Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-08-24
TIE CoL0RED SCHOOLS.
Their PreSenf Fad Haua~cncut
Irustee ~ phaN the Cause of L.

III consequence OF the very great iissatisflc.
lion existing among many of the NEST respecta-
Die colored people OF this District with the
present management OF the r1lOred p45lfc
| schools, the following call was Inserted in our
paper ON Monday and yesterday, signed bv
eight prominent cOlored cItizens-One from ca III
ware Of this city and one from Georgetown:
"a Mass Meeting OF the Citizens OF Washing
lngtOn and Georgetown will be held at Israel
Church, South Capitol street, on Tuesday even
ing, august 3, for the purpose OF corsiderirg
the importance of a chan re in the management
ofthe co'ored schools Of Washington and i -orge-
town."
in pursuance OF this call Israel Church was
crowded last night with a large number OF col
orsd and white friends OF the cause of educa-
on.
UNEAsINFss OF THE sYPHAx FACTION.
IL was evident before the opening OF the meet
ing, from remarks which were overheard from
groups outside, that the session would be a
sI2rmy one, as such remarks as these would
no don't lets DO D ssat It ap in ROM 3h
intend 20 pass a resolution asking Syphsx to
r.sEni wen, Bat what good will that do, that
mustn't allow that, for the Secretary OF the
Interior will remove him if such a meeting as
this in Ierael Church asks it," well how are
We going to do it ?'' "'Why, let's try and make
IL q political meeting" These and other renarks
iOIe Swallowed a storm. but besides the reverence
II which old Israel Church is held BY the col
red people, the 'reformers'' were too many for
'csS WIN GAME tnere 10 make GiScord.
WHO WERE THERE.
mere were present in the church Messrs Al
frtd Jones, Eugene johnson, JOHN F. Cook
anthony Bowen, Geo. W. Hatton, james Reed
Jerome johnson, John Fl. Brooks Chs Peters.
Archibald Lewis, w. III. Smith, John +. VI. vii,
Airson: and, in fact, al the leading colored men
OF the District; white in a corner 1uietIy wafcT
ing the course OF events, was Mr.. Chas King
:" the minority" of the Board of Colored Scbooi
iIustees; Before the meeting was called to OIL
der, one Lugene johnson, apparently intent on
attracting the attention OF the pretty girls along
the north aisle, pissed up and down the sout6
side with law book in his hand in which mark
ers hung out in profuson.
ORGANIZATION.
About O'Clock James Reed called the meet-
ing 10 order, ard relating the object thereof to
DE 10 take into consideration the present condi-
llon OF the eolored schools, and the possible
anehoration thereof, he seemed to sniff the bat
lie from affair, as he closed by warning the audi
enee 10 keep quiet, that il was I'll; Use #
zoo, anu 10 indulge in no political discussions"
&C. Mr.. Andrew b. Tinney Wa chCssn q air.
man, and by his request Mr. d. mes III. H,naks
Iead the call for the meeting. Mr. John F. u.
Wilkinson then submitted tie following lis+ of
ON 3eIs;-flrst vice Pre.id t, 'uarles Lemons,
oi georgetown; second vice president, Enoch
AMBUSH, OF the Seventh Ward; secretaries.
Richard Iompkins and John l.. Hickman tc,
gether with VIM. II. HutchiD.on and Charles
at-aTms
THE sYPHAxIANs SHOW THEIR HANDS.
Charies SyphaN, Jerome Johrs.n aud several
others here jumped up, in4IriHg: What did
they want with so many officers? They were
opposed to this cut-aDd-dried rrrargement.
voice IN the end OF the hall. Well, if YOU
are opposed to 1t, vote 1T down." Jerome John
SON. Well, but you haze no right to things
up before you come here in this way" C.
no, of course not; we ought to
wait ar,t IN you fH them up, oughint wee"
YOU, gentlemen, the only way you can do il 70
vote II down If you don't like it, and not talk ali
hght, when you know it will amount to
nothlpS.' just here there was a general nm
rising and sounding OF voices. when the char
without recognizing any one, put the question
On the election of the officers mentioned above
: nleh was carried by a rising vote, some merri-
nc NJ being caused by member asking il the
aoles would he allowed TO vote on tie question.
R1eRT Of The COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.
The report of the committee On resolutions
being called for, Mr.. W. H. Smith offered the |
"Wbere3s. il is a sacred duty OF ey-
1ry citizen to guard with Jealous care the inter-
st OF our public schools; and whereas the
course OF one Of the trustees of colorel schools
IN the board, has marred the peace and harmony
Of the same, and brought confusion into the
schools: Therefore resolved, that we, the par
ents and citizens of Washington and George
town, being deeply interested in the education
Oh the children oil our cities do hereby EXPRESS
our grateful appreciation for tie Ugh STATE 0fefi
.ieney and ToPtd progress OF the cOlored schools
for the past school year, Notwithstanding the
Obstructive course pursued by one of the trus-
the schools at the close of the last school year
we tender our thanks to Messrs. Jones and King
trustees, and to the superintendent, Dir Gorge
r. i. Cook. and teachers generally and indiyid-
Gally, Tor their earnest and disinterested Iabors
for the welfare and advancementofou orr children.
! mat TO the superintendent and teachers who By
ne vote and influence OF said trustee (who owes
his POSITION ss such to his employment in the
NICE OF the appointing power, and not by the
fishes OF the citiZens,) have been summarily
i'sD'ssed without cause, we extend our heart
cit sympathy, mingled " It'll our grateful appre-
,iaton for their past services, which are now SO
udely and uDJustly denied to US, knowing well
IS we DO that their insulting dismissal was the
result OF perional malice and vindictive spite.
hat we, the parents and citizens, the parties
most directly and deeply interested in the fu-
iUre welfare and conduct OF said schools, do
most respectfully and earnestly memorabilia the
the Secretary of the Interior to re-
luire the immediate resignation of Mr. William
Syphax as a trustee OF colored schools, whose
past and present course in tue Board OF Trus-
tinues to be obstructive to the progress and
best interest OF the schools, and whose known
lneompetency and general illiterativenes. rem
der him wholly unit for the position.
Trustees OF colcred schools for Washington and
GeorgefJwn from exigencies arising at the es-
adjustment Of the system, is at present limited
TO three persons, with uncontrolled and un,im-
lted power, liable, as We now lind, to gross
abuses, and usurpatiohs in the execution OF said
trust, We do respectfully memorable Congress
10 80 amend the said law as to increase the said
board 10 such number as will be commensu-
rate With the Importance and magnitude of the
ILL.,, ~ De peIlorme; the said duties having
greatly increased the schools now numbering
90, WIN scholarship Of $500, necessitating the
esPenua are OF many thousands Of dollars; that
IL" nmlted number of three trustees and the
annual change Of the complexion, policy, &c,
Of the board by the appointment Of a new mem
Der, leaves the schools open to the dictum of
one person in great measure, which is serious
ly detrimental to the schools; that n committee
be appointed from this meeting to draft a me-
mortal and present the same to Congress in fur
therance OF the above resolutions.
THE FALL OPENED.
Mr.. j. ii. Brooks seconded the adoption OF the
resolutions, when considerable confusion en-
sued, and Mr.. John +. Cook said that he had
held his peace heretofore on the school cues
ton, as II might be charged that he was person
ally interested. But now every one knew that
what he had at heart could only be the interest
OF the schools, and no personal motives to salts.
fy. be then appealed to the meeting to pre-
erve order, and allow q free Interchange of
opinions.
A WORD ABOUT sYPHAx,
MI. Brooks, continuing, said that the colored
people had been vigilant; and he believed that
the facts would justify the statement that VIM
Syphax did not deserve to remain on the school
board. His wanton persecution of a former
member Of the school board, Mr.. Alfred Jones,