The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-07-11
offended 81 sincerely beg their pardon.
Ar. a. III. Kelley 81 I'D esf,esial aposo y.
If 4 offended him by setting Roman gatnohc

offended him by setting Roman Saliiollo
astershis name. ]. 6. 80, i. !,
/ am charged with bigotry, and for what ]
Because z ask That all Che dRfferent resig1oHse
Denominations shall be fairly and justly re-
presented on the Board, bsss chfstf becanse4A
am Jealous that the Bible shaiA not pc e1-
lcfuded from the schools 5,.. ~ 49, "a.
Rsft be bigotTy to INSIST that the pfesene.
chairman Of the Board OF Education, WIZ
his body shall nos regulate the eunca-
ton of the cbii 1ren of this community, tnen
Lam the most offending bigot alive.
Observe the charge The chairman anu
his brother nlaw, the secfefary nave gTMu ~.
ally got the. power in their In ussa
ring is in power. And ! am abused shn
IyiIifcd. hammered with the logic Of Yitnpe-
rafion and "clllyert . rhetoric, because / de-
ma,d the rights or myself and those who
| think like. me-, Now, who. Is the. bigot2
! Who il intoleTant? -
| ! have no earthly quarrel with Irish, jews,
or Catholics so long as they are content Wild
| their OWN rights and do not interfere Win
mine, NV father was an lrishnlan, ana
have never known nor loved better man.
II have always had good friends among Jews
and Roman Catholics have them ana love
them now. But they and know that our
creeds are essentially opposed. Ihey Wouid
not give their children to me TO bring up,
nor.I mine TO them and SO we understand
each other. go Lt.t Ess.
! have not much to say about the Board
and its doings during the past year. have
had especial reference to the Board as II mas
been recently made up, or, say, Tiled up.
| i The success of the past year was under
different regime from that now In power:
We have yet to learn what the present Board
| will do. We are ut their mercy, and L object
| to them now, before they go to work.
The Chairman of the Board OF Education
refers to "one or two previous articles from
1.-THE same pen" characterized by the same
intolerance" that Heaven save the mark y
lexhibited in my last note. will say to my
lfellow:citizens that each one OF these con-
jmuncations, 80 offensive to the Chairman
and Mayor, aeas in behalf of the Bible IN the
SCHOOLS.
Some months ago I was told by member
of the Board that an effort was about to be
| made 10 exclude the Bible from the public
schools; that one teacher had directed the
scholars to take their Bibles home and not
bring them back. - - - .s-.E zy~ y
Upon hearing of the intended movement
| Of the Board, I at once. through the columns
i of the Richmond Enquirer, addressed num-
4
| ino,iring into the matter. For reasons best
4 known to himself Mr. Superintendent Bin
1 ford did not give the information asked for
But the effect of this my intolerance" was
| to save the Bible awhile to the schools. My
next intoterant communication was an ar
| ticle recommending the use Of the Bible in
the schools as text book. ..,.......--..
| And my last offence to the chairman was
] in an editorial review Of the Mayors mes-
sage. In which, speaking of Superintendent
Binfords report, j said In substance that be
had not gel had The holiness to introduce he
book arhich had better history, poetry, and
bionraplty, and more a1tSdo1n, in it than any
| book in existence. Now, who is intolerant?
7. who recommend the whole Bible, or this
chairman, who can't bear the mention OF 1t :
| Before closing this article must ask from
some member of the Board other than the
chairman little information for the public.
! It is reportod that teachers have been ar-
thorized to disuse the Bible In the schools.
Is this so? o.. s...s ~. $685..
That the Douay version is in use. If SO;
where?
/ That the Board are gradually superseding
sacred song books: substituting for them
frivolous pieces before prayers. Is this so?
1t is alleged that the Board have been
gradually accommodating themselves to the
anti-Protestant and anti-Bible spirit. So the
people talk. So old members Of the Board
sag. Is this SOP
| Mr.. A. NJ. Kelley, chairman OF, the Board
of Education, and Mittor ~ the city of Rich
mond. wifi, Ecdy of friends around him,
who, il they were not his own getting up,
were certainly the luckiest hit imaginable for
the carrying out of his peculiar views, will in
vain attempt to make a personal matter OF
what is really Il question between hlnsclfand
the people of Richmond.
| 1t may be convenient at times to stifle in
vestigation and strangle inquiry; but the
Board had best learn at once that they dare
not resent legitimate questions. / have a
right to press my inquiries without danger OF
official iusolence, and the people will re-
quife proper response; -. =, s.r. '~:~if4
| My trlIow-citizens will, trust, always
| find me faithful to their best interests,
whether I haze their confidence or not
But in the advocacy or defence of their
rights mean not to be led or driven from
my course by the arts or scurrility of any
one, even though he happen to bear for the
time, deseryedly or undesetyedls; every out.
| ward mark OF their honor and confidence. ]
AMI not aware that / have ever asked any
public favor. I trust / shall never have to
do so. Very respectfully, Il.
/ j. L. WILLIAMS.