only 343,OOO
people in the South who owned either land
or slaves. The situation - much the same
to-day. The South Is ruled by an ollgarchy.
The few who are well-Off and educated do
not believe in educating the masses. Their
sentiment is expressed by an old planter
who said: IF you educate a Niger you
will make him either teacher. or o
preacher, OF q thief"
Some of the colored people are prejudiced
also. and the rest arc unable to meet the
problem. The colored schools would have
been abandoned long ago but for the lead
ers trained IN the missionary schools. The
educated ministry is still far oil, but prog
Tess Is being made. The Illiterate preach
ers are losing their hold on their churches,
and they recognize that they must soon
give way To the educated ministers trained
In the colleges and for whom the people
are calling. The social problem Is one
which the South, left to itself. Will never
solve. Equal rights q fair chance and
mutual heIpfulness are not possible In the
South under present conditions. The
speaker referred to the recent exhibitions
of mob law and lynchIng as indicative of
a sad condition of affairs. and said that In
telligeDce Is needed that tho negroes may
know their rights and get recogni-
ton of their manhood. The work OF
Northern teachers In the south 10 a
labor of love in the face of social Ostra-
cism. Those who 60 to teach the colOred
people must be shut up to fellowship with
l4.. hxt~ la hA
Gated people will not associate with any
one who stoops to teach q negro. prom
inent clergyman and his wife became in
terested In one of the A. NJ. A. schools. and
exchanged calls. but were obliged to cut
of all associations with the teachers as
their own people proposed to Ostracize
them. The South 10 under a caste system.
and no country that tOlerates caste is ca
pable of progress in these days of ad-
vanced civilization. In closing the speak
er expressed the belief that God will bless
the work of the gospel in the South more
and more, and make this q glorious Ma
ton.