moral discrimination to know what the commandments require? When we
realize how difficult is the task of inducing men with the environment
of Christian influence at the North, and in England, to live even
decent lives, the wonder is that the freedmen do as well as they do.
How long before we can expect a race with such antecedents and
environments to be fitted to be left to themselves? What answer must
be given? I am not exaggerating the picture. I am only hinting at
conditions of heathenism which exist. I am least of all blaming these
poor and needy people; but none the less clear and strong comes the
appeal for their moral and intellectual emancipation. The moralizing
of a race which has such a history, how long will that require? No
people ever rose more rapidly in the world's history. That shows what
is possible. It does not tell us when our work will be finished. So
long as one-half of the American republic is inhabited by those whose
interests are alien to the other half, there can be no permanent
prosperity. It has been said that there are three essentials to the
{128} permanent unity of a nation; viz., unity of language, unity of
interest and unity of religion. There is a common language between the
blacks and whites, but the unity of interest is not recognized, and
agreement in religion is only in name. The religion of the poor whites
in the South is mechanical, and unintelligently doctrinal; the
religion of the blacks is emotional and fantastic; and the religion of
both blacks and whites is lacking in the ethical element. The process
of political reconstruction has been progressing for twenty years and
more, and is still incomplete. That is an easy work compared with what
must be created intellectually, and socially, and morally. Before the
Southern problem will be solved, a new stock must take the place of
those who were reared in slavery; the old traditions must fade, and
education, and an ethical type of Christianity, must do their work.
How long will be required for that, none can tell. In the meantime,