New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-12-11


SAVANNAH, Dec. 4, 1873.
r. The EJit,r crHs Ns,o Rcftonal Era ehsd cai,.n
The all absorbing topics of discussion in
Georgia, and have been for some time, are
separated into four divisions--the local
topic and to a considerable extent general
is the
COMMON SCHOOLS
of Savannah, which, since 1866, have been
managed and controlled by Board of Edu-
cation appointed for life, and with power to
elect their successors. This Board is COM
posed of Democratic politcians-the chair
man of the Board being chairman of the
Democratic party Of the county. 1t has
transpred that the Board received from
various sources last year the sum of about
the support Of colored schools, notwithstand-
ing the colored children are in excess of the
whites some 400 or 500. The colored
people have held several Indignation meet
ings, and have demanded equal schools in
every respect, and published to the world in
series of resolutions the robbery which has
been perpctratcd by the Board of Education
in using their money for the support and
education Of class which are being taught
to believe that they are to live in antagonism
with the cOlOred race and to progress. As
has been stated, the Board of Education is
composed of shrewd old Democratic politi-
clans, who manage the mass of Ignorant
people in their party by working upon their
prejudices toward the negro, and at the same
time are cXpending about one-half of the
school fund for the support of schools into
which the Door are never admitted-they not
possessing sufficient intelligence, apparently,
to care anything about Latin or Greek, or
the modern languages, &C.; hence the aris-
tocracy, so-called, Of Savannah may give
their children first-class education without
paying any more for it than the poor man
pays for giving his children a common school
education.
TINE MILITARY ORGANIZATION
in this State excites great alarm among Re-
publicans, who have watched the course of
the man who declared that he would
PLAY CARDS on HIS FATHERS DEAD BODY
before he would vote for Grant, distributing
the breech-loading rifles received from the
National Government exclusively to COM
panies organized before the war, and to men
who had fought against the Government of
the United States and to-day the
CONFEDERATE ARMY,
G for a @ C,no 10 copoarpod 10, ,root;,o1l,,
recognized, armed, and equipped. Only one
colored company has received arms from the
State, sold muzzle-loaders." The Repub-
lcans of Georgia are Justly indignant at the
policy which places them at the complete
mercy of the old Ku-Klux leaders. The Re-
publicans must be relieved from this predica-
ment in some manner by the National Au-
thorties. If Republicans in this State are
to be overawcd and prevented from exercis-
ing the rights guaranteed them by the Con-
stitution by force of arms furnished by the
Government of the United States, of which
they are firm supporters, the sooner they
know and understand it the better
Governor Smith, in a speech delivered by
him recently before the State Agricultural
Convention, advocated the policy of so
amending the laws that the PLANTERS MAY
CONTROL THEIR LABOR, and declared that
the General Assembly may hold inviolate
every law Of the United States and still so
legislate upon the labor system as to re-
tain the
OLD PLANTATION SYSTEM;
or, in lieu of that, baronial ore. When it
is known that at a recent session the Iegis-
lature passed law prohibiting the selling of
produce after sunset in several counties,
where the cclored element largely predomi-
mates, under penalty of fine and imprison-
ment, and who were the only sufferers BY
this outrageous law, it will be seen that the
ku-Klux rulers ofthis State are daring enough
to carry the Governors infamous policy into
execution. Their success in distributing the
arms furnished by the United States to their
hirelngs, contrary to all justice and human
ity, will embolden them to pass any law
oppressive to Republicans and then shoot
them down with the Nations arms and am
munition. should they dare refuse obedience.
Notwithstanding the excitement and popu-
lar Indignation at the school fund misapplca-
ton, the military organization, and the Gov
erner's illiberal and infamous policy, the
greatest interest is manifested BY the whole
colored people in the question of
CIVIL RIGHTS,
which is about to put the Republican party
to the test. The people are eagerly watch
ing the course of Congress TO see what reli-
ance there is to be placed on promises, re.o-
lutions, and platforms. They have a right
to demand the passage Of such a bill as will
guarantee to every citizen the fullest measure
of civil rights; no equivocation or halfway
measure will satisfy them; the whole Repub-
lican party of the country went into the cam
paign last year with the distinct understand
ing and knowledge that their success was.
among many other desirable things, to be
obtained the permanent establishment and
protection Of every class in all the rights
which belong to citizenship. While it is pro-
bable that Administration Congressman will