The sun., 1893-07-16
THE FUTURE OF THE NEGRO.
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION THE spLU-
TON OF THE PROBLEM.
Capt. FitzhuHh of Kentucky Discusses the
Relations OF Blacks and Whites-tnter-
esting Views on n Gsrent Question.
Reported ty Y. Thomas Friune

Capt FitzhurI, of Kentucky Discusses chs
! Relations OF Blacks and whites-Inter
est,ng Views on n Grent ouestion.
Reported ~ r. Tnomn. Erhms
Cart r. II. Fitzhugh Of Lexington. Ky, is In
the city for few days. He prides himself
upon two things. that he comes Of the Vir-
ginia Fitzhughs and that. although his fnther
was q prominent pro slavery advocate and
writer. he has not only accepted the results OF
the war In good faith. but Is doing oil In his
power to smooth out the rough places In the
race problem at the South, He came to this
city from Geneva. N. " whore he had been on
visit to Mrs. Charles Miller. daughter OF
Gerrit Smith: her mother was Fitzhugh.
Capt. Fitzhugh has been spending two months
In the North. and has given close attention to
the condition OF Afro Americans, with the Oh
ject OF ascertaininR whether they thrive any
better In this section than in the Southern
States. He readily consented to talk for the
readers OF THE Sun.
What are the relations OF the two races ut
the South to. o.day 2" asked.
The negro and white man have been bush
whacking up to this point" said Capt Fitz-
hugh with gravity. There has been no Or
ganized effort to do anything on the part OF
either race What has been accomplishe ed has
been the result OF Individual effort. It is not
true that the relations between the two races
are more strained than heretofore. On the con-
trary. they are more cordial and mutually
helpful. because better understood by both
races. The young men Of both races are
drawing closer together along all lines.
except the social one. This is natural
outgrowth OF slave conditions and can
not be wiped out In generation: bat even
upon this point I believe that iuster.
understanding is being gradually reached.
For instance. the civil rights OF the
negro are being moro fully recognized every
year. The better sort OF negroes recognize
this TACT, and are growing moro conservative
in their intercourse with the mass OF their
race. and are m ore respected by the better sort
OF whites accordingly. The lawlessness prev
alent among the vicious and thrlftless Of
both races is condemned by the better GLASS Of
both races. On tho part OF the whites this
lawlessness must be placed to the credit Of
what We call the poor white trash who have
always been our unruly element and were In
the slave period called 'patrollers' They do
not now always confine themselves to out
rages upon blacks. as prosecutions OF White
Caps In various parts OF the South Just now
will show. 1t Is as hard to restrain these men
from violations Of law as It is to restrain the
lawless among the vicious blacks.
1T is not generally understood that nine
tenths Of the money obtained in the South for
the building Of colored churches. halls. and
the like, and for the maintenance Of schools.
is cheerfully given by the whites. who are
constantly extending benelcent charity
which does not cry aloud from the housetops.
All our servants are negroes. We do not want
and will not have white servants. In the North
this rule is reversed. Many OF our merchants
employ negroes in confidential capacities. and.
while giving them an opportunity to earn q
living. afford them also IN opportunity to ac-
quire the rudiments Of a business education,
in which they are so sadly deficient and without
which they cannot hope for any success along
business lines"
What Is your opinion Of the system Of edu-
cation which has prevailed in the South since
the war;"
Very poor" said Capt. F.tzhugh. emphat-
ically. Il wish had with me the address de-
llvered by the Mayor of Lexington recently to
the colored schools would like to make a
quotation from it. believe that too much at
the education after, they get i; When We con-
stricted. it is mot an easy VI matter to ode deternine
what sort Of education is best suited to the
q The r.
was in Boston. he said that uniformly the
negro t,e seemed to graSvitate to menial ocsupa;
educated men Of that race employed in the
sleeping-car service. OF course do not a ,ree
profitable employment open to them. II
negroes uld secure better employment than
that to which they are restricted. they would
=" In my town the best elements among Afro
Americans are forming organizations Of a
cational influence on the race. or course In
dustrial education is what these people need
catona o eort Should be- It Isl Is being
generally accepted that We are having too
%S9isg 'eFPfy educaton for beth blacks and
and should BE- taught how 6btttsH' best to Work. Pam am
larger Industrial education. IPt and trust s the
nanro tendency .ag VIII grow more prop1unced The
y the 'aIss probs@ sfas
sssssts sdsd T5s sSSd be
to get the charter H & coleTeI orphan u AND
cd that It viii be- % centrolIed by Whites @
instead OF by blacks but tell them no. because
psops nssd the
an interest in this home because 1t Is needed.
.,0at There , is large M an and; constantly growing
influence. The old saying that ono negro Is
ter element is rapidly segreeatine itself from
the degraded masses and is being augmented |
aSy @1n
The three points which need to be emphasized
are: ~ Education should be more practical
and less classical; ~ cooperative effort on the
part of colorcd people should be encouraged:
~ there must 10 more separation between
The higher and lower elem ents. to the end that
The possibilities Of the race. We do not rate
The white man by his lower but by his higher
civilization. business relations between the
whites and the thrifty blacks are becoming
more common"
What about the industrial situation ?"
There are "a great many independent, col
pred farmers scattered over, the Southern
States. The negroes do the ,heft OF the farm
work. They stick to the rural districts more
than the young white men. and they
ire fast buying up abapdoned farms. verify
believe that they will ultimately take the places
II the poor whites as the small farmers OF the
south. We have large element Of this poor
Yhite class. which lacks the usual Anglo Saxon
hriit and steadfastness. The major part Of
he skilled labor OF the South are done by ne
rroes. They are our masons. blacksmiths,
and the like. j think they will
M ,M9ld 10 on to this indus.ral advantage. anssfIect-
What do you think about the African colo
II 10 ouf ~ tha ,,uaefiop The Soutbarn |