The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-10-31
THE co-EDucATIoN OF THE RACES.

What then would be the practical result, as
respects educated. of the SO called Civil Rights
Bill, as originally introduced into Congress by
Gen Butler? Would it secure the co-educa'
ton of the races? Impossible! Would educa-
ton be facilitated in any way! 1t would .inev-
itably be destroyed, az public affair. Every
state in the Union now has school system Tor
both races supported at public expense How
long would such school system be maintained
in the fifteen ex-Slave States? just as long as
would be required to go through the forms OF
law needed to destroy it! and no longer, ex-
cept in those wretched states where the me-
groes and their allies dominate over the prop
erty therein In those states some sort OF sys-
TEN would be maintained for the benefit OF the
negroes, or ut least money would Ostenslbly be
raised for the purpose.
AZ to this being the opinion among men ac-
a,iainted with the state OF the case IN these
states EverybOd knows it, black and whlte;
and. therefore the blacks do not desire mixed
schools. aud the real friends OF universal edu-
cation do not desire it. whatever may be their
political theories There are now more than
million and a half of children. white and black.
in the public schools of ex-Save States. What
would be the subsequent reputation OF any
statesman who would aid in passing law. the
these school children out of doors!
But what of the great future! Are we for
ever To go on thusl There is no need for us TO
solve social and economical problems tor un-
born generations. We have our hands full
with the present Do not let us spoil our work
for the fear of setting bad precedrnts. Our
children will be- sufficiently progressive. Inc
prcudicrs which disturb us now will run their
natural course and SO far AS they are merely
pr,judices. will end The tidal wave which
NAV be- omnipotent in its pride, sinks exhaust
ed nt last on the bosom OF the deep unques-
tionably the tendency of mankind Is toward the
oblitrration of race-distinciions and 1t Is seen
in the brightest -centcrs Of clvilizafion as
we'll as among the lately secluded people OF the
East Some Of the most cultivated Caucasians
have declared their preference for a melted
socicty-or as an eloquent orator expressed II.
for rainbow of colors on the social SKY.
And in the most polished courts OF Europe, not
onl, has the Turk. th. japanese, The CHINA
.nan. and the Persian received the highest So
cial recognition, but the same has been accord
ed Ia the despisrd African.
Hence. in arguing for the policy advocated
in this paper il is not done IN ignorance OF the
tendencies of the race at large. or with any ex-
pectation that We can anchor here. Nor Is
there a disposition 10 d.sparage the intellect OF
the negro. or 10 discourage bun in hls aspra
tons.
Those who have chosen 10 take back the
Ethiopian race into the remote past, kno"
that IL too has had lis heroic agent IN which III
led the civilization of the world And those
who have studied the remote causes out o'
which have grown the diyersiies In the hnman
race. aud the influences which gradually de
press or elevate any particular race or class OF
men. know that there Is nothing IN either the
history or the present condition OF the African
race to preclude the idea. that in the great III
ture it may possibly Though not probably at
tain an equal rank in all respects with The
foremost of the other races.
But the fullest admissions of such facts ant
possibilities ms these does not affect the truth
of the declaration. that at least during tn
present generation the attempt to mix tn
white and colored races in the schools OF III
teen States of the Union. is not only as impos
sble rs to equalize socially the Brahm'ns an!
Pariahs of Hindoostan but if forcibly pressed
would defeat the general education OF boti
races.-W II. Rutfner in Scribner's tor May