In our issue of last month, the article “North and South” stated that we have a common interest in the glory of our Revolution. This assertion finds confirmation in the fact that a Southern Centennial is now under process of arrangement. It is to occur on the 7th of October, 1880, at King’s Mountain, North Carolina, to commemorate the battle that was fought at that place Oct. 7, 1780. In July a meeting was held at that same mountain to make preparation. The States of Georgia and of North and South Carolina were represented. Three thousand people were present. Patriotic speeches were made. In these, and in the several resolutions adopted, as reported in the Atlanta Constitution, not one word was used in reflection upon the American Union. All the other States were invited to participate. Besides the States represented, those of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee were to be memorialized, through their Legislatures, to make such appropriations as would be necessary to the proper consummation of the celebration. The ladies of those several States were invited to co-operate. The committee of arrangements were to secure a collection of the historic relics of the battle ground and to apply for troops to illustrate the plan of the battle.
Secretary Powell has recently made an earnest plea in the Advance for printing-presses, greatly needed at Fisk, Straight and Tougaloo Universities. He says: “About $1,000 are needed for each press, with its accompaniments of type, rules and leads. But there is a firm in this city that for presses going into this work will discount fifty per cent. Only five hundred dollars, therefore, are needed for each press and accompaniments. And in what direction could five hundred dollars be better used for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom and the safety of the land?”
Incidental testimony from pure sources of high authority to the value of a work is often more gratifying to those engaged in it than purposed compliments. A recognition of its value before an outside audience is also of special importance. We are glad, therefore, to call attention to the fact that Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, in his recent political address at Worcester, referring to the interest of the Northern people in everything that would promote the true interests of the South, speaks of Captain Eads’ jetties, “making one long harbor of the Southern Mississippi,” as a great boon to its material prosperity, and points to “the magnificent work of the American Missionary Association” as in a higher sphere a source of sincere rejoicing to all good men of the North.
We notice, also, in the report of the Peabody Educational Fund, the following reference to our work: “Much good has been accomplished for the colored schools by the universities and other endowed institutions with normal departments maintained by different Christian denominations. One association has already sent out from its numerous institutions 5,267 teachers, by whom about 100,000 pupils have been instructed. A large proportion of the graduates of all these institutions become teachers.”
The following tribute to the Hampton Normal Institute is also paid by the Superintendent of Public Schools in South Carolina: “The agent of the Peabody Fund has placed at my disposal ten fifty-dollar scholarships in the Normal and Agricultural Institute, at Hampton, Va. A visit to the Institute, and observation of the manner in which it is conducted, convince me that it is doing exactly what it professes to do.”
Whether our work needs testimonials to its value or not, we are always glad to find such as these, which were not intended either for the ears of our teachers or officers, or even constituency. If we needed to be assured at all, such witnesses would give us deeper confidence than ever in its real need and real efficiency.