UNDER THE COMPTROLLER OF CURRENCY 129 
positors were now dead, or scattered and difficult 
to find, especially those who had most needed 
aid; if appropriations should now be made, most 
of the claims would fall into the hands of specu- 
lators; and to the members of Congress it seemed 
a bad precedent to set, even if warrant in law 
could be found for it. 
ESTIMATE OF THE BANK 
The chain of savings banks for Negroes 
throughout the southern states gave promise of 
being a strong support, moral as well as financial, 
to those just emerging from slavery. Around 
each branch centered the forces which made for 
the economic and social elevation of the race. 
Thrift was inculcated and habits of saving were 
formed. Self-respect and pride in achievement 
were developed. Negro business men were being 
trained, and thousands of depositors were be- 
ing taught to forego present pleasure for future 
good. 
The following quotations from Negro writers 
will show the opinion of the leaders of the race 
in regard to the unfortunate effects of the failure. 
Brawley in his Short History of the American 
Negro® says: “This institution made a really 
remarkable start in the development of thrift 
among Negroes, and its failure, involving the 
loss of the first savings of hundreds of ex-slaves, 
was as disastrous in its moral as it was in its 
immediate financial consequences.” Du Bois 
says: “Not even ten additional years of slavery 
1 Pp, 126-127 
16 Souls of Black Folk, p. 36.