New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-07-03
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
PRAISES MR.. GARDENERS SPEECH.
Believes Regent Has Told Best Way of Set
ting the Negro Problem.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The object OF this writing is to notice the
remarkable speech in your paper OF to-day deliv-
cred by Charles A Gardiner at the Couvocation Of
Regents in Albany on the 18th inst Himself Re
gent, he felt presumably, it imposed duty TO
give his associates and the public a constitutional
solution OF the negro problem. I say remarkable
speech, using the adjective its full-remarkable
LOT us extended research, for its augmentation,
FOR its lack Of sophistry for the earnestness which
pervades it and the exhaustiveness Of the subject
for his heroic attempt to blaze a broad constitu-
uonaI educational path as he fifty says. II is
most valuable contribution to the political liter
AZURE OF to-day, a statesnanlike effort
MI Gardiner has the peculiar faculty, not pos
sessed by all public speakers Of saying some thing
when he speaks; from hearing or reading his
speeches learns something; in fact. a great deal
they are always erudite productions. His style.
while ornate. is plain he who runs may read
and understand; his logic is Irresistible. he bases
his contention upon citations TO enforce his
ment, and furnishes statistical information which
to many is entirely new His facts are so arranged
that their truth carries conviction to the intelligent
mind. When he advances the proposition that the
nation has the constitutional power and q duty 70
perform in educating the negro. he plants him
self on a high plane where he feels perfectly at
home He says in effect as did Terence. the slave,
in words which will ever live: Il am man, and
whatever affects humanity affects me-
The negro is ignorant How could he be other
wise? In days gone the law in the South made it
crime to teach him. Education was thought 10
be dangerous then; II Is to be regretted, many
now think There is an uncomfortable amount Of
ignorance among the whites, notwithstanding
school opportunities With the same educational
environments II is safe TO say the negroes will be
quite intelligent as the whites What incentive
now has a negro in the South to seek education
aspire to a exalted position than newer Of
wood drawer Of water? All avenues 70 a better
condition are practically closed 10 him He is
outcast and an outcast must remain
We hold up our hands. and rightly too, IN horror
because Of oppression of the Jew in Russia but
the same racial feeling which makes the Jew to be
hated there makes the negro object OF hellish
hatred in the South. Before accusing Russia let
our own skirts De clean II is true the negroes In
the South are low. debased, degraded-a natural
sequence Of long years Of most abject slavery;
immoral. but OF this little said while they
were chattels before being made free.
The plea for the education OF the negro by the
nation is strongly, eloGuently put by Mr. Gardiner
II does credit to his head and heart The saIutary
effect Of his proposed national education cannot be
fully appreciated now, but generations yet unborn
Will rise UP and call those blessed WAC to-day take
welfare OF the nation hangs upon it, and the evils
Of the future be avoided BY timely recognition
OF the I4Shls OF the negro anu the 1uA uttS "
him. If when the amendments 70 the CONSTITUTION
were adopted, the negro being freed and created a
citizen the proposed plan had been carried out,
the beneficial effect would now be apparent The
promptly what should have been done forty years
ago.
1t is 10 be feared however his phIanthropic
scheme will not receive hearty or general inoorse-
ment south of Mason and Dtxon's line
Mr.. Gardeners mastery dissertation, pertinent
70 the occasion, comprehensive in scope logically
utterances will meet with sympathy and approval
from all with hurnanitarian views. nor can ne
half Of the uncared for wards Of the nation c.
NeW-York, June 80, 1908