Part 2

3. Dr. Tucker says nothing of importance has been accomplished by Northern benevolence for the colored people, except to make them worse—to “build strongholds for the devil in disguise,” to “build up the kingdom of evil.” Now all this, in which his speech abounds, I repudiate as false and slanderous. In the course of forty years I have seen a good deal of mission work, of one kind and another, at home and abroad, and under the auspices of almost every society in the world. I have also seen the work of the American Missionary Association among the Freedmen; and, as the result of all, I am free to say, I believe Dr. Tucker may go the world over, time through, ransack all history, and not be able to point to a time or place where mission work and money have done more, in proportion to the means employed, than has been done by this Association among the colored people since their emancipation, two decades since.

4. Dr. Tucker alleges that Northern missionaries are incompetent, “don’t know what they are about,” or “how to reach the colored people,” or “how to deal with them,” “barely know a Negro when they see him.” Well, I am told there are some white people in the South, who, themselves “don’t know a Negro when they see him,” in some cases only as they trace his genealogy and find out who his mother was. But how should Dr. Tucker, himself, be able to know all about this matter, how to reach the colored people, how to lift them up, how to heal them, better than other men of Northern birth?

5. The counterpart of the above charge is, that the Southern whites are the “only ones” who know how to do good mission work for the colored race, and that we of the North must put all our money into their “control.” But what have they ever done to prove such special fitness to inspire the Negro with confidence in their teaching and treatment, to prove their own faith in his capacity for a high order of improvement, to encourage us to put “every dollar” of our mission money into their hands? Why, after they had had the black man in their own special teaching and treatment for more than two centuries, utterly dissevered from pagan Africa, all plastic, docile and confined, as he was, to their exclusive training, has his original heathenism been so little improved as to leave the Negro no better than Dr. Tucker represents him to be. And even now, what great effort have they made for his improvement in the two decades that have passed since his emancipation?

Another mistake I find in Dr. Tucker’s speech, the greatest and most fatal of all, and the last I will notice, is his color line “plan” for all educational and religious work in the South—a school and a church on this side of the street for the whites, a school and a church on that side for the blacks—a double system, with, as he says, “double the expense.” But neither a system such as that, nor the spirit that desires or prompts it, will have any place on earth when the gospel of Christ gets a proper ascendency in the hearts and lives of men.

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WE have issued Pamphlet No. 8, on _The Reflex Influence of the Work of the American Missionary Association_, an address delivered in Tremont Temple by Rev. S. L. Blake, D.D., Fitchburg, Mass., a quotation from which will be found elsewhere. Copies of this Pamphlet will be supplied gratuitously on application, to those wishing them for distribution.

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A HYMN BOOK FOR OUR CHURCHES.

It is the “Manual of Praise,” published by E. J. Goodrich, Oberlin, Ohio, compiled by the lamented Rev. Dr. Hiram Mead and J. B. Rice. It has the cream of our hymnology, the worshipful, endeared hymns to the number of six hundred. It has the wearing pieces of Moody & Sankey. Compiled not by an ambitious amateur in musical composition, it does not seek to force upon the churches a great batch of new and unproven tunes. It was evidently put together for practical purposes, and is small enough to go into a side or hip pocket, a “multum in parvo.” It is cheap, coming by the dozen, for introduction, so as not to cost over sixty cents a copy. It is suited to all occasions. It has a logical arrangement, which will be of constant advantage in the use of it, though those who have it may not know just how the logic comes in, even as the perfection of the art of elocution is to conceal the art. Where it has been used in our institutions and schools, it has been much approved. It is certainly a desideratum for our new churches in the South and in the West.

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A LIFE NOT TOO LONG.

One of our regular contributors, in transmitting his donation to our treasury, accompanies his gift with the following cheering words: “Through the goodness, mercy and truth which has not been taken away from one highly undeserving, I am again permitted the privilege of herewith inclosing a draft to your order for the general use of the A. M. A., for $1,000. Whether now in my eightieth year, I shall be permitted to repeat the pleasant offerings, I know not. Shall I note the fact that coming from no large store, I cannot see that they diminish it?”

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BENEFACTIONS.

Mr. Robert L. Stuart has pledged $150,000 to Princeton College.

Lincoln University is to receive $10,000 from the estate of the late David B. Small, of York, Pa.

Gen. A. G. P. Dodge has contributed $3,000 to be used in building an academy at Jackson, Ky.

The late William Ward of Brixton Hill left $100,000 to the Corporation of London for the establishment and maintenance of a high school for girls.

Mr. C. F. McCay, formerly a professor in the University of Georgia, has given that institution $20,000 in Georgia Railroad 6-per-cent bonds.

Sarah A. and Emily B. Sumner, of Albany, N.Y., have given $2,500 each for an endowment fund for Rutgers College.

The Northwestern University at Evanston has received $25,000 from ex-Gov. Evans of Colorado.

Ex President Wright, of the Northern Pacific Railroad, has given $100,000 for the establishment of a boys’ and girls’ college at Tacoma, W.T.

Carlton College, Northfield, Minn., has recently received $12,000 from Edward H. Williams, Esq., of Philadelphia, for Williams Hall, built in memory of his only son.

Mrs. Lucy E. Tuttle, of Guilford, Conn., has given $10,000 to the Olivet College Library Fund as a memorial of her gifted son, Willie Sage Tuttle.

Buchtel College, Akron, Ohio, has received $25,000 from Mrs. Lydia Messenger, making $56,000 in all donated by her for the benefit of the institution.

_Christian intelligence is the most potent agency for obliterating the barbarism of caste prejudice; and the endowment of schools for those who suffer from it, the most safe and certain means for its overthrow._

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GENERAL NOTES.

AFRICA.

—The French Romanists have abandoned the country of Uganda.

—It is reported that King Leopold II. of Belgium, with no selfish or personal object, with no view of gaining territory or commercial profits, and with no other motive than the highest and purest philanthropy, is spending $400,000 a year from his own private purse for the benefit of Africa.

—A hydrographical expedition has been made to the coast of the Maroc by Capt. Kerhallet and Mr. Dumoulin.

—The project relative to placing a submarine telegraphic cable between the Island of Teneriffe and St. Louis on the Senegal has been voted by the French Chamber.

—The Italian mission directed by Bianchi has safely arrived at Samera, where they found the King of Abyssinia, to whom they gave presents from the King of Italy.

Monseigneur Lasserre, coadjutor of the Apostolic Vicar of the Gauls, has obtained from Menelik the authorization to establish himself among the Ittous Gauls, who have submitted to him.

—Under the title of the French Factories of the Persian Gulf and of Eastern Africa, a society has been formed for French oriental commerce, of importation and exportation.

—The native chief Ghowe having committed incursions upon the territory of Sherbro near Sierra Leone, Major Talbot has burned the village of Kwatamaha, massacred the inhabitants of Kahun and pillaged and burnt Jalliah.

—Some friends of the French mission at the Senegal have brought to France three young negroes, who will be raised in the agricultural colony of Sainte Foy, and prepared to return to St. Louis as shoemakers, tailors, cooks, perhaps even teachers and evangelists.

—Upon the demand of many chiefs of the Slave Coast, a protectorate of France has been established upon the territories of Petit-Popo, Grand-Popo and Porto-Seguro between the English possessions of the Gold Coast and Whydah, beyond which is the territory of Porto-Novo upon which the French protectorate is already recognized.

—Major Machado, who has been at Lisbon to confer with the Portuguese government on the subject of the railroad from Delagoa Bay to Pretoria, has started for the Transvaal to complete the track of the section from Incomati to Pretoria. A society has been founded at Lisbon to ask the concession of this line.

THE INDIANS.

—The Spirit of Missions urges the establishment of a Protestant Episcopal Mission in Alaska, and the sending out of a Bishop from the United States with a score of faithful priests and deacons to second his efforts.

—A missionary laboring in the Indian Territory reports to the Sunday-school of the Collegiate Church, New York, that a Sunday-school which he organized eight years ago has grown to be a church of seventy members. In one of the Indian families he found a grand piano.

—Some years ago the pride of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe schools in the Indian Territory, was their school herd of several hundred cattle, which had been accumulated through a number of years’ effort, without material expense to the government. This furnished employment and prospective income for the school boys. At its most successful period it was destroyed by an order from the Department at Washington, directing that the cattle be distributed among the Indians. After being without the herd for several years the Department has now started a new one, by purchasing 600 cows and heifers and placing them again under the care of the Indian school boys.

THE CHINESE.

—Not one in five hundred of the women of Shantung can read.

—There are twenty self-supporting Protestant churches in China, and nearly 400 which are partially so.

—A Chinaman in a town called New-Bendigo, in Australia, where there is a large Chinese colony, was asked recently what practical good had been accomplished by the missionaries. He answered as follows: Before, no one understood God’s Word. Good many work Sunday all same as week day. Now, no work done on Sunday at New-Bendigo by my countrymen. Perhaps chop little wood for house, or wash him clothes; but no go work. No matter poor, every one no work on Sunday. Before, all worship idols. Now, many come to church; he no worship idols. When Lee Wah begin to read, good many had idols in house; thirty more. Myself had one. Now, only ten houses and stores in New-Bendigo with idols in them. Before, at old township, good many Chinese steal fowls, everything. Now, no more steal; every one work; go get job. Before, every night, Chinaman learn to practice fight. I tell him too stupid fellow. You learn God’s Word you no want to fight. Now, no more learn to fight. Learn God’s Word. Before people no care for God’s Word; he no know or care. Now, good many people like read God’s Word. Before, too much time, nothing to do. Now, many say I learn to read God’s Word. Now, no more waste time. I like to read. Before, good many make fun God’s Word; laugh. Papers were put upon outside of store, make laugh at Christian. Papers were put up on door of baptized men’s house. Now, heathen men no more make fun; strong man’s hands tied up. Himself like it now. Very quiet now.

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REFLEX INFLUENCE OF A. M. A.

FROM ADDRESS BY REV. S. L. BLAKE, D.D.

The direct increase to the wealth of the country, in diminishing the number of mere consumers, and increasing the number of actual producers and property-holders, puts the business world largely in debt to this society.

A few figures will help your understanding of the case. In twenty-one years this society has spent $5,543,636.03—a yearly average of $263,772.19. In seventeen years, from 1863 to 1880, from not owning a single dollar’s worth of property of any sort available for taxation, these people have come to hold property taxed for $100,000,000, as appears from Southern tax-bills, which show no respect of color—an average rate of increase from nothing, of $5,882,352.94 a year. This is a yearly increase greater than the whole amount spent by this society. That is, this society has spent $1, and these people, from absolute pauperism, have come into possession of over $21 of taxable property. These facts answer the question whether the colored man can take care of himself, and show that the labors of this society have a cash value which can easily be computed.

There is still another phase of the cash value of the labors of this society, as related to the productive wealth of the country. Here this society touches and increases our material prosperity. I refer to a more equable distribution of ownership in the soil. Surely no one can deny that to change five or six millions of people from paupers to property-holders, produces a very material effect upon the prosperity of the State.

I believe that it is a settled canon of political economy that a nation’s wealth is in its soil. Where there are but few land-owners, and the tillers of the soil are tenants, wealth must be in the hands of the few, and comparative if not absolute poverty in the hands of the many. To this state of things belong social classes, as widely separated from each other as continents. It goes without saying that landed monopoly and general prosperity of the people do not go together. I am no advocate of communism; but I take the ground, and I believe it can be held, that the same amount of property, somewhat evenly distributed among the people of a country, adds more to its actual productive wealth and material prosperity, than the same amount of money would do, held in the hands of a few, who constitute an aristocracy of wealth and of blood. Of course, in every state, some men must be vastly more wealthy than others. But a comfortable competence in one’s hands makes him entirely independent of his more wealthy neighbor.

It is among the proofs of the increasing material prosperity of this country, that the average size of farms has decreased from 199 acres in 1860 to 134 acres in 1880; and that the amount of capital invested in farms exceeds the money invested in railroads, and in manufacturing, including supplies, by over $2,000,000,000. Gradually this vast preponderance of wealth is being more equably distributed among the people. The plantation system, previous to the war, gives way to the small farm, tilled and owned in many cases by the former slaves. Take a single case. Liberty County, Georgia, in 1860, was mostly taken up by large plantations. There were but 48 farms, “of from three acres to one hundred acres each.” In 1880 the county was almost entirely owned by colored people, and there were 1,500 farms. This is an illustration of the yielding of landed monopoly and aristocracy to popular ownership in the soil, and to a more general and evenly diffused prosperity. The average size of farms in fifteen slave States has been reduced from over 368 acres in 1860 to a trifle over 149 acres in 1880, over 50 per cent. If you precipitate upon the population of a country 1,000,000 citizens, who may become land-holders, you have struck a heavy blow at landed monopoly, and taken a long stride toward increase of material prosperity.

Let me give you two or three further facts. In 1878 the freedmen of Prince Edward County, Virginia, owned 2,305 acres of land, an increase in eight years of 1,847 acres. In the county of Rockbridge, Virginia, two thousand blacks were assessed for $50,000 worth of real estate. In 1876 the colored people of Georgia owned land valued at $1,234,104, and other property to swell the total to $6,134,829. In the single State of Georgia these people, from not owning a dollar, have come to possess property greater in value than the entire sum spent by this Association in 21 years. Who says that this alabaster box of ointment has been wasted?

Material prosperity indicates a certain degree of intelligence. The ignorant are not the wealthy nations of the globe. The work of this Association in bringing these people up to a degree of intelligence somewhat commensurate with their opportunities, and in lifting them to a level of citizenship co-ordinate with the welfare and prosperity of the State, has directly aided in this increase of the material forces of the nation’s welfare. For if the actual amount of property were not increased, yet the prospective wealth of the nation must be by converting 6,000,000 illiterate paupers into educated, independent property-holders.

I find this in the last issue of the _American Missionary_, which supports my position with high authority: “It has been estimated at Washington that the annual profit to the country by the conversion of illiterate into educated labor cannot be less than $400,000,000.” This work has been done by this Association.

Money given to the endowment of its institutions at the South would yield a hundred fold in half a generation.

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THE SOUTH.

REV. JOSEPH E. ROY, D.D., FIELD SUPERINTENDENT.

PROF. ALBERT SALISBURY, SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.

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NOTES OF AN EDUCATIONAL TOUR IN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI.

PRES. W. S. ALEXANDER, D.D.

An experiment in the form of a brief educational campaign in Louisiana and Mississippi has been attended with the most gratifying results, and has been to those identified with it a revelation of what may be accomplished in the same direction. Hitherto in our educational work in Louisiana we have depended, so far as the patronage of the country parishes was concerned, upon the good reports of the students, and the dawning conception, in the minds of those living remote from the city, of the necessity of an education. It occurred to Prof. Hitchcock and myself, as we were likely to be detained in New Orleans the greater part of the summer, that we could in no way better serve the interests of Straight University than by presenting the facts of education directly to the people, and pleading its claims wherever there was “an open door.” We not only found doors wide open, but were greeted from many parishes with the Macedonian cry, “Come over and help us.” Our University was represented in the most important centers, either by our graduates or those still upon our roll. They had borne to their homes a grateful sense of good received at the school, and entered enthusiastically into the matter of the meetings. They were our _avant-couriers_, and most faithfully did they spread the tidings of our coming.

In the space of a single article we can do little more than summarize, but we trust our enforced conciseness will not despoil the narrative of its interest or value. The first important point made was

_Baton Rouge._

The meeting on July 5 at the Capital of the State had been well advertised, and was largely attended. The A. M. E. Church (Rev. Mr. Jackson, pastor) was well filled. The majority of the audience were young men, just the class we desired to reach. We had not only a respectful, but an interested hearing. Mr. A. H. Colwell, a talented graduate of Straight, who fills an important position as teacher at Baton Rouge, presided at the organ, and at the conclusion of the meeting made a neat address, moving a resolution of thanks to the speakers. Rev. Mr. Jackson spoke with feeling and intelligent appreciation of the demands of education. The ablest white lawyer in Baton Rouge made a rousing speech, commending heartily the objects of the meeting.

_Vicksburg._

The meeting at this point, July 9th, presents many facts worthy of record. Our young men, Reynolds and Temple, graduates of the present year, had been untiring in their efforts to make the meeting a success. Every newspaper in Vicksburg had noticed it editorially. Every colored pulpit had twice and thrice advertised it, and urged the people to attend. Influential white people had been invited, especially members of the School Board. The Court-House had been applied for, and freely granted by the City Council for the purposes of the meeting. On the day previous (Sunday) it was my privilege to preach in two of the most important colored churches of the city, while Prof. Hitchcock did good work in the Sunday-Schools. On Sabbath evening I preached in the A. M. E. Church (Rev. Mr. Carolina, pastor) to an audience of 800 people. It was a rare privilege, and great was the joy of preaching on the blessed religion of the Lord Jesus to so many people, and all eager and reverent in their attention. On Monday night the Court-House an imposing building situated on “the heights,” overlooking the city, and the first object that attracts attention as the boat enters the harbor, witnessed the gathering of an eager and crowded assembly of men and women, roused to no common degree of enthusiasm by the simple announcement of an “_educational meeting_.”

The Court-Room, with the wide halls approaching it and the deep window recesses, was not large enough to accommodate the hundreds who flocked to it. It was estimated that 800 entered and as many more failed to get in. An organ had been brought from one of the churches, a fine choir had been gathered, and very choice music was rendered. The leading colored clergymen of the city were present. The addresses which were made were plain matter-of-fact statements of the nature and demands of education, the widespread illiteracy of the colored people, the opportunity offered them of improving their condition mentally, socially, materially and morally, and the utter impossibility of their ever reaching a higher place in any department of growth without the guiding and helping hand of education. Great plainness of speech was used, and was not only tolerated but approved by the audience.

_Rev. C. K. Marshall, D.D._, the author of the vigorous and able pamphlet entitled “The Colored Race Weighed in the Balance,” a gentleman of great influence in Mississippi, kindly called upon us at the hotel, and not only was present at the meeting, but made an eloquent and telling address, replete with good points. He has always been a friend of the colored race, and they do not forget it now. Rev. Dr. Woodworth, of the M. E. Church South, and Hon. Mr. Chamberlin. President of the School Board, were also present, and spoke kindly words of approval of the objects of the meeting. The leading paper of Vicksburg devoted a column and a half to a favorable account of the proceedings. An old colored man, whom I saw violently gesticulating as I was going down Court-House Hill, said, “That meeting was worth one million dollars to our people.” God grant it may be so.

_Plaquemine._

The crowning meeting of the campaign was in the town of _Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville_, on Saturday night, July 28th.