Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-03-13
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL
Education-suciaI Equality.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
We have frequently referred to the fac
that the Radicals in the Constitutions
Convention, so-called, while studiousl.
avoiding any direct enactment acknowl
edging social equality between the races, a
studiously avoid any record denying sucl
condition. We could hardly expect mel
who have no social connections themselves
more genteel or worthy than the negroes
OF others who have prostituted themselves
to that level in hopes of remuneration, tt
give any vote which might ALLEVIATE the
"newIy enfranchised - from their support
for upon the negro vote rest all then
chances for temporary success, although II
brings with it everlasting disgrace
The Spartan band of Conservatives III
the Convention, so-called. have nooly en-
deayored to engraft some one feature on
the Constitution denying, in express terms,
the social equality of the races, and while
some of the more thin-skinned kind of the
Radicals insinuate that nothing of the sort
is inten ded or desired and others lnYarla-
blv leave their seats to dodge the Issue
yet all efforts have thus far proved
futile, and the terrible fact OF social
equality, in all public institutions of learn
ing, of religion, of recreation, of travel,
will be established if the Constitution is
adopted and the Radical ticket elected.
On Monday night the Report Of the
Committee on Corporations other than
Municipal, was under consideration and
adopted. During the discussion Mr.. Dur
HAM offered the following amendment
"Prorided, That institutions Of learning, in
which blacks and whites are educated prOmls-
cuously, shall not be Incorporated under general
or special law"
The proposer made fruitless effort to
have the ayes and nays called, and the
amendment eCaS u0ted dozen. Thus we go.
One barrier after another falls before the
advancing column of Radicalism. All the
public schools are to be thrown open pro
miscuously to white and black. The poor
men, whose Iabors support these schools,
and who are unable to educate their child
rem at costly private academies and colleges,
must send them to associate in the recita-
ton room and on the playground on terms
of perfect equality with the negro children,
or deprive them of education. Can white
men vote for the Constitution and q party
which forces negro equality upon them and
their families We will not, we cannot, be-
leye it. Yet, as horrible as is the reality,
as abhorrent as such an association must be,
if the purposes of the Radicals are carried
out, if the Constitution which they will
propose for our consideration is adopted,
it is not only probable, but certain. Those
whose circumstances cannot keep their
children at other than the public schools
must submit to the terrible alternative of
negro association, or their offspring must
grow up in ignorance.
If there can be one thing more than
another which must arouse our people to
the terrible dangers which this canvass en-
compasses, it must be this forced associa-
ton with negroes. Its incorporation upon
our fundamental law Will sap the founda-
ton of every social and moral institution
in the State, and must lead to consequences
of the most appalling nature. We appeal
to the white men of North Carolina to vote
down these iniquities. They eciN they
MUST.