The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-12-27
Some Peculiar Opinions.

Inc SOutuGTu dOHifSISiIy, LOu1oi-
ana's college for the education of the
states negro youth, is practically
without a home The last session of
the legislature provided for the sale
of the buildings and grounds in New
Orleans for the purpose of moving
the institution to more central
portion of the state, where a sufficl-
ent amount of land could be secured
TO make the institution an industrial
and agricultural college as well as
one of education. Several pieces
of property Were looked over by
those in charge of the location of
the college, but up to the present no
definite step has been taken to To-
cate it. One was available near New
Iberia, and the state board of educa-
ton came near closing the deal, but
opposition developed and it was aban-
doned. Then another site was Of
fered in Ascension parish, which was
approved by various civic bodies, in
ell Of DonaldsonVille, the board of
trade and others, but some adjacent
proprietors objected to the school
being located there, and that, too,
was the cause Of anothers delay, and
the school remains without loca-
ton.
It is indeed strange that prejudice
can come in and smothersthe better
judgment of people. The Howe In
stitute, at New Iberia, endowed for
the education of negro girls, is not
part of that community, except in a
business way; the Gilbert college at
Baldwin is not disturbing element
of that village, but adds materially
to the business interests Of that sec
ton: the present location Of the uni
versity in New Orleans does not fig
ure in the criminal records of that
city, but it is known for its peace
and quiet. Then why should not
other sections besides the Well-bal.
anced citizenship of Ascension pro-
vide for the industrial and agricul-
tural well being of the darkey by
opening the way for the consumma-
ton of this purpose. Land is what is
wanted for the purpose of teaching
them scientific agriculture and indus
try, and the department of educa-,
ton, composed entirely of white men,
are endeavoring to buy enough to
carry on the work, and still the task
seems to be a hard one.
The editor of the Watehman is
not a long-haired shouter from New
England, or disciple Of Harriet
Beecher Stowe, who wastes time re-
citing the sadness and sorrow of the
negro, and at the same time provide
the means to continue making him
a. charge upon the community in
which he may live, by depriying him
of the opportunity to work and make
a living for himself. We are ma
tive of this same community and the
son of a Confederate soldier, who
served throughout the war, and
were il not for the fact that this
writer was a baby then, We would
have been there too.
But this blarney about negro DOM
nation is a ghost story now. He
is not part of the citizenship of this
fairs, and his only privilege is to-
work on plantation, around the
sawmill, pay taxes and go to the pen
,itentlary. The location of the Soutn-
ern University would not be a menace
to- any community, but rather an i'm
provement in its business interests
by the creation of some wealth by
industry. White men would admins
ter its affairs and provide the dis
cipline, which each occupant must
obey, and we have faith in their
ability to make it strong to compel
each to stay On the job.
The darkey is in this country and
he is going to stay here; he is part
Of its wealth producing capacity, and
to enlarge the era of his usefulness
is humane duty from a personal
standpoint and a public obligation
the white people owe to themselves
Franklin Watchman.