Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-05-15
tug coLoRED PARTY.


rscent colored convention at Nashville
has unexpectedly been forced upon the
neonle Of this State as an issue in the
anroachipg campaigns. The positions
assumed there have been unequivocally
endorsed by the colored leaders and
followers of Memphis. While the
white people do not insist upon the right
10 send their children to the colored
schools, the colored leaders at least in
sist that their children should be admit
ted to the privileges of the white schools
In thus insisting upon mixed schools
they inadvertently confess that their
children are not the equals of the whites
except when seated on the same benches
and placed by law upon an equal foot
inv. Under the school law of the State
the colored children receive their pro
rata of the school fund, although their
parents pay very little of the school tax.
and are entitled to as good teachers and
accommodations as anybody, and this law
was advocated warmly by the LEDGER
and the Democratic and liberal papers
of the State, and voted for by Demo-
cratic legislators. The white people pay
the taxes and yet undertake to educate
the colored children of the State at their
own expense. If it could happen that
the colored people owned nearly all the
property, had an immense majority, and
were in complete control of all the
affairs of the State, would they be as lib
eral toward the white childreHi From
their present unreasonable demand, we
cannot think they would not be so mag
unanimous. They would be more likely to
tax themselves OILY to educate their own
children and leave the whites to take
care of themselves. The fact is clear
that a few designing of6ce-seeking lead
ers control the colored population, and
while the masses are sstifed, these sgita-
tors are bound to keep themselves be-
fore the public, even if it brings disre-
pute and evils upon their whole race.
They are demanding too much, and it
bodies them no good. As we said
once already, they can simply take
their ehoice-separate schools or no
schools at all. And when the white
people of the State cease taxing them
selves to sustain public schools the COZ
ored youth will grow up in ignorance.
for there is scarcely an instance o! a
we'll conducted colored school in the
State sustained by their own private
contributions. OF course there are a
few endowed institutions, but the funds
comes from the Government or in the
way Of donations. This issue has not
been raised by the white people Of any
party in Tennessee. The colored race.
after being treated with the greatest
consideration and liberality, demands
not only equality before the law but
social equality. showing plainly that
they feel equal to the whites Only when
in their presence, sitting at the same
table and received in white peoples par
lors. 1t is most unfortunate for them
that they have precipitated this question.
They are all protected in their rights
and enjoying the full fruits of their own
industry. But even this is not enough.
A year ago they denounced Sumner
and Horace Greeley, their lifelong
friends while they we're in slavery, and
now even Senator Brownlow is deemed
unfit to lead them any longer, because
he ceases to Astter their vanity, and
gives them some wholesome advice. In
their infatustion, they have turned their
backs on all their benefactors. started
party defined entirely by color, and
now threaten to rebel against the gov.
eminent that gave them their freedom.
The issue is plainly made by the negro
element of Tennessee, and the white peo-
pie will govern themselves accordingly.