Ga., has just written a little tract of fifty pages on "The Future of
the Races." He does not vote in New England, nor is he a Yankee; but he
is a good and true witness. He says, that the Races are running races
along the paths of knowledge and up the hills of science. These are his
words (pages 19 and 20): "Have they" [the colored people] "availed
themselves of the educational facilities? Have they profited by them? We
answer that they have been incalculably benefited. They have shown not
only that they can receive education, but education of a high order.
Their improvement has been so astonishing as to silence doubt and
caviling. Our Southern eyes have been opened to see it. Southern candor
is free to admit it. There are none who do not admit it but the
hopelessly prejudiced. I am persuaded that the _average_ examinations in
the colored schools are better than the average in the white schools,
for teachableness is the basis of all education, and this universally
distinguishes the negro." Dr. Clark is not saying that the white boy may
not learn more easily and master more rapidly, but rather is telling how
the hare came out second in the race with his competitor not so fleet of
foot, but which had the gift of patient continuance in well-doing. Still
he accentuates the fact that "their improvement is astonishing." I am
sure that no one can visit Fisk University without having all his doubts
dispersed as to the future of the negro race. It is to have a future.

This leads me to quote the closing words of Dr. Clark's significant
pamphlet (page 52): "All Africa stretches out her hands to God; to the
work of delivering her fatherland from heathenism. God is calling the
blacks of these Southern States. They are to be the chief instruments in
giving the Gospel of Christ to the benighted land of their fathers.
Wherefore, let the work of Christian, and so sanctified, education go
on."