The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-28

acquire a knowledge Of agricpl-
ture, mechanic arts, and manufacture
That there were skilled workmen
among them is evident from the &C
count given Of the construction Of the
Tabernacle, Moses, their great leader
and l~awgiver, acquired in the Court OF
Pharaoh all that knowledge that fitted
him for his exalted station; and some
even claim that he there acquired much
Of the knowledge of the ritual OF the
Levitical economy. Yet after enjoying
all these privileges and witnessing the
display Of Gods power in their behalf
they were found to be unfit for the
exercise Of Liberty; and an entrance
into the earthly Canaan. SO Moses
under the command Of God turned
them back and marched and counter
marched them in the wilderness till all
except two from twenty years old and
upward died in the wilderness Now
ia it not reasonable that the Almighty
in order to maintain true religion on
the earth chose the noblest and most
| faithful man of his time. Yet with g.
preliminary training Of 400 years as a
race his descendants we're not fit for
| liberty. Now is it reasonable to expect
that a people, descended from the
lowest race of people on earth, apeopLe
of low moral and mental organization,
within a few generations should emerge
from the thraldom of ignorance and
superstition and rise to the dignity Of
Iawgivers, to sit in council and govern
Anglo S6xons the noblest race on earth
who attained to their lofty eminence OF
civilization and liberty after a struggle
of a 1000 yeaTs2 Yet every candid
man must admit that the progress of
the race has been phenomenal.
Many persons soon after they were
freed predicted that the race would die
off, in a few generations. Others as
confidently predicted that they would
lapse into barbarian.
Their improvements 10 chastity and
honesty should have been more mark
ed, yet it might we'll be questioned,
whether any race would have done
: much better under the same circum
stances for in their slavery the mar
riage tie was not regarded by thelE
, Owners. Large numbers of opposite
sexes we're herded or crowded together
. in small cabins and az a general rule
= no great care was taken to preserve
: the chastity Of the females. After
their freedom the carpet baggers al
, vised them to steal and to rob thell
: former owners and a very abiding I'm
preston was made that remalnetE
> even unto this day. Yet In these re
spects there has been an improvement
> except In the criminal classes aroun'
railroad centers, villages and cities
Perheps as much has been done for tn
: training and education of the colore'
= race in the United States as any Wher
: else in the world. Yet all has not bee
: done that should have been done
Better houses, with more rooms, eL
forced sanitation, and the circulate
among them of better reading matter
Now we send missionaries to torelg
NS"
lands that are learned In letters an
skilled in manufactures. Many youn
ne ladies of refinement go to the heathe
Chinese and Japanese; people sunk !
nv every kind of vice; and also to tt
in siamese, of whom q returned mission
"a arv remarks that he would prefer
.st teach and associate with negro
"a rather than them.
in, Had our Southern people just att
the war taken more interest IN u
,se education of the colored race and e
he training of them for citizenship amor
,os Ia results might have been d!tterer
to The negroes might have been dlVld
20. in notifies; but by their treatment
am the South, they are unified n vote
,I1 one man. Now q certain sect OF pn
II osophers claim that good comes out
nv evil and the result Of all this pred.
.oc. dice against the negro race will soon
,its mr. later eventuate in their gradC
emigration to a more coDgenial Gill
where they can exercise freely TO
nreciative audiences their powers
oratorv: and make laws for and g.
ern people of their own color.
). But while the race remains with
let us make amends for past negl
do and instead of curtailing the sch
AR privilege; rather increase them /
ar, should the negro school fund be
did stricted to what would come tr
1is. THAR own race the school term In 4
Lole nance county would be Co