for that light which education alone can give, and without which they cannot discharge the duties which the Constitution requires by making them citizens and voters. The slaveholders of the South had their full share of educational facilities. But when the war ended, their impoverishment was more complete and disastrous than ever before befell a wealthy and civilized community. Without capital, without credit, without a labor system, and burdened with debt, they were in no condition to establish free schools. Want of means was not the only difficulty. Neither white nor colored people at the South had any knowledge or experience which would help them in establishing popular education. The colored people were eager to learn. To them education was a badge of freedom. But encumbered with we know not how many centuries of barbarism behind them, and certainly with two or three centuries of bondage, they were utterly helpless to do anything which presupposes knowledge and experience in relation to the complex methods and organizations of social life in highly civilized communities. We need not dwell on this aspect of the subject. It has plainly come to pass that the whole question of popular education at the South must be considered and dealt with by the great body of the whole people of the Nation. The appeal must be made to the popular judgment, conscience and patriotism. War measures and political measures are no longer required to settle the controversies of the past, or for reconstruction in the South. To finish the work of uplifting the slave, and to fuse into one harmonious whole our lately divided people, we must rely upon the healing influences of time, and upon the forces which religion, business and education can furnish. Of these forces, the government can usefully employ only one. The stream of time will flow on, “The designs of Providence to fulfill.” Religion, depending under God, upon individual conscience and sense of duty, unaided by government, wins its way by the voluntary contributions and efforts of Christian men and women. Business, an agency of vast and unmeasured power in promoting the peaceful progress of mankind, results from a deeply seated and universal principle of human nature—self interest—and will most efficiently do its work when government wisely lets it alone. To complete reconstruction and regeneration in the South, the only force now left to the government is popular education. Let national aid to this good cause be withheld no longer. Let it be given by wise measures based on sound principles, and carefully guarded. But let it be given promptly, generously and without stint, to the end that the whole American people may be reared up to the full stature of mental and moral manhood required for intelligent self-government under our American institutions. * * * * * ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT A. D. WHITE.