The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-10-08
Where the Negro Is Best Off.


An interesting discussion took place
at the recent meeting of the trustees Of
the Peabody educational fund in New
York city.
There were present representatives
from The several southern states,
whose reports Of the progress of educa-
ton among the colored people especial
w. led TO the opinion that for these
people life in the country was produc-
tive of the best results. Those in the
city. no matter how worthy their orig
inal purpose might have been, became
victims to such temptations under
which they fall so that the criminal
classes are generally augmented in
proportion with the increase of the
colored population. The competition OF
life there is too severe for them.
In the regular report of the debate,
it appears that Mr.. r. II. Mebane
OF North Carolina, said:
we have passed through hot cam
naipn-nIvnosr a revolution-aud l am
oraarv matter in comparison with party
success.
Hon. G. X. Glenn, commissioner of
the fund in Georgia, said in his state
ment:
Northern people have wasted millions
Of dollars on so-called higher education
that ought TO have been devoted to the
maintenance of manual training schools
for the children of the colored race.
]. w. Abercrombie, of Alabama, re-
ported that every negro institution
should seek to give such training as
would result in creating an influence
that would keep the masses of the col
OF ed people in the rural districts. This,
he said. should be done in the interest
OF both the white man and the negro,
since every land owner needs every
laborer he can secure and the negro is
at his best in the rural districts.
The Constitution, whose information
upon this subject is wide, comedies
with the views expressed. and is earn
est in the belief that the only salvation
of the coored race is in return to the
farm. There are communities in GeOr-
gia where colored men, as proprietors
and as tenant farmers. are orderly
thrifty, and strange as it may seem,
Chaste. Such q condition is only posi-
bic in the isolation of farm life, which
binds families more closely together,
and increases the mutual interest
which should exist among members Of
the same household. The result Is a
higher standard of personal conduct
which. added to the absence OF crimi-
nal temptation, produces conditions
highly creditable to the race. This fact
may readily be proven by Sunday
visit to any rural colored church,
where well dressed and respectful peo-
pie n the church, and horses and
mules, with comfortable vehicles,
stand around in the arbor on the out
side Contrast this state of things with
what is to be found in any one of our
cities and the lesson will be plain
enough.
There has been much discussion
probably too much-of the criminal
side of colored life, without taking
due notice OF the millions of orderly
colored people who live in the country,
and who. freed from the annoyance OF
political agitators, live in peace with
their white neighbOrS and take care or
themselves. The building up OF this
class by encouraging it to till the soil,
and protecting 1t against disturbing
agitators is one Of the chief duties or
the white people of the south. The
coming ten years of participation
in politics which will be enjoyed by
the negroes of North Carolina. for In
stance, will be an era of the greatest
moral and material progress which
they have eve enjoyed.
All the negro OF the south needs is
to be left alone by the "aunties' of the
northeast. who should find objects OF
solicitude nearer home.