The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-03
THETRuTH OF THE MATTER.

ti,e faircst and dbleSt papers IN INC ooulu'
contains IN article on the Southern edu-
cation movement which shows that our
contemporary has an erroneous idea on
this subject. It rcproduces some remarks
from, the Philadelphia Times and adds:
The Observer has contained itself here
1ufore with some little difficulty as it has
considered this educational crusade. and
it was only in Difference to the opinions
OF people who know moro than 1t does
that It has refrained from crying aloud
It is time, however. to say that to II,
for one, references to the poor whites
of the South, 10 these contributions OF
Northern mijlionareS to Southern educa-
floral development as Charity" and to
these promoters as Northern mission
aries are distinctly offensive. IL this
is the spirit in which the benefactors come
ne are entitled to know it; If it is then.
indeed, is ii proper to quote the words OIL
The apostles TO Simon the sorcerer, when
lie offered to bly, from them the gift of
Gcd.
Such expressions are equally offensive
TO The Times, and we are already COM
.iitted to the proposition that # these
Northern phiIan.hropists were coming
down here to do missionary work and
New Englandize the South The Times
would resent and resist the movement
Observer take its cue from the Phladel-
! !rhia Times. That paper is in no sense
the organ of this movement and does not
pretend to be. but there are those who
are authorized to speak for it, and they
4 have spoken. Let us see what they say.
II a circular issued by the Southern
Education Board IT is announced:
THE results accomplished by Southern
people since the war are recognized as
rorthy of all praise. Such a movement
as this might wei! apply to all parts Of
america it is needed in the South only
because the South had its all swept away
In the war between the States, is largely
rural in character and has two races to
develop It is because the white man in
the South has the negro to educate and
care for that he deserves both sympathy
and assistance. This board asks to be
allowed the privilege of helping 4 little
to do what is really the duty of the
whole American people The active
w.rk of the board is left entirely in the
hnnds of Southern meu."
AT the conference in Athens last week
MI. JIoke Smith, of Georgia, said that
tie people of the. South had plain duty
to discharge and that they proposed to
educate their children in their own way.
They did not propose to compromise their
Independence nor to shift their burden
upon others. 1t was in that spirit only
,;j
siders.
DR. Albert Shaw, editor Of the Review
of Reviews, in a speech upon the same
occasion, said that the North had been
receiving large sums Of money from the
South to pay Northern pensioners and
that it seemed to him but an act of JUS
lice for the North to return some of the
money made in Southern business and
Southern Investments to help the South
solve her educational problem.
The venerable Judge Bleckley arose at
this point and said To Mr.. Shaw that the
South would receive aid only in that
spirit 1t was a matter Of justice TO re-
tu,n some of this money. His remarks
were applauded by Northern and South
ern men, and DR.. Shaw accepted Judge
Bieckley's statement Of the case.
DIR. Hamilton Mabie made beautiful
address, in which he spoke of the great
cacrifce and herosm of the Southern
PEOPLE and paid a noble tribute to- the
heroes OF the Confederacy. lie spoke
principally of what the South was doing
on her own account to educate her chill
cren. of the great enthusiasm that was
manifested IN this conference. and he con-
ciu6ed: This is another renaissance and
.,,;s is another new birth. / have felt
the contagion of your enthusiasm ana
have caught the prophetic note and nave
said that this is just as great time to
live in and this is just as great a move
mont as in that time in the history of
Errope when men forgot their vices and
.,,,t On robes OF scholarship and there went
throughout western Europe the thrill OF
"a new perception of new truth ana the
beginning of a new day
1Ja fhon made some reference to the re-
construction period in the South ana 10
Tho heroism which the South then DIS
Waved but added that this movement
* ,n,s the beginning of the real reconstruc-
ZION. Here in the South" said he. are
1air the foundations of the reconstructed
ration in the liberation of every man and
woman and child in it from the ancient
Ho,ninion of ignorance
1T this same meeting. just before this
beautiful speech of DR.. Mabie's was made,
The chancellor of the University of Geor-
r:a read note. in which the writer Of
tered TO give $4,000 to construct library
.u:laing for that institution. The writer
would not consent at the time for his
nane to be- used. but it has since turned
out that the giver is George Foster Pea
noas. one of the prime movers in this So
called Crusade
On the following day the conference met
at the Georgia Normal School, and at
ter several speeches the financial repre-
sentative of the General Education Board