I have no faith in the doctrine of assimilation.  The blacks may say their color is against them.  If that could only be changed, all would be well.  I believe that color has nothing to do with the question.  Black is a favorite color.  A black horse we all admire.  A black silk dress is a gem.  A black broadcloth suit is a daisy.  Black only loses its prestige, its dignity, when applied to a human being.  It is not because of his color, but because of his condition, that the black man is in disfavor.  Whenever a black face appears, it suggests a poverty-stricken, ignorant race.  Change your conditions; exchange immorality for morality, ignorance for intelligence, poverty for prosperity, and the prejudice against our race will disappear like the morning dewdrop before the rising sun.

The Southern Congregationalist gives the following hopeful statement: 

One of the most distinguished representatives of our Baptist brethren, whose name is a household word in that communion throughout the South, expressed a common view among us when he said in our office not long since: 

“We once thought that Negroes were incapable of education, but we have found ourselves mistaken, and now favor the education of the race, trusting that with better edification better ideas will come.”

* * * * *

CONFERENCE OF EDUCATORS.

BY REV.  GEO. W. MOORE.

The first Conference of Educators of Colored Youth, which met in Washington, D.C., March 25-27, was a large and interesting meeting, and the results were very gratifying.  Representative instructors were gathered from various parts of the country—­chiefly from the Southern States—­at the invitation of the College Alumni of Howard University, to review the educational progress of the past twenty-five years; to compare views of the status and needs of the work, and to consider plans for the future.  It was felt that there were certain questions and special needs arising out of the condition of the colored people in this country, which required earnest consideration, the solution of which rests largely with the Negro himself.  The presence of so many colored men and women who had graduated from the institutions of learning they now seek to foster, including Presidents of colleges and normal schools and principals and teachers of public schools, professors of Greek, Latin, mathematics and theology, physicians, lawyers and ministers, was an object-lesson of the educational progress of the race.

Able papers were read on practical subjects of all phases of educational work.  Industrial work, normal training and higher education, were fruitful topics of discussion.  While each had its advocates, it was the consensus of opinion that each of these departments has its place, and that all were needed in the education of our colored youth.  Judge Tourgee addressed the Conference on National Aid to