New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-20
Superintendent Metropolitan Poll
fCommuuicated.l

THE Times of Wednesday last published
communication on the school question, in
which the name of the State Superinten-
dent. as he believes, was so used as to place
him in an entirely false attitude. The fol-
lowing reply was sent to the Times by Mr..
Conway, and, though far more dignifed
than the communication of Taxpayer"
was refused publication in that journal.)
Prejudice vs.. Principle.
To the Editor OF the New Orleans Times;
Under the above caption-singularly ill
chosen for himself-"Taxpayer," in your
issue of this morning, INDUCES in philippe
against the present school authorities, in
which the most prejudiced view of the sub
jecs gives tone to the entire article.
The question at issue is not one Of pbysl-
| cal, social, or moral equality, nor are those
points in any sense involved in the opening
| of our public schools to all citizens, without
| regard to race or creed; it is simply the
recognition of the right of all who are equal
| under the law to all public benefits. As to
| the question OF miscegenation, with which
| Taxpayer" barbs his arrow, it is one
| where silence would best become him in
| the presence of those practical evidences OF
the existence of something more than social
equality, which exist on every hand.
| But my purpose III noticing the article OF
| your correspondent, is to inquire II there is
no principle involved in this question, or if
| it must be decided on foreground of preju-
| dice alone-a question which Taxpayer F"
asks, but fails TO answer.
| Viewed from the standpoint Of reason, it
| does not appear that there is anything IN
| the color of a mans skin or in the size OF
| his brain which should exclude him from
any of the advantages OF the society to
which he belongs. AS well may q mans
6pVplOnmpnI
| made criterion for estimating his right to
| the immunities of citizenship. It is argued
| bv "Taxpayerr that 1.-THE negro is Of q
| different race" and neither mentally,
morally, nor physically" the equal of the
| Caucasian. Let it be granted that, in this
land, ages of servitude passed. amid infu-
| ences calculated to dwarf and wither what
ever of intellect and manhood were inhe-
rent in the race, have prevented the mass OF
colored men from attaining to mental or
moral equality with the Caucasian, sthere,
| from the results of past injustice, to be
drawn an argument against those who are
| the sufferers from il? Is it absolutely GER
| tain that if the relative position of the races
! had been reversed, the Caucasian claim to
superiority would have been 30 seemingly
| we'll founded?
| But looking at the question from higher
"a Christian standpoint, adopt the Ian
| guage of Taxpayer" and ask, 'Ie it PREF u
| dice or is II principle" that calls on US to
perpetuate and intensity class distinctions
based, not upon character, but upon color
and wealth? Does not the Gospel teach US
rather to stoop to the fallen that we may
assist them to rise-to extend help and en-
couragement to those weaker than ourselves,
if thereby we may exalt and ennoble them
In the words of one of the most eloquent OF
Americans. "Where the Christian spirit pre-
walls there is neither Jew nor Gentle. bond
nor free, but all are alike. Human bodies
may be unequal in beauty or strength: thees
mortal cloaks of flesh may differ as do these
worldly garments; these Intellectual facul-
ties may vary, as do opportunities of action
and advantages of position; but amid all
unessential differences there is essential
agreement and equality. Dives and Lazarus
were equal in the sight of God; they must
be equal in the sight of all just institu.
TONS"
| Your correspondents story of the ''prin-
cipals" of one of the schools being thrown
| into prison for refusing to admit q colOred
child among his white pupils" is simply
untrue: no such thing has been done nor
contemplated. The persistent efforts made
| nv a portion of the press to represent my
sympathy for the negro-as needy
and oppressed member OF soclety-ss an
| evidence of q want of attachment to my
own race, are unworthy reply; put the IN
| Slnual1Ou OI L dAptyS' 'A"o 10y A'1"'
are influenced in any degree by feelings o.
"spte" toward the South, or a desire to de-
| grade apy portion of my fellow-citlZens
merits my unqualified denial. Those VINO
know me best will be the most prompt II
| bearing witness that since the late wal
| closed, l have favored the most generou!
| terms toward the South, and that while
am endeavoring to be just and kind to the
negro, II can be no less 80 to those OF the rac'
to which belong.
| THOMAS ". CONWAY,
| State Superintendent of Education.
| New Orleans, La, May Is, 1870.
| (The following is the communication II
the Times alluded to by Superintendent
| Conway.-ED1ToR REPUBLICAN.
Prejudice Or Principle.
tn The Editor of the New Orleans Times:
Ocne in the history of Rome, when tn
200. Hannibal was laundering almost a
fhe oates of that renowned city, ana des
Iii Sseemed to have assailed the hearts O
ar a consul was publicly thanked TOR ex
nressine his belief that there was yet mop
for the commonwealth, and now IN tnls
honr of gloom and dependency, the tnank
~ the White women and children should be
nnhIiclv extended to any, one who honesty
endeavors to oppose tne wlCAeu en- ~.
concocted by our bitter enemies, ~ c W,
doorsd alton of the white children OF oul
city. - .ho rnhlit
This determination to mix the Pupnt
schools. BY white mentor al can see sea;
the colored people are perlec1y ss'i'Ae>