American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-10-25
MIXED SCHOOLS.

MIXED SCHOOLS.
When Charles Sumner determin-
ed to force his hybrid bill down the
throat of the United States Senate,
objections were made to it, where
upon he threatened to oppose the
Introduction of every bill brought
forward until his was disposed of.
Mr.. Bayard, who had wisdom and
sagacity enough to see the perni>
ciOus effects of so monstrOus an alb
surdity, opposed its passage in a
speech of much power and elO-
Quence. In that speech he showed
conclusively that charity did not
demand it; that justice, either to
the blacks or whites. did not de-
mand it that it was as unnecessary
as it was unealled for, and that il
was a mere act of visionary zeal, a.
cruel as it was unwise. On the
floor Of the Senate, surrounded by
the sympathisers of this infamous
measure. he made the bold an
noucement that there was not
Senator present whose vote would
be cast in favor of the bill, who
would permit his own children OF
grandchildren to attend a mixed
school, or have any association with
the offspring of the cOlOred race,
but who, by his vote, would force
the poor whites to submit to a social
degradation that was revolving to
his own pride of character. The
bold speaker uttered great truth,
and We advert to the circumstance
under which it was pronounced, to
show that it applies with as much
force to the leading Radicals of
Mississippi as it did to those Radi-
Gals in the United States Senate
who gave it the sanction Of their
votes.
This ultra idea of progress and
equality, as advocated by the Radi-
Gals, seeks the overthrow of every
safeguard that has been hitherto
thrown around the social organism.
The loud clamOr for equality made
by these political disorganizers, is
but the evidence of that demorali-
cation in society inseparable from
revolution; that seeks, under the
name OF liberty, to inaugurate Ii
cense, and in its desire to overcome
the restraints of law, enthrones
passion and prejudice in the minds
and hearts of a race that, left alone,
would never have desired such
equality as this bill contemplates,
and which can never become re-
cognized law 10 the South. The
object of Sumner, and the silly
fools who sustained him, was not
80 much to place the negro in pos
session of a legal right to social
equality with the whites, as to
arouse the basest instincts and pas
sions of their nature. No humans
tartan interest entered into the con-
ception of q bill that outraged every
principle Of justice, and which was
the origin of the effort now being
made to force degradation upon
the poorer classes of our fellow
country men, which is opposed by
every law, human and divine. The
prejudice of an illiberal mind; the
passion OF a blind impulse. aud the
design of a contemplate and un-
principled selfishness, constitute the
all-controlIing influences of this ac-
ton on the part OF the Radicals.
Garry ont their miserable theory
and it will make the liberty guaran-
teed by the provisions of the Con
stitutiOn to consist in the destruc>
ton of every barrier interpOsed be-
tween vice and virtue-between So
cial refinement and moral Obliquity
and degrade knowledge by eleva
ting ignorance to the same exalted
pinnacle of dignity and position.
The ultraism of a political phil
osophy that seeks to remove the
only barrier that circumscribes and
protects the social fabric, under the
plea of liberty and equality, is dan
gerOus in its tendency, and should
meet the righteous condemnation
of all lovers of law and order. 1t
behOOves our people to protect
themselves against the cOntamina-
tions of social philosophy that
will prove destructive to the best
interests of society, and be of no
advantage whatever to the negro.
This can only be done by cleaning
the Augean stables of the corrupt
men who have well-nigh destroyed
our rights and liberties, by remov-
ing the only guarantees and obIiga-
lions in which we can repose in
honor and safety.
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