The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-28
NEGRO EDUCATION.
The Advantages Which the Whlte
People Have Received for their
Large Expenditure in Negro
Schools.
Corssnondence Christian Culver.

PeopIe Have Received for their
Large Expenditure in Negro
Schools.
Correspondence Christian CULVER.
I saw by the News and Courier of
the llth that the commissioners OF
election of Richland county had ap-
pointed one Republican on each board
of managers of election for that coun-
ty. This seemed to scatter confusion
worse confounded into the ranks OF
the dominant party, and caused has
ty gathering in Columbia; with the
prevailing inquiry on every lip;
what! do you mean to tote fair
with the niggers after all? awe mean
that you should promise us every I'M
munity, but reserve to ourselves the
right to repudiate that promise as It's
suits our convenience" DO you not
know the negroes are awakened to their
interests, and to give them representa-
tion on the board of managers could
not crush them out, or they Will her
aid the fact to the world? We must
keep up a semi blance of fairness until
after this Convention shall have been
held, and then, they will have no
show, they have none now before the
Courts, but then they will have none
before the people of the country who
are now watching US and criticizing
our actions. Therefore the action of
the commissioners was instantly set
aside and the appointees removed.
This is further evidence that fraud
was intended should it become neces-
sary, the counting out process can be
done with impunity. | also see by
by the Press and Banner an editorial
squib, "One thing the State Conven-
tion or tn Legislature ought to do is to
forever prevent any minister of the
gospelsfrom holding office or dabbling
in politics. Preachers have no busi-
ness going into politics, and they
should never be allowed to hold office.
The Colored Ministerial Union in Co.
lumbia is largely responsible for the
unrest among the Negroes. The poor
Negroes We're duped out of their
dimes, while the lawyers made big
money" I would like first to ask are
not preachers men? Endowed with
the same aspirations as other men?
Are they not the natural leaders of the
people and should they not be fully
conversnnt with the current affairs OF
their State so as to enlighten the mass
es? Where is the consistency of allow
ing white preachers to actively engage
in politics and try to debar the Negro? ?
One of the leaders of the Reform par
ty, Rev. Mr.. Sigh for instance, or
does the editor include him too? The
Ministerial Union that met i'll Column
bia was composed of ministers from all
parts of the State congregated there
with, and by consent of their respec-
tive flocks, to counsel together and
therefore is not responsible for the un-
rest; but that disquiet was the result
of trying to place on the last feather
that was destined to break the camePs
back. Place the blame where it right
fully belongs on the counting in of as
dastardly fraud and political juggel-
ry as was ever perpetrated upon any
people in the history of this State.
The tissue ballots of &c dwindled into
insignificance compared with it. The
Negroes were not duped they gave out
of their penury and want freely, and
will give again when occasion re-
quires, or necessity demands. BY
what hocus pocus can a Convention,
or even the Legislature, prevent GER
tain class of it's citizens from participa-
ting in the affairs of his State, or eX-
pressing their views in regard to GER
tain rights pertaining to their people :?
Or does it mean that only Negro
preachers should be debarred? Is
this another suggestion to the Conven-
ton that it is not enough to crush his
political aspiration, thus crushing out
all the semblance of manhood he may
have left. "There is a power that
shapes the destinies of nations, rough
hew it how we may" The Negro is
an element not easily got rid of; a
ubiquitous being, that thrives under
any circumstances, an Indigenous
plant that germs in any soil. Subject
him to the hardships of life and he
springs up as lively as June grass, and
they look to their preachers to apprise
them of current events. You cannot
eliminate him from politics unless you
disfranchise the whole race. Stop him
from reading the newspapers. In fact
just say by Constitutional or Legisla-
tive enactment that the preacher shall
not read anything but his Bible and
Commentaries. Consistency thou
art jewel" What is good for the
white preacher is good for the Negro.
If the dominant element will only deal
fair with US and give us such represen-
tation as our intelligence and wealth
warrants. then this unrest will cease,
but we mean to continue to demand
our rights as men until you accede to
them, be we preachers or plodders.
Our case is before the Supreme Court
Of this country and there we rest our
hopes. Shatter this and there will be
such an emigration from this State,
that now blooming fields in five years
will be barren wastes. More anon.
EidiciuS