The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-12
Superintendent Barksdale on Negro
Education

Editor Of The Times Dispatch:
Sir.-'The time has come when we must
teach that II education is good for one
II is good for all. II the negro can be-
come honest, Industrious and respectful BILE
without 1t, he must by all odds be a being
OF higher order than his brother in white"
Superintendent Thomas E. Barksdale,
Halifax county. Va.
The above extract. taken from the Vir-
gina School Journal. should, under ordi-
nary circumstances, be passed over. az
few indeed are the men who gay much
that may not say under impulse and en-
thusiasm what is best unsaid and I am
would be no less willing than to ac-
cept the conclusion of his logic. But in
asmuch as the School Journal, with more
deliberation seems to have fathered the
sentiment in having accepted 1t without
comment, 1t should not be permitted to
go unchallenged as a doctrine pernicious
In its consequences on the affairs OF men.
III fact, too much legislation Is based
upon the principle OF brotherhood and con-
scQuent equality as between the whites
and negroes-a principle which, upon In
vestlgatlon, may prove sickly sentiment
tally. to say the least, both doubtful and
questionable Yet the question OF superb
GRITTY as between the negro and white
man seems to be one OF easy solution by
This new criterion set up by Mr., Barks-
dale. Notwithstanding the preconceiyed
Ideas on the subject entertained by some
of us: Notwithstanding the magnificent
civilization erected by the whites In all
ages from the foundation of the world
For If 1t can be shown that the negro has
ever become honest, Industrious and re-
spectacle without education, without hes
tation the palm Of superiority as n higher
order of creation should be accorded him.
There can be no difference OF opinion
among men now living who have had OPP
nortun!ties for observation that the negro
during the days Of slavery did absolutely
without education become honest indus
trious and respectable, and that he did re-
ceive the kindly respect of the whites in
Il marked degree. 1t must also be gem
orally conceded by all who have given the
subject any consideration that the very
best element of negroes now living largely
consists of the remnant Of eX-slaves still
among us, and still entitled, absolutely
without education, TO our respect and iIr
very many cases are recipients of our
loving care.
Now, Mr.. l3arksdales position may be
reduced to this indisputable logical Sc
quence, If the negro can become honest.
Industrious and respectable without edu-
cation, he must be being Of higher order
than his brother In white He has be-
come honest, industrious and respectable
without education Therefore, he is SUI
pGrlor Order OF DelTB. but this superior
order of being for the last generation of
time has had generously divided with
him educational privileges made possible
by the burden of taxation resting almost
solely upon the whites. This division has
been so rigidly ard faithfully executed by
the whites, as has been eylnced by the
rldlculously short school terms of many
of the Southern States and many OF the
counties OF Virginia. that a retrograde
of their own people is threatened (ad-
hitting the paramount Importance of ed !
ucaton In all relations of life that Mr.. |
Rarksdae seems to attach to IT.. Yet |
whilst this superior order of beings have
participated In such privileges more freely |
even than the whites they have become
a source Of vexation disturbance and
danger, as shown by almost daily pub
ltshed occurrences of fendlsh criminal
assaults. 1t cannot be denied that educa-
ton is a. great and important factor IN
human achievement No intuition Is
quicker than that of the white man to
appropriate, appreciate and utilize It, and
the whites, Notwithstanding compulsory
division of privilege OF acquiring It, have |
placed the South in the vanguard of pro-
gress, leading other sections OF our COM
mon country from standpoint percentage