Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-04-03
The Enlightened Democracy on
Schools.

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The Enlightened Democracy on
Schools
The whole course Of legislation by
the present Democratic Legislature
has been reactionary, vindictive and
partisan. It's chief end and aim has
been, not the general good and the
welfare Of the State, but the persecu-
ton and oppression of helpless, loyal
and inoffensive race. It's inspiring ge-
MUS is the same which seven years ago
traficked in human beings at the
shambles. and bred babies like calves
for the market 1t has not addressed
itself to reason, righteousness OF judg-
ment, but has rather sought to inaame
every vulgar prejudice and brutal pas
sion. 1t has obstruoted every reform,
offended every noble instinct, and
done violence to every Christian senti-
meut Its guiding principle has been
the law of revenge instead of mercy,
cf hate instead Of charity, Of cruelty
and wrong instead of justice
In illustration Of this, we may refer
to bin amending the school law, in
tr0dueed in the House Of Representa-
tives BY Hughes, of Highland, and
which has passed that body It is a
legislative assault on babes, fitting
emanation Of the ehivalry which de-
moIishes the hool-hoUses Of freed
men and applies the torch to the or
phau's asylum.
This measure is ostensibly intended
to provide separate schools for colored
children. but really to deprive a very
large proportion of them Of all oppor-
tunities for education. 1t has the
further purpose of making political
capital out of aquestion already adju-
dieated BY the courts, and which is
nowhere in dispute. In several test
cases it has already been decided that
under the present school law separate
schools may be provided for Juveniles
of the eolored race, ard there was no
need whatever Of any farther law to
accomplish this purpose. Such schools
being already authorized and pro
vided, this cannot be the real purpose
of the bill. Its true object is disclosed
BY the following extracts from its first
section, which constitutes the princi-
pal part Of it, and the ungrammatical
blundering of which is a fair index of
the oOarseness and ignorance which
inspired it
''The township boards of education
ia this State, and In their respective
townships, and the several other
boards Of education, and the trustees,
visitors and directors of schools, or
other officers, having authority IN the
premises, of each city or incorporated
village, shall be and they are hereby
authorized and required 10 establish,
within their proper jurisdiction, one
or more separate schools for colored
children, 20hen the .a0hoLe by enun1era-
When the whole nun,
Der of eOlored children is less than
twenty IN a township or district, the
board of education of such township
or district shall set apart the full share
of school funds raised on the number
of said eolored children by the enum-
GRAFTON, and said colored children
shall be admitted into any school es-
tabished In the county for colored
children, and the money set apart shall
be appropriated and paid under the
direction of the board of education
where said colored chiLdreT Is eau-
8lerGfed, to the board or boards of ed
y III l.
shall be admitted and attend school
for the time they are in attendance
upon such school or schools, and un-
TIL the amount so set apart for their
benefit IS ex hausted; but in no case
shall eolOred children be received into
the common schools Of this State
other than herein provided aud
sh0uld the cOlored children neglect or
refuse to attend the school or schools
that IS or may be established under the
provisions of this act, for the eduea-
ton Of eOloFed children, for one year,
then the funds set apart By the boards
Of education where the enumeration
OF said colOred children was taken,
snail be applied by said board to the
support and maintenance Of common
schools in their districts where white
children IS educated"
One might easily conceive that the
legislator who would write children
is enumerated" schools that is or
may be established" and children is
educated" would naturally be jealous
of education for anybody.
It viii be seen that the bill only
provides separate schools for colored
children when the number in the dis.
trict or township exceeds twenty, and
absolutely forbids separate schools il
all other cases.
Of course there are hundreds Of
districts and townships in the State
where the colored children number
less than twenty, ana in all such cases
they viii have no oppoF tunities for ed
ucation at all, unless they attend the
separate schools which may be estab-
Iished in other districts or townships
the nearest Of which may be a dozen
miles distant. And if such children
neglect or refuse" for one year, to
attend schools too distant to be reach
ed. their share Of the school fund il
taken away and given to others who
encounter less difficulties IN the puE-