The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-09
FOILED.

ment to bear. For instance, the popu- lation of Mississippi and Louisiana combined exceeds that Of Adssdchu- sets by only 100000 and there are 10.- 00O schools in the two Southern States and only 4.50O schools in Massachu- setts. Besides. in the two Southern states the cost of their maintenance falls upon less than one-half the popu- times heavier than in the Northern states. Take this s.n connection with the fact that the taxable values of Louisiana and Mississippi together are but $52o,00O.000 while those of MasSa- chusetts are $3.9Sr,0O0.0O0, We again have clear idea uI existing con- ditions. In Louisiana and Mississippi with a combined population of 2.932.- 900 there are 1,1Il,0Q0 children of school age. In Massachusetts with a population of 2,S05,000 there are but 77S,000 children of school age, or near ly 100000 less than in the two Southern values in the Southern States are about $50O,00O,000 and those of Massachu- setts abut s400,000. 900, the whites of the two Southern States have 30 per cent. more children to educate, and only one-eighth as much wealth with which to do 1t. Tn Louisiana and Mis- sissippi the negro children of school age exceed the number of white chill fser tsere ey Ts SUe W m chSnUn school ar~ and only 5000 negro chill dren. So while the negro forms but 1 per cent. of the school population of the Northern States they are 55 per cent, of the school population of the two Southern States. I give approxi- mate figures in all estimates. There fore. to summarize. we have:
 CD Fifty per cent. more children to
 f2) Double the number of schools to maintain.
 e. Only one-eieht as much money with which to do 1t.
 (4D The burden of taxation falls up on less than one-half the population.
 The negro loves the South. He knows that its prosperity must ever be coincident with and q part of his own prosperity and its misfortunes d never ending reflections of his own He can never be satisfied with the thought of expatriation for all that is most precious to him lies clustered here. It's people are humane and sym pathetic as well as brave and patriotic. and in all the South there is not a single worthy man or woman of my race but that reckOnS some one or moro persons of the white race as among their constant. most trusted friends. They have helped us to rear our chill dren, to care for the sick, and to bury the dead. They have aided In the erection of schools and churches for our race. They have encouraged us to build up homes and to acquire proper ". They are thus all inspiration to my people and will be to our children that are to come.
 The negro of the south, who Is capa- ble of a second thought-and his tribe is sing-chertshes no vision of a future when the bottom rail will be on ton." It is not political domina- tion he aspires to but rather such par ticlpation in the national life as may accord with his own capacities and abilities and rebound to the general welfare as well as to his own improve ment.
 Ethnologically speaking. a few cen turies is but a short time and the negro a patient race and somehow in spite of temporary dfSc0uragements, he has deep-seated conviction that this great republic will be too strong 10 feel the need and too magnarimous to cherish the disposition to do3real and permanent injustice to the numblest black citizen. And if patriotic Ameri- cans of affluence will aid us, the com ing centuries will witness a solution of the negro problem winch shall involve no detriment to the white man and no injustice or inhumanity to the black
 Edwerd L. Rlackshear. Principal Prairie View State Normal
 Praire View, Tex. July 10.
 "Estimates based on Census Report .
 1900
 To The Editor of The Advertiser, Sir:
 These words of an educated and in- telligent negro will l hope reach every newspaper nan of the South, lover of his native land.
 Mre Pa