The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-01-27

ARE MIXED Schools possible ?-The
very pertinent question remains, Whether
such schools can ever be secured at the
South 1t is hard question to answer.
But he who says they cannot be is prompt
ed in his answer by his feelings rather
than his judgment. There certainly
stands squarely across the road most
precipitous wall Of feeling and prejudice.
But this generation has seen many such
walls melt away under the light of sound
reason and common sense. The time was,
when black man was hooted on the
streets of New Haven because he wore
good clothes it was an objectionable
assumption of manhood. We can hardly
understand such n feeling now. And
why should be be considered dreamer
who supposes it may be as difficult for the
next generation to understand the present
feeling against non.proscriptive schools I?
Within ten years the blacks have become
freemep, voters, legislators, and guests at
the National Inauguration Ball. Every
steI has been attended with opposition
and hutter of apprehension. But the
general acquiosoencc and quiet which
have followed every such change is still
a matter of astonishment to us. la near.
ly every Northern college, blacks are not
only admitted, but welcomed. Few Of
the country schools make any distinctions
and every year secs one or more Of our
large cities abolishiug the distinctive col.
ored schools. These changes are all il
one direction and the logic Of them is
that truly common schools are, with u.
dicious effort, possible in the South
There is college in Madison County
Kentucky, with some three hundred pu
pills, which has had, for eight years past
nearly equal numbers of nativc.borr
blacks and whites. They sit side by sidt
in the chapel, in the recitation room, anC
college boarding.hall, having no discorC
within, or disturbance without. The mum
ber Of its white pupils is increasing som,
who were rebels, and are still opposed t,
its principles, being among its patrons
Another institution in Marysville, Eas
Tenn, has had some black pupils 70
years. Not few country schools ca
be found where no distinction is made
If all the facts bearing upon this poin
could be collated, not only the enemies
but the friends, of non-proscriptive school
would be astonished.
The necessary change ehowevor, in pub
lie opinion, requires further discussio
and experience. Few men feel that the
can give an intelligent judgment upon til
, question. But the nation as whole
fast becoming satisfied with the change
| already made, and will soon consider di
, passionately this other most momontot
t subject Even in the present lanentab
e disorders of the South, it requires no o.
timist to see, that, in the delay thus a
. forded, the old oligarchs Of the South al
( losing prestige ard power, and the bligh
5 ing principles of Il slave society are dyr
= out while men stamped with IDEAS b
0 gotten of poverty and toll are being ed
a Gated, and made worthy ofpower Di
: tinctively American principles are takir
/, root, aud will ultimately bear the trui
t of peace and prosperity. Certainly, un
1 these changes do take place, tumults W
e not cease. 1t may be that permane
= quiet will be attained only upon the a
vent of pon.proscrriive schools.-N
{. e. FajrcljH, u. OH 0um Nor !