The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-12-16
Communicated.
Universal Education.

Messrs. EIitors From the high opinion
have formed of your enlarged and liberal views
upon all the great questions that have Come be-
fore the people in the enventfnl period through
which we have just passed, venture to ask that
the subjoined crude IDEAS imperfecty expressed,
NAV find place in your paper and through it
call the attention of the honest intelligent por-
ton OF the community, to great wrong that we
are perpetrating upon portion of our popula-
ton.
have Just been reading the eloquent address
of our worthy and efficient State Superintendent
of Public Instruction. to the Commissioners of
the Public Schools of Maryland Ii is subject
in which have always felt deep interest, and
the system has my most hearty support. But in
reading the address, my attention was arrested
by the assertion that tour system recognizes the
duty of universal education without distinction
of caste Or class or social position. 1t recognizes
the great truth that all men are born free and
equal all have an interest in the public veal
all can become valuable citizens OF the State
all can be enlightened and thereby made the
contributors to wealth and progress. Hence it
passes by none, however humble lie then
goes on 10 expatiate very cogenty and properly,
upon the advantages of the system and of our
duties and obligations under it. Now the diff
entity is that the premises assertion is not true
We have a class or caste that are not recognized
| as entitled to free Public Instruction. They are
not born free and equal, and have not an equal
interest in the public veal. 1t is true, and to
shame be it acknowledged, they pay an equal
share with us for the education of our children.
| But the great boon that is esteemed so highly
| throughout the civilized world and without
which we are told that man would he but little
| above the NATURALIZATION, is denied to them.
have never been Negro worshipper-have
never belonged to or had sympathy with Abo-
| III; R,,f do
| to be an honest man, and my plain ideas of hon
esty teach me that have moral right to COM
pei another man to help educate my children,
| whilst he is denied the privilege of having his
/ own educated. II with. the great superiority we
| claim for ourselves, we think it of such vital
| Importance that children should have the
benefit of a thorough education, not only on
| their account but for the welfare of the nation,
| how much more incumbent is it upon us to see
that this ignorant and long oppressed people
| should also receive Of its benefits. In my own
neighborhood, there number of colored
inen who have property and who cbeerfully pay
! their taxes. Some Of them are anxious 10 have
their children receive at least limited education
| They would even whilst they are helping me
! educate mine, pay for their own if they had OPP
portunity offered them. But this they canno
do II would be too expensive to support 1
Teacher in each family, and they are too widely
did there is no assurance that they would no
receive the same treatment others have, in thu
more southern parts Of our State. II is eviden
that our people are not prepared to have the
children educated in the same schools with tn
colored race. But if we cannot do this, let US n
least deal honestly by them.
In many sections and in this one especially
there are enough of colored children, who,
some provision would he made by which the.
would receive the benefits of our admirable sys
tenn would be numerous enough toformQuite larg
schools. To this, it appears to me, no reason
able objection can be made. IF their intellect
are so obtuse as some have contended as to in
capactate them for high degree of mental cul
ture, there need be no jeaously on our part
r. on the other hand it should be fonnd that b
greater zeal and appreciation of the privilege &C
corded them, the disparity should not appear t
be so great, the arguments of their opponent
must fail How many eloquent orations hav
been delivered and able arguments made to prov
the paramount importance of aliberal education
In q free country especially, it makes better cit
zens and more loyal ones, and OF course bette
Christians. If then we believe that we are az
countabe for the cultivation of the talents, wit
which "A wise God has endowed u.s. and at tn
same time withhold from a fellow being, the OF
portunity of developing his where will the re
sponsibility rest II does therefore appear tina
duty TO our God, to our country, to our felloN
man, and common honesty, demand that som
provision should be made for this injured people
Then indeed would our worthy Superintend
ent say with truth that "we recognize the dut
of universal Education without distinction {
CASTE class, or social position" JUSTICE.