Year: 1865

spectacle is "domoralizing" thcm hopefully.
Sometimes We may have secret doubts OF IT,
but perhaps, if we could see the end from the
beginning we would say that everything hap
pens for the best Certainly, in order that we
might remain united people it was necessary
that the old South should be reduced to It's
original elements.


1t may be said that if the war has done so
much for the poor whites, why is there the ISL
lessncss and apathy of which we have COM
planned! We believe that it is mainly because the
poor whites have not been accustomed to inde-
pendent political action and do not know how to
20 about it. They have no leadcrS-lor tae ola
ruling class absorbed or exiled all the talents;
and those men who would naturally aspire to
represent the poor whites are not yet sure how
the political ohess-board stands. In other
words, they are on the fence, and do not know
on which side of it the Federal loaves and iisnes
will be stored


II will not be possible for the Freedmen,'s Aid
Societies to educate the poor whites eTen
they were disposed to do so, because the exist
ing prejudices Of the people would prevent them
from working harmonioGsly with both classes.
They would be obliged to neglect one or the
other. 1t has been proposed 10 establish a
National Bureau which shall supcrntend the
educational interests Of the nation. The South
made nothing of the National Government, and
now there is a disposition to make everything
of if. Buckle mas demonstrated By the records
of other countries that the less government
does for a science the better for it; and our own
national into ference with the science OF agri-
culture-as one Observation-Disclosures not show
that we have improved on the method OF
Europe The English historian says that
the right men seldom get the offices or
the rewards; and that when they do, this pro-
tcctive spirit" rs ne calls it. proStraies indlvid
ual enterprise and ends in the downfall ol the
interest it was designed to foster. Any attempt
to "run the schools" by the nation would re-
suit in fierce scctarian contests and put back
the cause. By these and other qaaTes, for
quarter of a century. Already We see speckS
of this danger in the management Of the Freed
mems Aid Societies; and If it sometimes shows
its head in voluntary organizations it would in
cvitably leap, armed oGP-d-Pie, into national
Bureau Of Education.


Our suggestion Is that voluntary associations
be formed ior the secular education of the poor
whites, and that at the same time. lecturers
be sent among them to explain the true char
acter of our Government, is origin and his
tory. the Lcrasy Of State Sovereignty in its
Southern Interpretation, and the various ques-
tions of living interest which now divide, or
will soon divide, the great political parties.
Hitherto, the poor whites have never heard
other than the Southern version OF all our CON


troyersics, and hence came alterations which
can only be permanently overcome by the ut
most diligence on our part now. Let this plan


be tried in the meantime, and, when the South
crn Constitutions are submitted to Congress, it
may be pertinent then 10 discuss and decide


whether any State shall have the " reserved
right" to neglect the education of any portion
OF its people.