The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-03
Mixed Schools.

The Lyncburg Press. the Republican or.
gan OF that city, has an earnest and forcible
kitoral upon the subject of the proposed
1ixed schools of the ci,il-riehts bill now
Ppending in the House of Representatives OF
Congress. The Press declares itself most
emphatically against such schools, and cX-
presses its belief that the majority of the
negroes Of the State are also opposed to
them.
The Press declares that the public schools
OF Virginia are now conducted fairly ana
impartisIly-the negroes having rs good
teachers as the whiteS-the whites paying
the bulk of the taxes that support the
scbools-and it inveighs against any obstacle
being thrown in the way OF their harmonious
and successful operation by "those who live
'athousand miles from US, and Whose interest
ain our people, both white and colored,
"er,ends no further than the advancement
cot their orn ends" This is very true,
put nevertheless very frank talk for Re-
publican journal, and one which we know
has stood up for the Republican party OF
Virginia with steadiness and vigor.
The Press predicts that to mix the colors
in the schools would be to take away the i'm
partiality that now distinguishes the system
The bringing tho races together would do
violence to the feelings Of both, as the Press
believes, and produce discord, tumult, and
open rupture" 1t boldly predicts the ruin
OF the system of education in Virginia
should the races be required to enter the
same schools--adding
"The colored children will be the worst
sufferers by SO unfortunate an event, he.
cause much the larger portion Of the taxes
levied for educational purposes are imposed
upon the whites. and it is not within the
range of probability that Democratic Lee
gislature will tax the people to propagate
mixed schools. In the larger towns and
cities Of Virginia the subsidy granted by the
State is but drop in the bucket, if We may
be allowed the expression, toward building
up and perpetuating our public schools, anu
if the Councils fail to make large annual
appropriations the schools must necessarily
be estopped, or be conducted upon such q
limited scale as to be almost valueless for the
great purpose in view; and who can doubt
what would be the effect Of the passage of
Ibis mixed scnool measure on those VINO
rontrol the finances as well as the destinies
of Virginia citiesi"
The editor Of the Press is a devoted friend
of the co'ored population, and in view OF
the very great success which attends our
present sohaof system 1t iis not wonderful
that he should grow very indignant at the
possibility OF its destruction by the inter
medd,ing Of fanatics and unwise politicians.
He assails Hr. SUMNER as al enemy Of the
Administration, and as having opposed the
election Of General Grant, and speaks OF
BUTLER as having been "just spewed from
the mouths OF the people of Massachusetts"
The editor protests against the use Of "the
''name of colored man to compass the pass
sage of an act 1.-THE civil rights bilI ,chtch
"aoiH as surely debdr has childrea from edu-
sectional privileges as that the sun rises
sand SETS"
This is strong language, but true. The
Press asks, IS Why should this great wrong
be done?" Yes, indeed, why?