The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-21
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"A lGOD-GIVEN BURDEN.

b 4 I'm asked the question; "Do you think
that education helps the negro to be u
better citlzcn?" For years 4 have given
the matter considerable thought, and
;haye watched tho progress 81 the negro
with no little pnxiety. We believe and
act upon the belief that education Is d g
good thing for tho other races Of man
kind. however XXI ignorant. superstitious
and degraded they may bc. Education
certainly has Ind mucilto do In bringing
ntout. within n few decades. tho wonder
sfu change In the social and political
life OF Japan, and what 1t has done for i
japan II Will also do for China and isles &
of the Sea. We do not decline to send
the religious teacher to dark and DEGRADE
ctl races because thoy learn very slowly.
or because they fierccly nntagonize those
sent to labor In their behalf. cannot.
for u moment, believe that education,
which has done 30 much onfessedly$
for the other races will mot, at a least
ia some good degree. elevate tho negro
and TIT him FOR citizenship, or to become
q useful member Of the body polite. s
admit that the hest OF us 4 sometimes
become discouraged because the progress
of the negro has been so slow. Indeed,
In SOME respects he seems to have made 4
little or no progress.
But we are not far enough removed
from the great changes brought about
sby tho Civil War to form a very posi-
tive and definite conclusion as to the
effects OF education OH the race We Z
arc very prone to maEnify the eyiis
that accompany great social and poll
lSucal changes Luther In hours OF de-
precision thought that tho reformation
had III part failed and that the morals
and conduct of the people n d not been
Improved. Burke. the ardent friend ana
e.nnurnt advocate OF liberty and human
progress, was appalled, at tse violence
end scxcesses OF the French revolu lion 4
md turned fIercely against 1t. But these
changes which were followed BY great
and serious evils conferred ys5lnestlmaple
blessings upon the human ra ce.5 we WHO
live In the South have ielt Keenlyt a anu
have suffered greatly from tho evils
which were brought upon us BY the
VA r and by tho enfranchiserient oe6the
| negro And because orr efforts for The
race have not accomplished al tina q
| nc desired we are very much incline1
| to I'LL the present with lamentations ana
Tho future with fo.ebodings OF disaster.
A liberal education, says Bacon, fits ~
man TO perform we'll all the duties OK
life. both public ard private. Consider
ling the present condition OF the negro.
and the social and Industrial reeds OF
tho South, should restrict his educa-
ton largely to those branches Wh'cn
gwc,ild lit, him to fiji his proper @
dcstlned place among us.3s The negro Is
nv nature something oe an artisan. anu
manual training would make him. I;
| think, far more useful and profita pie
\ citizen. The Soutls great need. per
/ haps its supreme need economically. il
| skilled labor II we are ever to become
/ rich and prosperous, We must have IN
| our factories and@on our farms thor-
sougtlv trained laborers. think, now
| ever, that we should provide at the samd
/ time facilities for more liberal LEARNING
/ nt'Ieast for some Of the race who ara
j 4, become the religious teachers, eouch-
| tors and leaders or their people ! am
sure that institutions that have been es-
| tnblished and conducted by such men as
Drs, Taft. Corey, Hovey. MacVicar and
others in the South. whom I might name,
i rnve had the very finest Influence In pre-
i ma ring men and women to discharge well
i the duties OF private and public Ire. IN
the elevation and education OF Inc ne-
j gro race we have undertak Ken = great
| and perplexng task, but let us not shrlile
i from 1t because OF Its difficulties.
II repeat that We are apt to got dis
oouragcd and to give UP the task that
Divine Providence has thrust upon us.
/ Let us remember that ono Increasing
A purpose runs through the whole course
i or&human events. God manifestly means
4 through tho gospel and education to up-
lift and redeem the fallen races of men
4 from Ignorance, superstition and SIN.
Perhaps, serious difficulties confront Him
4 In the accomplishment OF this stupendous
task, but He will not fail nor be dis
coura ged until He hath set Judgment in
the Garth. Tho isles are waiting for
4 His law. 535