The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-14
THE LIBRARY QUESTION.
An Open Letter To the Good People
of savannah.

There appeared some weeks ago in
the Morning News an interview with
Col. Mercer of this city concerning the
library which Mr. Carnegie is anxious
to establish in Savannah. In this in
terview Col. Mercer stated with cruel
frankness that he is opposed to the
admission of negroes to the library
and with equal directness states that
he shall use his best efforts to prevent
their use of the same. In report of
q meeting of a committee from Coun-
ell and a committee from the Histori-
cal Society L see that the burden of
Col Mercer's remarks We're on the
color line in direct opposition to the
negroes making a better man or wo-
man of himself or herself and that,
too, by means of something that he
will not give a cent TO establish. Now
Col Mercer is chairman of the Board
of Education of the city of Savannah
and it would seem since he is con-
cerned about the welfare of all the
children of Savannah, he would be
anxious to extend the advantages of
a free library to all, regard
less of color Then it is strange that
a gentleman of his sincerity and
standing, and position in the educa-
tional affairs of the county, should
wish to shut off half of the children
from the advantages of a free libra
ry. What must the negro teachers and
the thousands OF children think of the
pretty speeches he makes at the
schools and colleges each year, if he
endeavors to shut them out when he
can aid them in improving their con-
dition? Again, if Col. Mercer wants a
private and exclusive organization,
why no one objects, and the colored
citizens do not feel aggrieved But
then is il just TO have a private and
individual library, a private organiza-
tion such as the Georgia Historical,
and then, because it may be possible
because of the peculiar condition of
affairs, to tie up the one that is in
tended to be public and free and make
it also private and exclusive? 1t is to
be hoped that the good people of Sa
vannah do not think thus or desire
thus to exclude, and thus injure the
coIored citizens by taking advantages
of, or manipulating something intend
ed for the whole people and devoting
it to private purposes to the great in
jury of one-half of the population as
he would do.
Again, deep in their souls high ideals
/ know that the just and faithful white
people of Savannah do not agree with
Col. Mercer's determination to defeat
the plain intention of Mr.. Carnegie by
legal shrewdness and technicalites, to
the infinite injury of those for whom
they have naught but good will and
friendship.
1t is to this class of kindly disposed.
just and fair minded white citizens that
l appeal. and respectfully submit that
the negroes do want and desire in
tensely. the advantage of such an in
stitution. The negroes need and desire
this information as afforded by such an
institution, because they cannot afford
to have a library of their own and be-
cause they desire to improve and be
better, still it seems that this is the
very class that Col. Mercer would eX
clude.
The extending of this privilege to me
and my people does not in any sense
curtail it or cut it off from Col. Mercer
nor any other white citizen one whit
poorer. My enjoyment of the ennObling
thoughts and chaste philosophy of the
sages of the past enriches and makes
me better and makes no man poorer;
for in the domain of soul every man is
a world
AGAIN. you nave IN the past given
your means, l believe willingly for
the education of my people-to make
them better men and better women
and more worthy citizens. Now, If you
have done thus and still wish them
well. do not undertake to abridge, but
widen and enlarge their life by be
slowing this privilege, for what en-
riches me, and does not impOverish
you. should in no manner be denied
me.
do not object to regulations and re-
quirements for those who secure books,
as to where they live. how they live.
their responsibility and their referees;
how wei they care for the books and
any other reasonable restriction, for il
will be discovered that a negro can
be neat. can keep books in good order,
can return them in proper shape; yes.
can come up to your requirements if
you give him an OppOrtunity-restri
tiOn, If you please. but exclusion never.
Trusting that those colored men and
women OF this city who have spent
their lives in endeayoring to be honest
and upright citizens, in bringing their
children up to pure and useful lives
may have made some friends among
the good white citizens Of Savannah. I
hope that these good friends who have
never failed the law abiding ColOred
citizens Of Savannah VIII now. al this
opportune moment. speak out IN their
behalf and prevent a great wrong and
injury. A. L. Tucker.
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