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Show 127 a stronger disposition to administer laws in their true spirit of impartiality. It is to be seen in our gratuitous chaperoninlcr oi (juba; our friendly guidance of San Dinninican finances; the review of the black soldiers' case in equity: the increased appropriations for friendlier feelings. Not long: ago, in my town, l went down to the Negro bank in which l deposit, and found this notice on the door: "Holiday: Closed by Clearing Home xlercenimt." \thn before this day did the Negro ever do anything by clearing house agreement? It is significant of the new relation. both primary and secondary schools for Negroes; the acceptance um" lmnlll "mm by a representative Southern educator of the management of the Jeanes liund: the eo-operation ol patriotic, Southern men with the Southern lfduvation lloard: and in a score of other instances. 'l‘ennessee has just appropriated Sgomio for a Negro normal and industrial school: lxansas has given bio/"mm to a College under Negro management: Alabama appropriates public. funds to three Negro normal schools. ,liverywhere are, to he found men in the South to stand against the reactionaries, Mississippi has its (jal- loway: Louisiana, its Quincy liwing'; Georgia, its Chancellor llill; Alabama. its llobson; Virginia. its Mitchell. Almost faster than we can realize, a respectable, rising, progressive, property holding class of Negroes is beingY met with friendly hand-shakes from {air-minded and clear-speaking men of the other race who want to stand out of a strugglingr people‘s sunshine. l believe, these men are rising in response to that growing national spirit which is a legitimate byproduct of the World movement for which you stand. Almost every one of them is an advocate of inter- national peace by arbitration. What if there are thousands not yet reached by these better influences? ls it wise to stop the revival be‘ause there are sin~ ners prtseiit? It takes time to do things. Progress is the, thing we praise: let it continue. it need not reach complete entelechy in my day or yours; it is certain it will not; but why should it? Everyday and any day is tiod's day. Time is simply llis account- ant whose computations do not create the business He books. It is well to get a good day's work from the accountant, but the firm will not fail if he should overslecp himself. I speak here a little more at length of the relations of the races in America than else» where. not because our internal peace is more important than others. but because our questions are typical of all, and because a larger body of diverse races ', affected. perhaps. I find that the remarkable business growth of the Negro, leading to increast business contact with the white man, is bringing: about closer and \\"e do not all know what a change is coming over the. spirit of the land, There is a cl rarer and more philosophical apprecia- tion of the true grounds for universal education. There is a growing tendency towards larger appropriations for public schools. The old idea. recently exploited so loudly, that Negro education is a burden upon the white people, is not so often heard now. lndeed, it has remained for a southern superintendent of education, in a state where some of the most serious race riots have occurred. to advance the argument, hacked by figures, that the Negro is no burden at all, but is paying for his own education. 'l"akin§‘r into account the property and poll tax paid by the Negro, his share of the railroad and corporation taxes, and of the permanent school fund, he finds that the Negro pays in more than he gets. The South is spending $32,(‘)t33.851 on her public schools: $4,736.375 of this is for Negro education. This is only 14.3 per cent, while the Negro constitutes 40 per cent of the total population of the states consideredi\'irg'inia, North t‘arolina. South Carolina, Georgia. lilorida, Alabama, Mississippi. Louisiana, Texas. Arkansas and Tennes,‘ 'e. In the three states of Virginia. North Carolina and Georgia. where complete separate statistics are kept. the following taxes paid by the Negro and the educational appropriations made, to him shows that he receives less than he pays: Virginia Negro taxes ..................................... $507,305 Negro appropriation ............................... $9,228 Tax excess ................................... fp 18,077 |