Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-06-01

amajorisy, ! am glad to eay--haye
become so e::ss..Ppointed over educa-
tional results that they have almost
/ reached the point of despair. Itnpa-
tient in their desire to see larger re.
turns for we'll meant efforts and libe
raj appropriations, they have raised
the question as to the wisdom of a
radical change of pcaoy. / am sure,
however, that the facts do not justify
their honest fears.
INJUSTICE UNPRoFIrABLE.
! But what would be the effect of u
ipolicy of oppressionp Suppose we
close the thirty thousand negro
schools of the South What would
be the result2 Let DR.. Curry tell
us: Ignorance more dense, pauper.
ism more general and severe, crime,
superstition and immortality ram
pant" We would not survive such
a policy. The boasted strength of
our government institutions could
not endure the strain. We cannot
have democracy for one class of
our population and despotism for
the other. We cannot elevate and
subjugate at the same time. Aud,
above everything, let US be just. 1
am jealous for my people that they
be not amenable to the, charge of in
justice. We must keep our cove
nants. The utterance of distin-
guished political leader of my State
/ make my own:
"There is nothing 80 Improbable
as injustice. There is nothing which
will react with such deadly effect
upon the character of any people as
the practice of wrong aud oppression
upon the weak and helpless. The
denial of opportunities for education
to the negro can be justified upon no
good grounds. 1t ignores the teach
ings of Jesus. 1t is contrary to the
genius and spirit of Christianity. 1t
proposes solution of the problem
which is at variance with the funda.
mentals of our religion. Nothing
could ever justify it, even to our
consciences."
| UTTERANCES OF LAMAR.
And that view is held by the great
est leaders of the South. No man
who ever represented my native
State of Mississippi in the highest
councils of the naUion more correctly
interpreted her truest thought on all
great issues than did Lucius q. G..
Lamar. And no man among US ever
had more enthusiastic following.
His great deliverances became the
accepted doct ines of his people. A
profound political philosopher who
never contented himself with sur
face view of any subject, and who
had unconcealed contempt for mere
partisan harangue. He gave to
every question which concerned the
welfare of the State and nation the
sincerest and most patriotic conside-
ration.
When measure was pending in
the Senate, proposing national aid to
education, Mississippi's distinguished
Senator gave expression to matured
views that commanded the applause
of the entire State. A few sentences
from that great speech may be re-
produced with profit. Northern
Senators had intimated lack of con-
| fidence in the State educational
authorities to distribute the fund
equitably and suggested amendments
to the bill. Senator Lamar said
THE SPOKEN WORDS.
81 say with entire confidence that
this distrust is not deserved that
Senators are mistaken as to the state
of feeling in the South with reference
to the education of the negro. The
people of the South find that the
most precious interests of their So
ciety and civilization are bound up
in the question of his education-of
his education out of his present
state of barbarism. | shall enter
into no argument upon that subject.
| | intended to read some authorities
upon it, but my friend from South
Carolina (Mr. Hampton has antici.
pated me.".
After quoting DR.. Mayo, Prof.
Smart, and other Northern educators,
who had been South and had APP
plauded the heroic effort of the
Southern people to educate both
races alike, Senator Lamar further
said:
"The problem of race, in large
part, is a problem of illiteracy. Most
of the evils, most of the difficulties,
which have grown up out of that
problem, have arisen from a condi-
tion of Ignorance, prejudice and
superstition. Remove these, and
the simple elements of the question
| will come into play with more en-
lightened understanding, and more
tolerant disposition. l will go with
those who will go furthest into this
| matter"
VOICE OF DIR. CURRY.
In educational craftsmanship, no
voice has been more potential in
America during the past quarter of a
century than that peerless Southern
leader, the late DR.. j. L. M. Curry.
The echoes of his marvellously musi-
cal voice will continue to thrill the
hearts of American patriotism like
the inspiring notes of bugle. Alas !!
That he is not conspicuous figure
in this convention tonight. In a
mastery address before the Consti-
tutional Convention of Louisiana, a
few years ago, he spoke these grandly
eloquent words:
"The negroes, unlike alien emil
grants, are here not of their own
choosing, and their civil and political
equality is the outcome our subju-
CATION. Neither their presence nor
their civil equality is likely to be
changed in our day. The negroes
will remain constituent portion of
the Snntharn n0nnlaca and of nifi