rerequisite. In this
public sentiment there were some gratifying revelations.

1. A strong opposition to the Mississippi and South Carolina laws, and
to everything that savored of fraud.

2. A general respect for the 15th amendment, not so much on account of
the principle of it as because it is a part of the supreme law of the
country, and as such should be observed in good faith.

3. The confession, hitherto held back, that the evils attending our
elections were not due solely to ignorant colored men, but quite as
much to ignorant and vicious white men, and perhaps still more to the
frauds practised by the election officers and unscrupulous
politicians.

Vitally connected with the suffrage was the subject of public
education. A memorial was framed setting forth the present condition
of our public schools and asking for the establishment of a public
colored normal school. Permission was given to present it to the
committee on education. This memorial was ably sustained by well known
educators, but the result did not meet expectations.

The object we had in view was two-fold--first, to forestall any
hostile action against the colored schools by creating a strong public
sentiment in their favor; second, to bring to pass, if possible, some
positive legislation in their behalf.

The first point was fully accomplished. And it was no small gain. The
debates show how thoroughly unfriendly the majority of the convention
was to the citizenship of the colored people. It is therefore a great
consolation to us that our public schools have not been crippled. But
we had unmistakable evidence that harm was intended. The ordinance to
discriminate against the colored schools was introduced by a member of
the committee on education. So effective was our campaign, however,
that the friends of this ordinance were put on the defensive, and in
face of the public sentiment which we had created, they did not dare
to press their measure.

In the discussion of the suffrage, the interesting fact was brought
out, that of the 120,000 colored voters, 38,000 could read and write,
and about 3,000 more would be let in under the property test. This is
certainly a remarkable showing when the circumstances are considered.
It is not a matter for great surprise that those who are hostile to
colored suffrage should not be anxious to improve colored schools.

We still have hope, but we must win our Waterloo by success in the
cause of popular educati