(4.) But there is another principle being tested, and that is _the right of education_. It is a settled point in the development of American civilization, that education is essential to the proper discipline of the citizen—some degree, at least, of elementary education. Now when, according to the census of 1870, in the States of Mississippi and Texas, 96 per cent. of the colored people were thoroughly ignorant; and when in another State, 95 per cent. were completely ignorant; in another, 93 per cent.; in two others, 91 per cent.; and in a last one, 90 per cent.; 88 per cent. of the entire colored people of the South being in perfect ignorance;—does it not behoove us to have a law for compulsory education if we hope to have true culture and citizenship? Was our late President far from right when he brought forward this idea? What salvation is there for the Southern States unless universal education shall be carried into effect? As the right to enter into competition is inherent as much as the right of choice in labor, so we regard the right of choice of one’s religion. The whole way should be made open for the highest acquisition of intellectual and moral knowledge. (5.) So, too, our Protestant Christianity is under test. And here we are encountered at once by the fact that Christians still cultivate the caste spirit. If the Jew drew such a subtle line between himself and the Gentile, the white Christian draws a similar line between himself and the black Christian. If the Greek considered himself to be of such high intelligence that he classed all others as barbarians, Christians allow their prejudices to make the same broad distinctions between different classes of humanity, which it was the office of Jesus Christ—blessed be His name!—to obliterate and utterly extinguish. That prejudice, that caste spirit which Christians cultivate in the North to an extent that amounts to social ostracism, must be broken down, if we would maintain Protestant Christianity. Further, this question connects itself with the true _missionary spirit_. The best way to evangelize China is to evangelize the Chinese as they come to the Pacific Coast. The best way to evangelize Africa is to evangelize the African Negro of the South. Over against Protestant Christians in the South and the Chinese on the Pacific is that dark power which has involved the world in hopeless contentions. There stands the Jesuit with his deep, treacherous features, his characterless casuistry, and his sacrifice of all things else to glorify the Church of Rome, no matter what may be the result on his country. That subtle power which permeates our political institutions with such great magnitude and force, stands face to face with Protestantism in the South—with the Negro question, the Chinese question, and the Indian question. If we are to serve Protestant Christianity, we must free ourselves of caste, and learn to love the African and the Chinaman at our doors. It is easy to speak well