The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-29
Education of the Negro.

Editor of the Times-Dispatch:
Sir.-In your editorial May 18th, Instead
Of answering the question If we edu-
cate the negro out of being laborer
who Is. going to take his place" You
say I'VE ask him referring TO me- an
other question. IF the negro had never
been brought here, or If they should
now be removed. who would do the
work Of the white MANI" While this Is
a useless question as the negro is here,
and here to stay, and we had much bet
ter occupy our time and minds discussing
a condition that is upon us. in practi-i
cal way han theory that is only an
abstract question. of what we would DO
under circumstances that will never
arise: yet we will answer the question:.
II for no other reason than the hope that
our question so often asked and never
answered, may yet get an answer. We
answer that we would do as they now
do in all countries where there Is no
negro, as In the West, and that the
South would be thousand times better
off than she is now with this fearful IN
cubus upon her; for 1t is a notorious fact
that wherever the negroes congregata
there the white laborer is most efficient,
as the races will not work satisfactorily
together. But the negro Is here and we
have to do the best we can to avoid
conflict between the races, so that both
will be contented and happy. All good
citizens are In favor of working to this
end, no one wishes to be "cruel. unchrs-
tianlke or lnhuman to the negro. 1T IL
only a question Of what is best to- do
under the conditions that confront us.
The Times-Dispatch and Prof. Mitchell
wish t., keep on with the literary educa-
ton that has been tried for 40 years.
We say show US what good you have
done, what progress you have made IN
making christian or po.ler citizen OK
the negro, and we are willing to keep on
paying for this education, only show US
1t Is doing good, give us that encourage
ment even If you have TO deal 1t out
sparingly, 1t will stimulate us and cheer
us. We are looking at the practical re-t
suits, not at what we had hoped fAY
but at what the country has gained by
the effort. This altruistic Idea OF contin-
,llng this education because we Will feel
better, for having done what seemed our
duty is a poor consolation. There aru
yther methods of education besides the
literary one, which latter has proven a
failure for the negro. There Is danger
ahead, as Prof Mitchell says, and we
say it comes from putting false notions
into the negro's head. and Instead of
avoiding the danger you are only add
ing fresh fuel to the fire by continuing
IT. Already tho South Is waking UP to
Gov, Blanchard strikes the right tooth
when he says try IAN agricultural or In
dustrlal education" You, Mr., Editor. seem
to think that tho negro is deserving OF
better education than this, We contend
that the laborer who works on the farm
for wages is no more slave or servant
than he who tolls In the shops or mines.
Even Booker Washington, althoush no -
no criterion to go by, advises the negro
ITO stay on the farm, You call manual
labor a service which the negro should be
lifted out OF and that It is "oruel, I'M
christianlike and undemocratlc to con-
tinue him In 1t, We contend 1t IS more
so to educate him to think he CAT mako
a living without working for y. X IS
far better for him to mako an honest NV
Ing on the farm By his muscle than by
snatching pocket books in the cities. You
would give him yet more ofsthe poison
he has already had too much Of from