The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-11-29
THE mixed SCHOOL QUEsTIoa
ONCE MORE.

The agitation OF this question continues In
Q dispassionate way In various quarters. 30
long as Il thus proceeds, Il can do no harm
for, respectful discussion only adds nomen-
tum to any good cause. 1t brings out truth
In bold relief, and exposes the sophistries
which are too oflen taken as the basis Of Jus
tlce and right.
Wo started the discussion on this subject
In the REPUBLICAN because we believe the
views we entertained were eminently Just and
practical. And In this we ind, a. the dis
cussion has extended In other directions,
that We have touched o sympathetic chord,
which meets with one common response By
the press OF tho city. Public opinion seems
to be all on one aide. Most, II not all, Of
our contemporaries who have spoken A.
sumo, substantially, the same ground that
wedo. 1.is not thought expsdisut TO force an
issue In this matter, while It IL believed that
II Ii should come about at any time, 1t should
come naturally and easily, In order to be pro-
ductive Of good to either class. And II this
result cannot be reached, 1t certainly should
not come at all.
Tho voluntary principle IL essential 70 the
public school system, and . common spirit
Of differentiation must prevail or disorder
and incomplete results will eusue. When
you begin to push things beyond these con-
dltions you embarrass and destroy the har-
mony Of the system. And II you would
make our public schools q complete success
with respect to the grand end We all ought
to have In view, you will takc good care
that this Is not forgotten. 30 far a. mere
party triumph is concerned this Is OF very
little account. 1t Is Of vastly more oouse-
quence to have tho relations OF each 90 ad-
justed as to produce the best results. This
Is the great question which demands solu-
ton.
Neither is 1t the triumph Of q political
party that we are now considering. Il ID
not the personal advantage, tho self aggran-
dizcment or personal prestige that belongs
to any individual, and none of these thing
should be allowed to control the decision Of
the question. But It 10 the good Of the
schools themselvesj their Harmonious work.
ing, and the common benefits which arc In
tended to be conferred upon the youths who
seek Instruction here. We should act In the
light Of these facts, and In the spirit Of true
conservatism strive to accomplish the
greatest good we can.
Concedlng all we ask to those whose
status, In distinction from ours, suggests
separate schools, we can maintain our own
position with sense OF Justice and common
good to all. Certainly this ought to DO salts
factory, while the system now practiced with
equal advantage can still be continued with
out friction to either party whose interests
are now in dispute. A common understand
Ing Is all that is necessary to this end, and
we think the colored people generally, unin-
fuenced BY extraneous forces, greatly peter
the present system, which Is already sue
cess, than to take the risk Of disturbance
and disorder, which, with the existing state
OF feeling and opinion, would DO likely 10
follow in the mixed schools, which one CON-
mon system Implies.
But We did not commence this article 10
discuss the subject so much as to notice the
fact that public opinion is quietly settling
down with great unanimity against the limo
walton that Is now sought to be Introduced.
As we have said, the press is speaking out
with remarkable uuanlmity, aud all are ar
rayed against the mixed.school question.