Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-24
DR. sou rHALL AND rHs NEGRO.

We have received the biennial report
o. Hon. JosEPH w. SouraALL, Superin-
tendeue OF Public Iustruetiou. 1t
deals with the school years of '97-'SS,
$3.50
Taken ell in all, it is unquestionsbly
the most compre hensivs ard complete
report ever sent out from thss depart
ment
1t Contains valuable inform alton +,
both with reference to the white and
coiored pupils OF VIaauNIA add en-
braces recommend ations which will not
only merit support, but will entitle the
originator 60 commendatiou.
On the other hand, in dealing with
the Negro question, Dr.. SoUrHALL has
done US injury rather than aided in
our upward march for cordial encour-
sgement and deserved recognition.
But, just now it seems to be popu-
lar fad to "hit the Negro for the fun
OF the thing" regardless Of the heart
aches and the suffering which it en-
tails.
There has been . falling off in school
emrollment on the part of both races,
attributable to smallpox and other
epidemics.
Despite the povetty-stricken condi-
ton of the colored pupils. it seems that
while 5000 white pupils we're furnished
with textbooks at the public expense
only 2S09 eolored pupils required the
extension &c them OF similar tsvors
The per cent is about the same, based
upon the total enrolment.
While 80 per cent OF the white popu-
lstron was enrolled during 's9, and on
ly % per cent OF the colored populs-
tion is similarly situated There are S5I
colored male teachers in the state and
2185 eolored female teachers.
DR.. SoUrHALL gives 9 separate state
ment it seems of everything else but
the salaries and it is evident that it
was not desired that the average
amount paid tbs white aud co lored
teachers in the stste should be made
the basis of discussion.
On the other hand, he states, that
the average monthly salaries paid both
white and colored male teachers is
$500; female teachers, $28 80.
The average number of scho oil
months taught were for '9S aud onl y
8 81 for 's9.
superintendent SoUrHALL recon-
mends that school districts be con soil =
dated, or iesssnsd and that the state
provide free transportation of the pu-
pills 60 the schools. He seems Co think
that this will be matter of economy
VIRGINIA does not compare fsvors-
bly, in the matter of higher institutions
OF learning when gusgsd by the stand
ard set by northern or English schol-
ars,
He advocates manual training in our
schools. After qnoting DE-. II. b.
FRIssELL of the Hampton Normal and
Agricultural Institute upon this sub
ject, he says:
THE most serious and difficult prob
lem wiz which the Sou Oh has to deal
is the education of the Negroes The
Census for 1900 will probably show
that we have nearly ten millions of Ne.
S-oes 10 the United States, about eight
millions OF whom, il 10 safe TO say, are
in the southern States. They are
here among us from no choice of their
own. Nearly thirty-hge years ago
| they were nancipased from the CON
dition OF slavery, and few years later
fhau Uaro inuaaead hu SAa WI
Amendment Co the Constitution OF the
United States with tbs elective fran
chise, and have subsequently bsen in
vested with equal righss and privilege 8
with the whites"
Now, in our jnignsnt, DR.. SourHALL
might have stopped there. But he did
not. He proceeded TO express an opin
ion which in-no-wise had anything J.
do with the subject under discussion
He continues:
THAT the granting Of the elective
franchise TO thess people without prs.
vious preparation was colossal blun-
| der. II not crime, no weli-icformed
| and impartial man will hardly dare
| dispute. Ie is no exaggeration to saw
that nearly ali the i'll feeling engend sc
1 ed between the two races ia the south
ern States since the close OF the civil
war, has sprung from the fact that the
Federal Government succeeded in
forcing the States lately in secession
to grant co their former slaves aud
their descendants. as they reached ma
turitg, the right TO take part in the di-
recsion of public aff Fairs"
Well-informs aud impartial mel
do dispute it. Freedom, without the
elective franchise would have beer
what it is in so ne sections of she Sou ii
to-day,-a mockery and sham.
When 1t is argued that it is a coles
sal blunder IL not scrims to inves
the illiterate white msn with the right
to vote, then we shall listen TO youl
statements relative to it's being co
lossal blunder, il not q crim to per
NIT the colorsd men to vote.
When you argue that it is colossa
blunder, if not crime to permit tn,
illiterste of either race to vote, ther
we shall point you to the foundatio
/, I rrinofrlos ub;nb Ak,.