The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-28

houses ana lands. ncSc cuucHtcu g3 NO
groes have learned that tho ccntcr and
,11one, and 40, whether his homo Is away
or III the backwoods or on n busy city
Ethoroughfarc he Is quietly erecting his
fatnily altar, and from theso homes VIII
como q stronger and better generation
Such people are little seen and seldom
heard OF by tho whites, who arc being
constantly 1ostlcd by tho rude, tho bots.
terous and tho criminal classes that are
ever extensively present.
Is with moro Intelligent and moral
preachers better forms OF worship have
been adopted In nearly all ,di' cfurclics..
Any ono who visited IL negro church just
after tho civil war and compares The
present forms with those OF that period
cannot fall to SOC that there Is less Of
mere emotion and physical demonstrn-
ton and more of thoughtful attention by
tho people. lie will see, too TINT there
is moro OF good sense and general intel
3ligenco OH tho part OF the preacher. the
fact is that In many churches II YOU were were
to shut your eyes you would scarcely
know you were In negro house OF wor-
ship. 55
Immoral practices that werc counten-
aiccd then by preacher and people are
now tho cause OF splits In churches. and
bring the offender Into popular disfavor.
These arc the strongest evidences Of q
or tho moro intelligent to correct evils
\ that thoy know should not be countcn-1
3anccd In decent society. "a IA
81 These, 10 a. negro, are strongest proofs
that education has improved him. and y
think, Mr.. Editor, they Will comihend
themselves to your Judgment In inc eau
cation of tho negro greater results gu ght
not to be expected than In the education
OF any other race. Tho negro Is yet an
infant In civiliza ton; sOnc are more pre-
}cocious than others, but he masses are
being slowly developed and VIII I'M due
time MI tho place God has designed for
them Tie whole problem resolves itself
into an ethical one. rs II right to s =.
the man with black skin chance TO
develop himself for tho duties civilization
has imposed upon him.?
AT tho close OF the war In 1865 grave
doubts were expressed ms to the educa-
tonal possibilities OF the negro. Ihosc
who opposed his education held that ms
intellect was too feeble for him TO be
materially benefited by attempts 70 cdu.
cate him. Or. VIII. Tuffncr, first Super
Hintendcnt of Public instruction in3ltlie
State. one OF the tnoblcst and ablest men
the State has produced, pointed out that
this view was out OF harmony with tho
common sense OF mankind, SAID ne,
MEN are constantly engaged III training
and improving dogs. horses and all other
mails arc for service or amusement. lhey
are all rendered more valuable BY care,
f,il training. And whit Is agriculture ana
horticulture but education Of plants and
vegctables!n Said he further, All admit
practically the. value Of instruction Win
regard to the human beings about them.
The disposition to teach the Ignorant is
one which is always exhibited by all hui
man beings, and which Strengthens III
every man In proportion TO his culture re
Of mind and heart" 53 ..ift
But II any still doubt whether the ne
gro race has been improved by educn-
ton let him imagine Il he can what the
South would be to-day II. after the liber-
alton Of the slaves, no schools had been
opened ana no missionaries sent to curb
and restrain the hot blood OF the ncw
3c,..zen to whom liberty meant license and
freedom exemption from law. ldleness,
vice and crime. now entirely two prevail.
ent, would then have been the rule, and
ones life and property would nowhere
have been safe. For the South at least
civilization would have reverted to the
most horrible conditions OF the DARK
Ages