negroes, because, wherever they turned them from the whites in every other to find employment, they rubbed way. This separation lessened their against the whites; where they had contact with the whites, and set them the very best opportunities that any back in a religious point of view, people so low down in the scale of because of the dense ignorance of those civilization ever had in the whole his- who assumed the office of preachers. tory of the world; where, on account But the prejudices between the two of the comparative smallness of their races, which were perhaps stronger on numbers, they had no appreciable the part of the negroes against the effect upon the multitude of superior whites than on the part of the whites white people; where the one negro against the negroes, are breaking down; child, elevated by constant contact in and I do not think it will be long until every-day life with white people, had a much better state of feeling will been educated with a multitude of exist between them. white children without any appreciable The negro's burden as a slave was deleterious effect upon them. These forced labor; to him, freedom and the teachers, with ideas about the negro ballot and education meant exemption formed by what they saw of him from manual labor, especially with under such circumstances, came south and expected to deal with him in the ame way th they had dealt with him north.

4

such teaching and treatment as I have alluded to. With all this history as slaves and as freemen and citizens, and with their ignorance, it could but be Many things have been done since expected that many of the negroes the War that have been damaging to would become more and more worthless the educational and religious interests as laborers, and that their children of the negro. The passions of the would be trained to avoid labor as the hour ran so high that we went to work curse of curses, and so be more worthless to advance him to a position far beyond than their parents. In proportion, howwhat he was prepared for. He was ever, as they have been properly educated given the ballot, of which he was not and have been led to see their condition worthy. He was taught that to be free as it is, and have learned that their he must leave his old master's premises, freedom is secure, and that the white if only to remove to an adjoining planta- people of the South mean to assist tion; that he must leave his old master's them to such degree of elevation as church and organize a church of his they may prove worthy of, they become own; that education was a panacea more contented. The state of feeling for all the ills of life; that he must toward the whites is continually growing have teachers and preachers of his own better. So, too, the white people are color; that the southern people would, more and more adapting themselves to if they could, put him back into the situation. More and more there is slavery. The color line was drawn in a settled conviction that not only are this way, and to a large extent it is the negroes citizens, and nere to stay, kept up yet. Because of prejudices but that they are best adapted to the growing out of their bondage, and development of, at least, the agriculbecause the southern people resisted giving them the ballot at the time it was done and in the way it was done, it was easy to align the negroes against the whites in politics, and to separate

tural possibilities of the South. With a judicious system of education, and with just such treatment as they may merit from time to time, they will improve and make valuable citizens.

In my judgment we must not only educationally and religiously, as well have separate schools for the colored as in a material point of view. In people, but also have separate churches; these particulars the same rule applies and these schools and churches must as in the whole animal and vegetable be taught and ministered to by colored economy-effort and exercise. The teachers and preachers so far as colored colored people can never be made to people will prepare themselves to fill stand alone unless they are encouraged these offices. This is so because both to depend upon their own efforts and races, as a whole, want it so, and resources. Mixed schools and mixed because the relative condition of the churches inevitably take away the races makes it a necessity. Any occupation of colored teachers and attempt at a general system of mixed colored preachers, and continue the schools and mixed churches would be colored people's dependence upon the a-signal failure. whites. There may be mixed schools.

The colored people really prefer to and mixed congregations presided over have their schools and churches separate by colored teachers and colored preachfrom those of the whites, and the ers, but, if so, I do not know where whites demand that their schools and they are. I do not mean to say that churches shall be separate from those the colored people are far enough of the colored people. This disposi- advanced educationally, morally, or tion of the races to separate from each religiously, to stand alone, and to other is explained by those who advo- make further progress in these particucate mixed schools and mixed churches lars without the assistance and guidby saying that at the bottom of the ance of the whites. Indeed I do not bewhole matter is race prejudice. Those lieve they are. I think it is evident now who advocate separation say that this that if all assistance by the whites and all disposition rests upon legitimate social contact with them were withdrawn, the instincts, and not upon race prejudice. colored people, in the aggregate, would Whatever is the true explanation, the go backward instead of forward. fact is hardly disputed by any intelli- One thing, however, is very much to gent person, and as a fact it must the negro's advantage: his faculty of govern our policy. The most intelli- imitation is very strongly developed. gent of the colored people know that He seems naturally to imitate his white the policy of mixed schools would neighbors and to follow their guidance, inevitably break down the whole, public especially when he is not controlled by school system of the South, and so prejudice. Therefore everything but deprive them of the educational oppor- principle should be conceded by the tunities which they now have at public whites in order to break down all expense. They know, too, that a prejudice. That done, the whites will policy of mixed schools means that have access to the colored people and white teachers, and not colored ones, will be able to guide them. Then would be employed, if such a policy good examples will be imitated and could be adopted without breaking good instruction will be heeded; then down the schools entirely. They will the whites be able more successfully know, too, that riixed churches mean to teach colored teachers and colored white ministers and not colored ones. preachers, and to gather colored chilIf the colored people are to make dren into Sunday schools and instruct progress they mi st, as far as practic- them in the principles of morality and able, be thrown upon their own efforts, the Christian religion,

But the colored people must be down by allowing freedom of action encouraged in every practicable way in all particulars where no wrong to help themselves. Just as a child, principle is involved. To accomplish when being taught to walk, does not this end, it is better to allow them. learn to walk, no matter how much its reasonably competent teachers of their mother may help it, until it puts forth own race, even if, for the time being, its own powers and tries to help itself; better qualified white teachers could just so must the colored people, weak be employed to serve them. After as they are, be led by the whites, but perfectly friendly relations are estabin such a way as to cause them to try-lished, and after the negroes see that it cause them to call into exercise all may be better for them to have white their powers. In accordance with this teachers, they will seek them then principle, I think it best for them to plenty will be found to serve them. have teachers and preachers of their I have said that there are signs of own color so long as they may want discouragement among the negroes, them. By pursuing this course the because freedom, the ballot, and educatwo races can, I believe, live in the tion have not brought the beneficial South together in peace, each helping results which they so confidently the other; and there will be some field expected. So, too, many of the white of intellectual work open to the negro. people are also discouraged. Out of In this country, where there are seven their poverty, the southern States are whites to one negro, with such a wide spending for the education of the difference between them in every way, negroes perhaps as much as five million it is not reasonable to suppose that dollars per annum, without satisfacthere can ever be any considerable field tory results. In this work both the for intellectual work for the negro southern negroes and the southern unless he finds it among his own whites deserve the encouragement of people. Without some opportunity to Congressional aid. But that question exercise his intellectual faculties he I do not propose to argue at length; it will soon be discouraged, and lose his seems to me to be a self-evident propappetite for education, and become a osition. It will encourage the negroes mere serf or peon. I think, therefore, as well as the whites, and it should be that so long as the negroes prefer given in such way as to allow a part teachers and preachers of their own to be used for building and furnishing race, they ought to be encouraged in school-houses. Comfortable and welltheir preference, provided colored persons will qualify themselves for the work; but there must be a rigid superintendence of all school work by the whites.

furnished houses are necessities, and of such the South is very sadly in need. The aid now proposed by Congress is confessedly mainly for the South, and I can see no good reason why it should From another standpoint I insist be limited to the payment of teachers' that this is the correct policy. The salaries. It should, by all means, be negro's prejudice against the whites of put into the school treasuries of the the South has been intense for two States, and be used in common with reasons: (1) because he was held in bondage of slavery, and (2) because in the days of reconstruction the whites resisted his being allowed to vote. These prejudices will sooner be broken

State funds for all school purposes. If Congress will consent to encourage the school workers of the South by extending this aid, let it be done in such a way as not to hamper them. If it were not

for the negroes, the southern States | While education in books, especially in would not need this aid and would not the fundamental branches of English, ask it, and if it were not for the negroes is, perhaps, of prime importance, no member of Congress would propose it.industrial education is of scarcely less It is due to the South in common fair- importance, and it is pressing for proper ness, and the people of the South have recognition in our systems. How and shown that they are in earnest in edu- to what extent it can be applied for cating the negroes and are worthy of the benefit of the negroes I cannot now it. discuss, more than to say that it is So far as the question of civil rights most highly probable that an unusually as distinguished from social privileges large proportion of them will always is concerned, that is fast working itself find their places on the farms, and out, and the less force applied to it the that therefore special efforts ought to better. It is no unusual thing now in be made to teach them the most the South to find negroes riding in improved methods of farming. Farm first-class cars with. the whites. I have life is itself a very fine industrial seen negroes in the political conven- school, and as the general farming tions of both political parties; I have interests of the South are improved the seen them serving with the whites as negroes will share largely in the benefits. jurymen in the trial of important causes. Recently, in a city of the South, at the dedication of a public school building, I saw white and colored aldermen seated on the same rostrum during the ceremonies. In all such intercourse proper conduct and qualifi- Let me sketch a bit of landscape cations can be made requisites. Indeed, before I begin to write, a bit with in all social and semi-social intercourse which I have been so charmed day the correct policy is to apply as little force as possible, and let people's likes and dislikes and the free spirit of our republican institutions control.

BESIDE THE GULF WITH
RUSKIN.

after day that I have not looked at anything else. The point of view is a high swell of sand thinly set with tall, slender pine trees, and our seat is a The white people of the South insist smooth, weather-beaten log. Behind rigidly upon but two things as to inter- us is a dense forest, stretching away course between the races: (1) That there shall be separate public schools for both races; and (2) that there shall be no inter-marriages between the races. The negroes, or rather the too sanguine friends of the negroes, who do not know them, will act wisely if they will make no contest on these two points. These are matters of public policy which the States have a right to control, and about which there is almost unanimity of sentiment.

for miles, a forest in which the blooms and tassels are beginning to show, albeit it is the second day of February. Before us, and but 150 yards away, shines the white beach and pale blue water of the Gulf of Mexico. There is a sound overhead, a strange moaning, made by the breeze in the pine-tops, and the rhythmic sea-boom seems to follow close to the ground at our feet. We can see the sky in violet streaks and fragments through the foliage, ana In this paper I have spoken of we can catch at times glimpses of education in a general way only, using stately ships standing far oiit along the the term in its broadest signification, horizon, apparently motionless, but in

such that we need no wraps, and yet are not too warm, and there is a Junelike balm felt with every breath we draw.

reality bowling along before a good all without much result, so far as breeze from lands of snow to lands of effecting their purposes is concerned. The temperature of the air is This is good mind-food, all this brilliant literature, suggestive, thoughtprovoking, soul-delighting; but the old world and the new world heed not its philosophy, flinch not under its Here is where my friend and I come goads, adopt not one suggestion it to lounge-to "loaf and invite our offers. A few read and are strangely souls." We have been reading Rus- affected; they feel a fertilizing element kin, too, or rather my friend has been flung into their minds, and they reading aloud to me, while I have lain wonder why all the world is not down in a most receptive mood, watching at Carlyle's, or Emerson's, or Ruskin's the ever fresh color-changes of the feet; and yet even these few do not go landscape. Ruskin describes clouds, much farther than mere receptivity but how could he ever find a phrase impels. The activities of life are, with which to picture a gulf-cap, as I indeed, little influenced by the great see it yonder in the far south-west, sus- abstract thinkers. This world is a pended between sea and sky? The material one, and, hate materialism fact is that here on the gulf coast I as we justly may, it is affected most by find some of the most delightful material forces. One sees this more weather and many of the most charm- plainly when one is at a distance from ing bits of scenery I have ever enjoyed. the world, shut up, so to speak, in the One could almost afford to have a sharp heart of nature, where one may be attack of inflammatory rheumatism in secure in peeping forth to watch order to get sent down here (for a month or two of convalescence) where The very pulse of the machine. one may lie on a log like an alligator and listen to the wind and the sea and Hence, reading Ruskin in the open the roaring pines, while an obliging air of the pine woods, with the blue friend sits buzzing and humming over Gulf of Mexico purring at your feet, is a volume of Ruskin like a bee over a quite different from perusing him in a flower. Few books will bear reading closely-curtained and overheated liin the open air, in the full, strong brary. While my friend was reading light of nature. Even Ruskin would yesterday, in the mellowest tones suffer under the test, but thanks to imaginable, and while I was watching Mr. William Sloane Kennedy, our a steamer trail a dim line of smoke book was a Ruskin Anthology, a yolume along the wavering horizon, lo! the of wisely-chosen flowers from the first mocking-bird song of the season daintiest nooks and corners of the came rippling forth from a neighboring great art-critic's thought-garden. thicket of wax-myrtle bushes. How apparent becomes the utter know these myrtles bear thick bunches isolation of a mind like Ruskin's when of fragrant, oily berries, from which one gets thoroughly apart with it and the people of this region formerly at a great distance from the clashing made wax for candles used by Catholics activities of worldly life! Emerson, in certain church and funeral formaliCarlyle, and Ruskin-three lonely ties. We forgot Ruskin in giving our spirits talking to mankind in the ears over to this fresh music bubbling language of seers and prophets, and from the well-spring of nature. Think

With an eye serene

You