The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-09-03
THE RACE ISSUE.
KOOsevelt'S Position Hure:ui to the
Negro-The Mississippi Campaign
Defects OF Our Educational System.

Communicated.
The South knows what it is to ''stand
at the parting of the ways" The Civil
war was followed by the reconstruction
days. The white men of the South have
borne the burden of having their former
slaves Gan inferior race liberated and,
without any preparation. given the full
right of citizenship The South met the
issue bravely and heroically and although
sorely tried by the criticisms and inter
ference of the North very nearly solved
the difficult problem.
President Mckinley saw and appreci-
ated this and inaugurated a policy of
reconciliation that was calculated to do
away with the race issue. His action
was understood and appreciated both
North and South President Roosevelt,
whether designedly or not, has worked
in every way to revive the race issue and
it is beginning to be realized how we'll he
has succeeded.
The first fruit is seen in Mississippi in
| the recent campaign in that State for
the Democratic nomination for governor
Mr. Vardaman, it appears, has won on
| the issue to let taxes collected from
whites educate white children only, and
taxes from the colored race support the
| schools for colOred children. This was
| unfortunate but the negroes can only
| thank Mr. Roosevelt and his position,
| especially his action in regard to the In
| dianOla post office.
One of the nOblest sacrifices made by
| the people of the South has been in pay
| ing for the education of the negro. They
supported schools for the blacks in their
midst with taxes paid with their hard
earned money and at an expense and
loss in the schools for the education of
their white children; but the white peo-
pie recognized it as duty as well as a
necessity laid upon them to educate the
blacks They realized that their self pro-
lection demanded it.
In our educational awakening and
| campaign in this State it will be well for
| our leaders to take warning from the
turn that matters have taken in Missis-
sippi. There is already an undercurrent
| OF sentiment like this among our people.
Many white people begin to feel that
their payments and sacrifices for the ed
ucation of negroes is too heavy bur
den laid upon them, and gives too poor
results. The only way in which it can
be met is by being reasonable in our edu-
catiOnal work and demands and in de-
| NlSlLS SOluS llleitHS ny WHICH tHe euuCd-
ton provided for the negro will better
| fit him for such work as he can do among
us. The fact is that SO far the education
given him has in the main tended to unfit
him for his work and has started him
North or to some city Or town, or ii he
remained, has made him a nOn-producer,
living on the prejudice and credulity of
| his race.
In plain truth our present methods OF
education tend too much to the driving
of even all white boys to the cities and
towns. We need education along the
lines of teaching such things as will give
our boys a knowledge of their surround
| ings and create in them a respect and
| love for the same kind of work done by
their fathers, only in a better and more
scientific and of course a more profitable
| way. n.
"FORCE," ready serve, ready-tO-di-
| gest, delightful food, brings the independent
| strength that comes Of health.