the sequel of appomattox-第28节
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natural enemies； who； if possible； would put them back in slavery。 Others were charged with teaching that to be on the safe side； the blacks should get into a Northern church； and that 〃Christ died for Negroes and Yankees； not for rebels。〃
The scalawags； also； developed a dislike of the Northern church work among the Negroes； and it was impossible to organize mixed congregations。 Of the Reverend A。 S。 Lakin； a well…known agent of the Northern Methodist Church in Alabama； Nicholas Davis； a North Alabama Unionist and scalawag； said to the Ku Klux Committee： 〃The character of his ＇Lakin's＇ speech was this： to teach the Negroes that every man that was born and raised in the Southern country was their enemy； that there was no use trusting them； no matter what they saidif they said they were for the Union or anything else。 'No use talking； they are your enemies。' And he made a pretty good speech； too； awful； a hell of a one； 。 。 。 inflammatory and game； too 。 。 。 。 It was enough to provoke the devil。 Did all the mischief he could 。 。 。 I tell you； that old fellow is a hell of an old rascal。〃
For a time the white churches were annoyed by intrusions of strange blacks set on by those who were bent on separating the races。 Frequently there were feuds in white or black congregations over the question of joining some Northern body。 Disputes over church property also arose and continued for years。 Lakin； referred to above； was charged with 〃stealing〃 Negro congregations and uniting them with the Cincinnati Conference without their knowledge。 The Negroes were urged to demand title to all buildings formerly used for Negro worship； and the Constitutional Convention of Alabama in 1867 directed that such property must be turned over to them when claimed。
The agents of the Northern churches were not greatly different from other carpetbaggers and adventurers taking advantage of the general confusion to seize a little power。 Many were unscrupulous； others； sincere and honest but narrow； bigoted； and intolerant； filled with distrust of the Southern whites and with corresponding confidence in the blacks and in themselves。 The missionary and church publications were quite as severe on the Southern people as any radical Congressman。 The publications of the Freedmen's Aid Society furnish illustrations of the feelings and views of those engaged in the Southern work。 They in turn were made to feel the effects of a merciless social proscription。 For this some of them cared not at all； while others or their families felt it keenly。 One woman missionary wrote that she was delighted when a Southern white would speak to her。 A preacher in Virginia declared that 〃the females； those especially whose pride has been humbled； are more intense in their bitterness and endeavor to keep up a social ostracism against Union and Northern people。〃 The Ku Klux raids were directed against preachers and congregations whose conduct was disagreeable to the whites。 Lakin asserted that while he was conducting a great revival meeting among the hills of northern Alabama； Governor Smith and other prominent and sinful scalawag politicians were there 〃under conviction〃 and about to become converted。 But in came the Klan and the congregation scattered。
Smith and the others were so angry and frightened that their good feelings were dissipated； and the devil reentered them； so that Lakin said he was never able to 〃get a hold on them〃 again。 For the souls lost that night he held the Klan responsible。 Lakin told several marvelous stories of his hairbreadth escapes from death by assassination which； if true； would be enough to ruin the reputation of northern Alabama men for marksmanship。
The reconstruction ended with conditions in the churches similar to those in politics： the races were separated and unfriendly； Northern and Southern church organizations were divided； and between them； especially in the border and mountain districts； there existed factional quarrels of a political origin； for every Northern Methodist was a Republican and every Southern Methodist was a Democrat。
The schools of the South； like the churches and political institutions； were thrown into the melting pot of reconstruction。 The spirit in which the work was begun may be judged from the tone of the addresses made at a meeting of the National Teachers Association in 1865。 The president； S。 S。 Greene； declared that 〃the old slave States are to be the new missionary ground for the national school teacher。〃 Francis Wayland； the former president of Brown University； remarked that 〃it has been a war of education and patriotism against ignorance and barbarism。〃 President Hill of Harvard spoke of the 〃new work of spreading knowledge and intellectual culture over the regions that sat in darkness。〃 Other speakers asserted that the leading Southern whites were as much opposed to free schools as to free governments and 〃we must treat them as western farmers do the stumps in their clearings； work around them and let them rot out〃； that the majority of the whites were more ignorant than the slaves； and that the Negro must be educated and strengthened against 〃the wiles； the guile； and hate of his baffled masters and their minions。〃 The New England Freedmen's Aid Society considered it necessary to educate the Negro 〃as a counteracting influence against the evil councils and designs of the white freemen。〃
The tasks that confronted the Southern States in 1865…67 were two： first； to restore the shattered school systems of the whites； and second； to arrange for the education of the Negroes。 Education of the Negro slave had been looked upon as dangerous and had been generally forbidden。 A small number of Negroes could read and write； but there were at the close of the war no schools for the children。 Before 1861； each state had developed at least the outlines of a school system。 Though hindered in development by the sparseness of the population and by the prevalence in some districts of the Virginia doctrine that free schools were only for the poor； public schools were nevertheless in existence in 1861。 Academies and colleges； however； were thronged with students。 When the war ended； the public schools were disorganized； and the private academies and the colleges were closed。 Teachers and students had been dispersed； buildings had been burned or used for hospitals and laboratories； and public libraries had virtually disappeared。
The colleges made efforts to open in the fall of 1865。 Only one student presented himself at the University of Alabama for matriculation； but before June 1866； the stronger colleges were again in operation。 The public or semi…public schools for the whites also opened in the fall。 In the cities where Federal military authorities had brought about the employment of Northern teachers； there was some friction。 In New Orleans； for example； the teachers required the children to sing Northern songs and patriotic airs。 When the Confederates were restored to power； these teachers were dismissed。
The movement toward Negro education was general throughout the South。 Among the blacks themselves there was an intense desire to learn。 They wished to read the Bible； to be preachers； to be as the old master and not have to work。 Day and night and Sunday they crowded the schools。 According to an observer；* 〃not only are individuals seen at study； and under the most untoward circumstances； but in very many places I have found what I will call 'native schools；' often rude and very imperfect； but there they are； a group； perhaps； of all ages； trying to learn。 Some young man； some woman； or old preacher； in cellar； or shed； or corner of a Negro meeting…house； with the alphabet in hand； or a town spelling…book； is their teacher。 All are full of enthusiasm with the new knowledge the book is imparting to them。〃
* J。 W。 Alvord； Superintendent of Schools for the Freedmen's Bureau； 1866。
Not only did the Negroes want schooling； but both the North and the South proposed to give it to them。 Neither side was actuated entirely by altruistic motives。 A Hampton Institute teacher in later days remarked： 〃When the combat was over and the Yankee school…ma'am followed in the train of the northern armies； the business of educating the Negroes was a continuation of hostilities against the vanquished and was so regarded to a considerable extent on both sides。〃
The Southern churches； through their bishops and clergy； the newspapers； and prominent individuals such as J。 L。 M。 Curry； John B。 Gordon； J。 L。 Orr； Governors Brown； Moore； and Patton； came out in favor of Negro education。 Of this movement General Swayne said： 〃Quite early 。 。 。 。 the several religious denominations took strong ground in favor of the education of the freedmen。 The principal argument was an appeal to sectional and sectarian prejudice； lest； the work being inevitable； the influence which must come from it be realized by others； but it is believed that this was but the shield and weapon which men of unselfish principle found necessary at first。〃 The newspapers took the attitude that the Southern whites should teach the Negroes because it was their duty； because it was good policy； and because if they did not do so some one else would。 The 〃Advertiser〃 of
