You educate the niggro and you make him more speculating than he was

before. If he won't stick to any industry except for himself now, what

will he do then?"

But, Colonel, the negro when educated will be more able to make his

speculations fruitful."

"Never, sir, never. He would only have a wider scope to injure himself.

A niggro has no grasp, sir. Now, a white man can conceive great

operations, and carry them out; a niggro can't."

"Still," replied the Senator, "granting that he might injure himself in a

worldly point of view, his elevation through education would multiply his

chances for the hereafter--which is the important thing after all,

Colonel. And no matter what the result is, we must fulfill our duty by

this being."

I'd elevate his soul," promptly responded the Colonel; "that's just it;

you can't make his soul too immortal, but I wouldn't touch him, himself.

Yes, sir! make his soul immortal, but don't disturb the niggro as he

is."

Of course one of the entertainments offered the Senator was a public

reception, held in the court house, at which he made a speech to his

fellow citizens. Col. Sellers was master of ceremonies. He escorted the

212

The Gilded Age