The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-02
AFTERMATH REFLECTIONS.

The address of President Robert c.
lOgden, (of New York; of the Southern
Educational Conference that met last
week at Athens, Ga, was we'll conceiv-
led and Of excellent tone. 1t is so fine
in spirit and so felicItiously worded we
make a brief extract here:
The mission Of his conference is by
means of a sweet reasonableness work
ing through many and diverse agencies
to so enforce its dogma that the moral
rights Of children to education shall, by
law, by philanthropy, by public opinion,
be made forever SO secure that they
shall nevermore be questioned. Thus it
may come about that the capacity for
Intelligent citizenship, the opportunity
for abundant life, the enjoyment of lib
Ierty, the attainment OF happiness, may
become universal possibilities
The meeting was noticeable above all
lelse for his broadness, it's catholicity Of
view, it's cosmopolitaness. Good will
come from it in more than one way. 1t
will not only bring more help to the
south to cure the IA n of illiteracy, but
will soften sectional antagonism and
Iawaken a profounder interest and SYM
Ipathy in the rich north not only for aid
ing negro iIliterates, but for bringing
relief more or less to the white Hitter
Iates. 1t is useless and unwise to fight
over the battle of the war when the
friends Of education meet for consulta-
ton in behalf Of the widespread con
EDITIONS in the south. Mr.. Ogden Stated
that the great object of the conference
was to try to reach the rural POPULATION
the vast class living in the country
and "far from the maddfng crowds
lignoble strife" to quote a we'll known
line from a poetic favorite. Speak
ling Of the south the b~encfactor said
that within these states. not including
l~several of the So-called border states,
is to be found one-fourth of the school
population of the United States. Take
that fact with the additional fact that
labout so per cent. of the entire popula-
ton of those states is rural. and you
have conditions exactly opposite to the
situation that confronts you IN the city.
A study of the case develops some most
interesting questions"
Reading his address: on Monday night
we are gratif1ed TO see a very high COM
lpliment-no doubt a Just recognition
of a scholarly Raleigh boy, Professor
Branson. now the able and efficient
principal Of the State Normal School at
IAthens, where the convention was in
session. President ogden aid of him
THAT he has given US in his article,
1.-The Real Southern Problem" n splen-
did statement of the case, undoubtedly
the best statement upon the subject
that mas ever been printed. He shows
how needful ii is to fill the vacant mind
lby instruction that shall not only en-
able children to read and write, but
shall show them how to economiZe
time. to manage a farm. to properly
~Icreate character n a complete life.
is there not here a new question for
pedagogy to solve? If millions OF money
Iwere ready, where are the teachers?
lOut of the case comes the silent appeal
Iof millions of children Of school age"
The south has been derided and un-
Iderated as to what 1t has accomplished
Ito cure initeracy. While it has been
Icarped at and insulted for thirty years
lfor its great shortcomings, it has stead
lily, unfalteringly made sacrifices that
lwere surprisingly great in the face OF
1.-THE most immense difficulties n OBJ
Istacles. Rendered poor by the gigantic
war. robbed Of all their basis of credit.
the southern people ven bravely To
work, and hopefully too to rehabilitate
and relieve conditions. Voluntarily. de-
IHberately, unitedly they tool upon
themselves the great task and respon-
Isibility to educate their own children
and also to furnish school opportunities
Ito the children Of i.00o,0 600 liberated
slaves, thus increasing hugely their e
ldeavors and taxes. When before in the
history of nations did a defeated people
latter the bloodiest and most unequal OF
wars ever take upon themselves such
la duty and task that the southern
whites OF their own will and desire as.
Isumed. 1t was indeed magnificent
None but the brave men who wore thu
gray with such daring n constancy
could have risen equal to such a sac
Irifce, such a manifestation Of generos-
lity and kindness.
No little for education has been ac
lcomplished in the south. and the fellow
lwho would deny or lessen 1t is either