The Ocala evening star., 1915-02-11
ANOTHER NORTHERN WRITER
SHOWS HIS IGNORANCE

Our friends down South, being sure
that the negroes are inferior, deny
them advantages and provide inferior I
schools for negro children in order
and thus prove the correctness of the /
contention of the scientists and SEN
timentalists that the negro is inferior. (.
After all, there is nothing quite so
satisfying as the feeling that you
have got things fixed so that you will
always have an inferior race in your
midst.-Life.
The foregoing was sent the Star
with the implied request that it be
commented on and controverted.
What's the use? Life is a high
class publication, and it's views on ma
tional and international matters often
elicit the Stars approval. But about
the affairs of some of its fellow citi-
zens, it shows an ignorance and pre-
judice that is pitiful.
A few months ago, Life contained
letter from some misinformed person,
criticism, the United States in gen
eral and Florida in particular for
breaking the treaty with the Semi
noles of the Everglades.
Life's attention was called to the
fact that the Seminoles of Florida did
not have any treaty with the govern
ment, and it is to be supposed that
any man with sense enough to write
for publication of it's rank would
know that Florida or any other state
can't make treaties. But while Life
was ready to give space to criticism
of southern state, it had no space
for a well-informed writer who could
show that the criticism wasn't deserv-
ed.
So if some one was to call Lies at
tention to the fact that every south
ern state has public school system
for negroes as well as whites, and
that the said states pay more to edu-
cate the negroes than the negroes pay
in taxes, the correction would proba-
bly, be ignored. OF course, Life could
correct the statement itself merely by
referring to public documents that it
could easily obtain; but it is so much
easier to criticise than be just.
What's the use? The South has
worked its way from destitution in
spite of such criticism, and can now
afford to view it with Indifference. In
this work, the South has been eff
GENTLY aided by many thousands of
northern people, whose good opinion,
based on reliable information, is worth
having.
Ocala has big, up-to-date school
for colored children. Every precinct
, in the county has one or more schools
for the colored children. Nine-tenths
or more of the money for the support
of these schools comes out of the
pockets of the white taxpayers. Near
Ocala is an academy founded by q
northern philanthropist for the edu-
? cation of colored children and young
| men and women. 1t has not only the
!. goodwill of the white people, but
S financial assistance from the public
S school fund. No doubt that the prin-
r cipal of this school, who has otter
] testified his appreciation. of the white
t people of the county, knows more
about education in the South, maybt
in the Union, than the entire staff o.
n Life.
n The time has passed to feel ag
e grieved at such misstatements. 1t il
e more fitting to be amused to see ;
n journal of national reputation maxi
S such glaring mistakes.
n The Miami Herald, the Clearwate
e Sun, the st. Petersburg Independen
1, and several other leading Florida pa
d pers criticise Life's remark sharpl,
IS and produce evidence to show it i
n untrue. They also display some in
n dignation at the unfairness of Life
n statement. The Star is not indignant
It 1t is wearied and somewhat regretfu
y that a publication that it constantl
L reads and often admires makes sue
le untrue and prejudiced statement
without the investigation due to it
own standing and the sense of justic
e it should have for a large section @
m its own country.