Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-05-23
I Reported 6or De Bsaooa.l

&~Bts 9&hs&s4oo&4 SouVsnb49Hs
REPORTED for as Bsaooa1
Pursuant to adjournment from January
26th, ultimo. the convention Of colored
educators re-assembled IS the Court House.
Leonardtown. Saturday afternoon, May IS,
1895. Rev. George p. johnson was chair
man and Susie Giles, secretary. Journal
Of last meeting was read and approved.
The chairman made an address and intro
duced Margaret Jourdan q colored high
school teacher Of Washington, d. O., who
read carefully prepared and well.written
paper, arguing for the need Of education
and intoxicating the necessity for the negro
race in America relying upon its own
exertions for the betterment of its moral
condition and for its educational advance.
nent.
Rev. ]. @. Bryant submitted the report
of the Board Of Managers recommending
that q high school be established to be
located at Charlotte Hall; that the move
ment be entirely free from politics; that the
present board Of managers be continued for
one year; that the coming Legislature be
petitioned for aid; that ! column of the
Enterprise be rented to be devoted to the
Interest of the movement The report was
voted upon by sections and adopted. The
publishers agreed 10 give the space asked
for In the paper.
William F. Hall made q speech eulogiz.
ing the late Fred Douglas.
The following essay was read by Mary
A. Butler, q colored teacher of the 9Th
district, and daughter of John F. Butler,
one Of the most respected and wor,hiest
colored men in Southern Maryland.
MISS BuTLER's ESSAY.
The negro race in America has so in
creased that it has become one of the most
important factors in the population. Ev-
erything seems to indicate that the negro
is destined 10 remain in this his home.
Referring to the first proposition, let Us re-
call the condition under which the negro
was first introduced and has been held In
Captured in an uncrv.uzeo ssaru -....
brought hither he was held for nearly two
and a-half centuries as slave and chattel.
deprived Of what is declared in the great
charter Of the country itself which 50 held
him to be the inalienable rights of man.
kiad, life, liberty and the pursuit of happi.
ness.
There are in America today eight mil
lions Of negroes free from the yoke of bond
age, clothed with and to such extent as is
permitted them, to exercise the right of cit
izenship and ACCOMPLISHING unto themselves
knowledge and wealth.
The question is now, what is to be done
with the negroess Can they be sent back
to African Has 1t been promptly answered
whether they can be sent rs easily as they
weie brought herei No, think not. Il
Is not through their VIII they are in Amer.
lea. But since they were brought here and
held under bondage for two centuries un-
til the cry Of freedom was carried through
the country, 90 viii they remain here un.
til the call Of the Blessed Lord for them TO
pass into eternity. Why should such a
question agitate the country, "what is to
be done with the negroes ?" And wby
do they wish to get them back to Africa
Is it really impossible for the two races TO
dwell together in harmony, or do they wish
for them to 60 to that uncivilized country
to increase its civilization know not the
correct answer TO either question, but IL
Is my firm belief il is not impossible FLOR the
two races TO dwell together In sympathy.
Afro-American civilization Is increasing to
q vast extent, and they are improving in
every respect Has 1t ever occurred 10
those who would send Us hence that the
negroes have as much right in America as
they hayes Were they found in America?
Did they net find the country inhabited
when they first came 10 America and drive
The inhabitants away as iniruderss Were
not the negroes brought here by them from
heir native country II the negroes are
sent to Africa. why not the Caucasians be
cent to Europes
The negro problem Is indeed one of the
most vexed questions that agitase the world
today. Learned and well meaning per-
sons who have brought much reflection
and the purest Of motives to the subject
differ widely as 30 iis best solution. I be.
Ing one Of the race, will cffer q suggestion
In this connection, which, If reflected upon
and reduced 70 practice, win, think. 90
far towards a solution of this most difficult
question.
First, Il Ia conceded. that large propor- |
ion Of our race in the United States Is un. |
educated, ignorant TO deplorable extent |
If the most fundamental truths Of Christi
Anity, and thisI intellectually add Though |
10 fault Of ours in part. What then is the |
int need Of the colored peoples A sound |
eligious education. an education that win |
'ring rs TO practical knowledge Of God;
hat win teach as the truth and the sub. |
lime destiny that awaits us in q better /
world; an education that win develop our /
uperior being, that will inspire US with I
he love Of wisdom and hatred for sin. thar /
siil make US honest, moral. God fearing /
'eople. Such an education viii elevate