Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-05

me whether / believe the people Of Nir-
snia are doing their full duty i'm all mat
tiers OF reform. educati0nally and morally.
southern ass l am. and with as much sec
tiOnal price as any other individual can
boast. / would feel compelled to answer
in the negative
Since the civil war" the social order
Of our section has been thrown and kept
out OF joint by the ever present race
question, which ovcrshadOws every other
issue. The fear of negro domination. an
unnecessary one. and our efforts 10 repel
&c. are absorbing our best energies IL
Is q bug-bear that IL is allowed 10 stand
n The way of our progress. 40 argument
is needed 20 prove that this fear is with
out foundation I'm fact Wealth and ln-
tcnigence must rule and whatever of
wealth and intelligence there is IN the
South is possessed by us. What have
wc then TO tear2 Nothing We havo
simply fallen into q rut, and are remain
ing there because we are too proud to
acknowledge ourselves i'm error.
IT il not my purpose to Indulge IN un-
kind criticism Of our beloved Common
wealth ! know that the terrible social
upheaval of which the South was TIE
victim left us with heavy burdens am
grave responsibilities, with shattered FOR
tunes. desponed homes. and bleeding
hearts. and with newly eniranchised,
ignorant race i'm our midst to educate
enc control.
The people Of Virginia entered upon
;heir task with that generosity and nooie
self-eacrihce which have always been DIS
tnguishing traits OF their character.
The negroes have been aided in their
poverty through poorhouses, the mentally
enfeeb!ed among them have been provided
rn d
costs from $4,000 to $4,000 annually; the
clulcrcn and youth Of this race have been
nunifcently provided with school faei'
ties scarcely inferior to those Of our own
children.
While we may congratulate ourselves
uuon the performance of so much or Ou'
duty. yet we have thousands OF negro
children and youth IN Nirginia-orphan5'
warrants. and criminals-tO whom we owe
the duty of saving from the propauiH-y
of becoming hardened criminals.
The people of Virginia are imbued with
q high sense of duty, as well as str0ns
religious sentiment. and if they could be
induced 10 feel the moral and religious
obligation resting upon them Of helping
to rescue the souls and bodies OF tAese
minor negro offenders from eternal ue-
eradation and sin, they would not nest
fate TO urge upon the next Grnefai As
sembly the pubic duty Of aiding the well
begun effort OF the thodshttW ana pro
eressiye colored people. "ho nave III li'
virginia Nanual-Iabor Scaool undertaken
mis- Great and needed reform in behalf OF
tine minor offenders OF their race.
need not enlalse upon the tact mat
I'm beiuine this cause you will DE coz
ferrira "a benefit upon the state by lessen
Inc The criminal class among us' mat
..,,. child Whatever his race or color,
,...c,ra5 from crime and DEGRADATION, is
but another safeguard thrown around our
homes IS conserving the public good be-
cause 1 wish YOU To enter hpon inns c@us'
i'm the spirit Of the Christ whom you pro
foss 10 follow, and with the earnest DE-
SIN. IN make men better. TO ht them Tor
the higher and better life' both IN tnlS 5
,rorld and the world TO come. some or.
- mt the law Of self-prescrvauon
Is not SO high a law as that Of self
sacrifice. but to my mind the the one v -
largely dependent upon lhe "ei'i'
serve ourselves in serving others,
SCI J.. b. VAUGHAN.