West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-12-10

speak KIM words and withhold the
hand of chastisement. Many OF
these blows and sharp words would
oe resented by Northern darkios
and wonld TO them seem heinous
and unjust, but in the eyes Of their
Southern brothers they are a phys
lesl necessity. | have seen boss
strike a darkey in the face with his
fist making him stagger, with no
further resentment on the part of
the negro than a pleasant smile
and a rub on his jaw
1t is insisted that this harshncss
is necessary to keep the negro in
his place. If darkey meets a
white person on the street, il is
considered bis imperative duty to
give all the way, and IL the side
walk is narrow no must get Oft in
the muddy street to prevent Ills
clothes from brushing his acknowl-
edged superior brother. If he does
not do this, he may receive blow
for his impndence.
BE this just or unjust, it is the
condition; and the possibility Of
the existence of such condition
groves that the negroes recognize
the whites as their superiors. But
they are ambitious and seem deter
mined to cancel, so far as possible.
this difference between them and
the whites. This determination
shows itself in the readiness with
which they strain every nerve to
get the money to buy from some
unprincipled quack an elixir to
take the curls from their hair. 1t
is more vividly and satisfactorily
shown, however, In their determi-
nation to gain an education. IN
cities schools are handy for all, but
in the country the ambitious youth
often walks five or six miles to his
humble school house, carrying
torn book and broken slate TO
learn to read and write, and thereby
diminish somewhat the chasm be-
tween him and his white noiuhbor.
AS result OF this worthy effort,
negro boy can scarcely be found i'm
the city who cannot read and write.
Nor is their education limited to
these humble accom- mplishmonts. 10
this city are at least two large COL
ored universities, Fisk and Central
Tennessee, which are largely at.
tended by Southern negroes and
supported by Northern philanthro-
pists.
The effect Of education upon the
negro is a matter Of dispute. Many
urge that it will make him more
and at the same time give
him greater power to commit crime.
If this fear is partly well founded,
its realization can DC endured bet
ter than the cloud of ignorance
which enVelops the clement as
whole, and which makes possible
the belief among some Of the dar-
kios that 16 to ] means that the
white man is TO get SIC from the
treasury 20 the darkeY's ore, or
that You can exchange one gold
dollar for sixteen silver dollars.
For people Of this dense ignorance
have sat as judges Of the financial
question Of the recent ampaign in
every Southern State.
On account Of the absolute ignors
ance Of the negroes of political. as
we'll as all other issues, many
Southern planters have no scruples
in forcing their negroes to vote the
ticket they shall prescribe. If
negro education can purge the cleo
tions and dispel the vanishing haze
OF general negro ignorance. It will
certainly more than counter balance
the alleged increase Of Incidence
and crime.
We should be patient with the
effects Of their efforts to civilize
themselves, and lend helping
hand instead Of trying TO push
them back two steps for every one
tboy make forward. We cannot
expect them to become civilized in
one generation, or in seven times
one. We should remember 1t has
taken the white race six thousand
years TO attain it's present eminouco.
and that the negroes have been
weaucd from their native wilds but
a few generations. Bas- reliefs cut
~ ~ TMn t.rs Fls.f a..........t.