Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-01-31

be wide social gulf between them. yet
with . few marked exceptions they live
side by side In peace and friendship in
cities, towns, villages and rural districts.
They follow the same occupations and rep
resent all the various creeds which distract
Christendom.
Although inexperienced and with large
inheritance Of impcrfections, the Negro has
not been entirely IDLE and improvident
Within thirty years he has accumulated
1915. 100000 worth Of property and $25,
100000 worth ofchurch property; has given
the nation from the industrial schools go.
coo trained mechanics; has 5000 now in
these schools, which turn out 1000 annu.
ally. In the public schools he has / .610,.
AT children, taught by 1900 colored
teachers; 174 schools Of high grade with
1888 students, taught by 1900 negro
professors. We own i've magazines and
2i2 newspapers, two of which are daiies;
four well established publishing houses
and 20 printing houses, and since the eman.
cipaticn have written 10 books. These are
wonderful strides, aud are standing tes.
timony TO our ability 10 rise 10 greater
heights Of distinction and grandeur
We Of Southern Maryland, and especi.
ally It Mary's county, have not kept step
with the march of progress with our race
elsewhere. They have left US far in the
rear. We lack energy and determination,
unity and aspiratiOn-essential qualities Of
any progressive people But some say that
because there are greater plumbers Of col.
ored people in the South, therefore, the op-
portunity 20 improve their condition IL bet
Ter than here. Others claim that Il Is the
share system Of land tenure and exhausted
soil. But we find our brethren there strug.
Cling under the same difficulties, without
our political peace and security. And yet,
despite all difficulties. impediments aid
inexperience, they are constantly advanc-
ing in the acquisi ion Of wealth and edu-
cation.
From the beginning they paid greater
attention to education; they admired the
school house as We do churches. The
spelling book Was esteemed next TO the hi
ble-and the school teacher was honored
as Congressman-ande education was con
sidered next % Goodness. But with us
there has been no great desire for mental
training. Il is not considered q necessary
adj
for our advancement. Ignorance has not been
hated, nor education loved. The greatest fac
tor against our advancement is blind, humili-
ating, paralizing ignorance. II Is met with at
home and abroad; in the families and In the
church; in parents and children; I'm friends and
neighbors and in the ministers of the Gospel.
Not family escapes its baneful effects; it is
the cause of much of our stupidity and power
ty; il robs us of the ambition TO rise, and pre-
vents US from coming up to the full measure
of manhood and citizenship. IL is filling our
county with a shiftless and worthless class of
young men and women. It's largely the cause
of our vices and crimes, and places little value
upon virtue and honesty.
The census of 1850 tells IA sad story. In our
county are 10 colored teachers and ], sOI color
ed children In the public schools. The daily at
tendance Is not large, and the average attend
ance Is alarming. One of the chief reasons for
sending children TO school is, not to train them,
but TO keep them out of mischief and to pre-
vent idlehcss- The ambition OF a large major
ity OF children does not rise above the desire TO
read and write. When a child has received
sufficient education TO send a letter through
the United States postofhce, its desire for books
and the school-house grows beautifully less
with advancing years The parents imagine
that they cannot do without the entire service
of the larger boys and girls. They are kept at
work on the farm or hired out. Not q few,
weary of country life, wander OF TO the cities.
The teacher may plead, may exhort and adj
wise, yet they will grope their way into man
hood aud womanhood i'm mental darkness.
Even IL they were to continue at school there
Is no hope of using their training in winning
bread. They see none of their race In positions
OF trust and honor; their training is not sufIi-
cient for them to enter the learned professions.
There are high schools in the county, but no
negro need apply; hence there is no incentive
among US for higher education.
The greatest factor for our advancement
from poverty and illiteracy is a Normal and
High School with industrial features. We
need n school where our youth can be taught,
along with the common school studies, rhet-
"
geography, civil government, lcgic algebra,
geometry, moral philosophy. astronomy. Eng
lish literature and some of the ancient and
modern languages.
In the industrial department our boys could
be taught agriculture, shoemaking, carpentry
and biacksmithing. The girls laundrying sew
ing, dairving. cooking and general house work
This has been the plan followed by our people
In the South, and good results have come from
them. With such an institution hundreds OF
our youth could be influenced. Instead of
hocking TO the cities, they would be encouraged
to remain in Southern Maryland and help
build up their county and state. Within few
years We would shed oil our lethargy. The pa
rents would be aroused our youth would he
hopeful and asPiran;. The common schools
would be well attended aud our high school
crowded to its utmost capacity.
As teachers and leaders OF our people in this
county IL is impossible TO close our eyes To this
most urgent need. This convention would fail
in it's duty IL IL does not attempt to move some
of the many difficulties under which our people
labor. We have reached the thirtieth step on
the ladder of freedom. Let US honor IL with
noble and successful life. Others may pity
and help US, but IL we ascend we must do our
own climbing. The higher we go the greater
the obstacle and sharper the conflict But per-
severance end well directed effort will bring
success.
wehave been charged with having little de-
sire for social Improvements and no ambition.
Contentment is q great blessing, but for us to
he satisfied while we are the most ignorant and
the most poverty stricken, Is mental drunken
ness. We cannot be satisfied when imperfec
ton marks every action; while we are laughed
at, criticised and considered the lowest element