The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-07-20
In the Education Of the
Whole Race.
SAYS REV. R. F. LOWE
Christian Education Has Done Remark
ably in Spite Of Counter
Currents.

The Negro Question, which is per
haps the most important confronting the
United States today, was the subject Of a
sermon by Rev r. +. Lowe at the He'd
ding Methodist church yesterday morning.
After reviewing the situation briefly Rev.
Mr Lowe declared that the only solution
Of the problem lies in the Christian eduea-
tion Of the negro.
The speaker spoke Of the introduction
Of slavery in this country. How over $50
years ago two ships were making a west
erly course across the ocean, one taking a
more northerly course having as passen-
gers the early Puritan settlers Of New
England. and the other southermest one
carrying band Of twenty Negroes who
knew not where they were going nor for
what reason they were taken from their
homes.
From that time slavery began in this
country, aud the little band OF twenty Ne
groes has multiplied until now there are
over nine millions Of the race In the con-
fines Of the United States.
Then striking into this real subject matter
the speaker said there are three factors
which are prominent in the problem:
% The Negro problem is what it is be-
cause of the former unnatural relations be-
tween the whites and blacks, the latter
being IN a condition of servitude. After
emancipation the former slaves were ie-
gally given the same rights ais the white
people had Without qualification for yot-
ing ii was only natural the Negroes voting
should have proved failure in the South,
and ii was also natural that the former
educated white masters should have re-
belled at The idea of being ruled by these
ignorant blacks But however much we
may sympathize with the whites in their
position ii that matter we cannot justify
the means which many OF them took to
disfranchise the Negro. A man should
not be debarred from voting simply be-
cause he Ii q Negro. There should be only
one cause for that, ineffieiency
In the second place there is dispose
tion ITO pick upon the Negro, which is
partially accounted for on account of the
former relation. Rev. Mr.. Lowe then
spoke of the spirit Of lawlessness which
prevailed In some instances.
The third important factor is in the
traits Of character of the black race AL
though they have many good qualities they
also have many vicious ones, notably
slothfulness, Iazlness, vainness and lieen-
tiousness.
Then passing to the solution Of the
problem he said that it does not lie in
transportation Of the negro TO other lands
and not by lynehing, burning and mob
bing. We have no right to transport the
Negroes even If we had the facilities to do
so The proposition to give them an
island IN the Philippines is all moon
shine Again, you cannot stamp out one
evil by using another as bad, as the moral
reaction would be powerful
Christian education will solve the prob
lem, mean in the highest and broadest
sense. The United States gave the Negro
the legal right to vote, but 1t did not give
him the qualifications for that. We must
elevate the Negro.
In closing the speaker referred to the
enormous amount Of work that has been
put into negro education, and the vast re-
suits from it. At the close OF the civil
war scarcely black man could read OF
write. Now fifty per cent are able to do
so. To be sure there are ''eddies and
counter currents, but look for much
greater advance.