It would have been vastly cheaper, we can now see, for this nation to have paid every dollar of the money valuation of the slaves, and set them free before the war; it would have been better still had the iniquity been stamped out at the very formation of the Government, and this because right demanded it. But unfortunately, the standard of our national legislation has been expediency, not right, and under this cover slavery unwisely admitted within the defenses of our constitution, has proved to be the Trojan horse whence has issued so large a part of our national woes. And now, shall we heed the lesson this dearly bought experience teaches? The negro problem is by no means yet solved. There are questions pertaining to his social and political rights not yet answered. Let this nation try to answer them on any other ground than a full recognition of the negro’s rights as a man, and it will again come into controversy with Jehovah, and again be called sooner or later to pay the penalty of disobedience, dollar for dollar, blood for blood, over and over and over again. It pays for the nation to do right every time, and it does not pay for it to do anything else. Having made these people free, justice and self-interest say “educate them,” and it will prove as a matter of mere economy, far cheaper to do this now than to meet the bills that by and by must be paid in blood and money when God shall take the matter in hand to fill out the equation.
THE FREEDMEN.
REV. JOS. E. ROY, D.D.,
FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EDUCATIONAL WORK.
* * * * We note with pleasure the growing interest in our schools, and approval of them, by the best people of the South and the public men of the North; the recent erection of a fine building for Tillotson Institute, at Austin, Texas; the munificent gift of $150,000 by Mrs. Valeria G. Stone, to be expended in putting up additional buildings, greatly needed for institutions which have outgrown their present accommodations; the recent acceptance by Christian workers of high standing and rare fitness, of positions in our Southern field; the successful development of industrial methods in many of our best schools, notably at Hampton, Tougaloo, and Memphis; the influence of our institutions on the colored people, as seen in their interest in education, their willingness to endure self-denial as teachers, their hopeful, dispassionate and sensible utterances on their prospects and duties, and their courageous self-support; and once again, and most of all, do we note rejoicingly the prevailing religious sentiment that fills our schools and the colored communities which they reach, with its deep, quiet, but melodious undertone. Surely there is reason, in all these considerations, for profound thankfulness to God.
We are impressed with the call in the Secretary’s Annual Report for enlargement. With the added facilities now providentially given and soon to be enjoyed, in the shape of new buildings at Austin, New Orleans, Nashville, Tougaloo, and Atlanta, there is a necessity for larger contributions for the education of the increased numbers to be accommodated. Similar facilities are loudly called for by the growth of schools at other points, and the Report suggests the need of new schools in Kansas and Arkansas. We cannot forget that the second grade of education will not be complete till these institutions are properly endowed, and the students, coming out of poverty-stricken homes, receive annually, either from scholarships or personal gifts, the small sums necessary to supplement their own earnings, and so to make their education possible.
Especially do we recognize the need at this juncture, of more efficient theological training. Our church work cannot prosper unless educated colored men are raised up to act as missionaries and pastors. The theological training now given, is, from the want of proper facilities,—with the exception, perhaps, of the work at Howard University, where the Presbyterians share in the support of the department,—of the most meagre and unsatisfactory character. We greatly wish that some large-hearted Christian givers might find it their privilege suitably to endow the theological schools already existing, that they might become, in all respects, for the colored students of the South, what Andover, Chicago and other similar schools are for the white students of the North.