The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-03-19

pplliISS GIN hN'Nh''h AS'"iA !
without my approval.
The veto power should be uset
with the utmost caution, and thel
only after due deliberation, and wer,
I not moved by a profound sense o
duty, | should spare myself the re
greet which grows out Of a disagree
ment with both houses of the STATE
legislature. The amount of money
involved in this measure is of trifl'
ing importance-the principal is all
If | thought the character OF educa'
ton for the negroes Of Mississippi
for which this school is intended.
would produce beneficial results,
should most earnestly insist that the
sum Of money proposed to be appro-
priated for that purpose be increased
an hundred fold. But it does not,
on the contrary, many years OF eX-
perience has demonstrated, that the
effect is pernicious, rather than help
full. 70 the unthinking sentimen-
tai vagarist, whose profound misin-
formation of the matter is marvel
Gus, or the reason-paralyzed sordid
materialist, who views the question
from afar off, the proposition to edu-
cate without regard to the character
of education) is accepted as a thing
from which good must unfaliingly
flow. Now, while the organic law
of the nation, ignoring all physical
facts and truths indicated by ex-
p"erience, makes no distinction be-
tween the white and black races,
but rather prohibits discrimination
that in 'no State shall deny to any
person within its jurisdiction pro-
lection of the law or "abridge any
right on account of race, color or
previous condition of seryitude."
yet there is nothing in these pro-
visions to prohibit the State from
providing the necessary means and
facilities for education, suited to the
peculiar inherent moral, mental and
physical qualities Of the negro. The
schools and methods of instruction
suited to the white race do not fit
the negro. Let hat fact be kept
petually before us. 1t will be re-
membered that the real negro in
America is but one step lin the life
Of a race removed from bondage of
barbarism and fetch worship. In
the land from which he springs indi-
ginous, his forefathers now live and
have lived, from the day when mans
first footprint was made on this
earth, in a condition Of mental and
moral darkness and in America
he has attained a degree Of
civilization, he is yet deficient abso-
Iutely in those moral qualities which
are necessary to form the substratum
upon which to build enduring
character. Men who have devoted
and honest thought to
The subject and fearlessly pursued
Investigation with a view of discov-
,ring the truth, have found some
curious things regarding negro
mentality. You may take a young
legro fresh from the jungles Of
and the readiness with which
le learns to read and write is re-
But it is all done like
he parrot, in imitation Of somebody
Use. Literary education--the
knowledge Of books-does not seem
. produce any good, substantial re-
ults with the negro, but serves
ather to sharpen his cunning,
,reeds hope chat cannot be full
lied, inspires aspirations that can
lot be gratifed, creates an i%nclina-
ion to avoid honest labor, promotes
Incidence, and in turn leads to
This is the true story Of the
life of the average negro, the cor
ectness Of which will hardly be
Questioned by an observant student
# the subject"
The community in which the
State Normal school is located,
will, if desired, furnish abundant
roof along that line. Mississippi
las been, and is, indeed kind to her
legro citizens. No people on earth
AVE ever had as much done for
by their government to which
hey have contributed 50 little of
material help, and moral worth, as
he negroes Of Mississippi. The
schools throughout the State
I'm for four months and in the