Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-05-04
Civil Rights Bill.

It has generally been supposed that Senator
Sumner is 10 hearty sympathy with the Gin
einuat convention. he now comes out how
ever, and defines his position, according to a
Special telegram sent from Washington to
New York, by an interviewer" on the 2Sth,
ulhmo. 10 an intensely egotistic and Sumner
ISL manner he states" my convictions are
well known, and cannot, 10 view Of myrepu-
tation and those convictions, assume to be the
the leader Of any party which does not come
up to my requirements. I look upon the Gin
cinnati movement with great interest, &c an
endsavor to purify the republican party but
| cannot say one word or do Que act to in1u-
eOcs it, for the evident reason that my motives
might be misconstrued. hope, however, that
they will have the good sense toincOrpOrato in
their platform plank endorsing the principles
Of civil rights for all If they do not, l cannot
90 where my principles are not acknowledged +;
and if they do mot adopt cigil-rights plank, I
certainly cannot support them"
The interviewing Of the distinguished
Senator, and tho special" of the As
sociated Press, looks to US very much ike
an cflor. 20 throw q tirebrand into the Cinciu-
natl Convention. One would suppose that the
immortal Charles, had, ere this been convinced
that the Senate does not seem willing to stand
on this civil-rgbts plank" His persistent
efforts day by day have failed to bring that
august body to a vote upon his darling mea-
sure.
1t was said long before the Rebellion, that,
if slavery were abolished in the South, the
North would not be satisfied, but would have
some other "ijea to force upon that section.
Events have proved and are yet proving the
truth Of the prophecy.
lie has aroused, by his course, some of the
leaders Of the colorol people in Washington.
They have recently held meeting and APP
pointed a committee to wait upon him, who,
with frlsome praise bid him god-speed, in his
nobls efforts. They demand that their chill
dren shall be admitted into the public schools
of the whites. And that too, in the face Of the
fact, that they have equal advantages with the
whites at this time. The city is erecting
several magnificent structures for school-pur-
poses. OF course the burden Of taxation to
sustain this great outlay rests upon the ,rhte
taxables Not content with this, these leaders
Of the colorad people say that they are ready
to Gsh. for the privilege Of forcing their chill
dren into schools where they ere not wanted,
aud where their advantages would not be bet
ter than they already possess. All this, too, in
face Of the well known fact, that the colored
people themselves do not ask for, nor do they
desire. at this time, such admission for their
children
We see by the Richmond papers, that the
political dernagogues there, too, have COM
meucod the agitation of this question. No
surc7 method could be devised to blight and
destroy these schools which are at once the
ornament AMI pride of our country. For, as
oil and water will net mix, so it is practically
impossible 70 abolish the distinction that God
himself has indelbly drawn between the two
races; aud the scone, Extremists Of the Sum
merriam type are brought to see it, the better
viii it be for them and the country they pro-
Tess to love so ardently.