Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-03-14
OUR COLORED CHILDREN.
The Grand Demonstration Yesterday on
the Opening Of the New Public
School Building.
Interesting Ceremonies at the Beale
Street Baptist Church-Addresse
of Mr.. President KOrtreeht.
Speeches by Mayor John League, Judge
Henry q. Smith, and Others
Scenes at the School.

Yesterday one of the most interesting
events of the year, aud IN some respects
the most interesting in the history Of the
city, took place at the colored Baptist
church on Beale street, being the cere-
monies incident to the opening of
the very handsome public school-build-
ing on Clay street, completed only q
few days since, and set apart for the
cOlOred children Of the southern part of
the city. All the leading colored men
and women of Memphis were present,
and every seat in the large and hand
some church edifice was filled. We
l Oticed, among the prominent white
citizens present and on the platform,
Mayor League, Messrs. FTankland, Kor-
trecht, Pierce, Dent, Cook, Wiggin,
DwyeT, Vernon, Marsh, Turner, Hunt,
p Thomas, II. e Andrews, Farris, Judge
II. @. Smith, DR.. Mitchell, Judge Heis-
kell and DR.. Clark. Rev. E. c. Asbury
and Rev. William Philips, of the
coIored church, were also present, the
former leading in prayer, in the course
of which he gave thanks for what we
have and are, for the past and present,
and the hopes of the future. 1t was an
eloquent and impressive petition, and
was concluded with The Lords Prayer.
President Kortrecht, of the
school board, then arose, and delivered
the following
ADDRESS:
Mr. KortTecht said: This should be and
doubtless is, day OF great rejoicing and
gladness to the cOlored people of Mem
phis. For the first time they have 8
good public schoolhouse, decent, pro-
per aud appropriate for their children.
We have assembled here to have some
appropriate exercises commemorative Of
the event, and to go and formally take
possession of this sehooIhouse. For
this especially should the children who
attend the Clay street schools rejoice
and give thanks. They, the children,
are to be principally benefited. They
are to have, and are having, benefits
and advantages their parents never en-
jOyed. What future is opening for
the colored children now in COM
parison with the children and of
their parents and ancestors! Chill
dren, if you make the best use of
your opportunities; If you prove, as |
hope and trust you will, to have the ca
pacity for development and culture,
there is no station in life TO which YOU
may not aspire. Among statesmen and
profound thinkers at this day, the value
of public schools is conceded. They are
the greatest inducement to immigration
and growth of city or country; the
chief protection against vagrancy and
crime. 1t is g simple problem for
the property owner and taxpayer
whether he prefer comparatively
light taxation now for public schools
for all our children, white and black;
or four-fold heavier taxes hereafter to
support paupers, and to punish crime.
ALI statistics and all history prove the
appositeness of the common proverb:
An ounce of preventive is worth a
pound of cure.' We would have the
ounce of our taxpayers substance:now
for support of public schools, and save
the expenditure of pounds hereafter for
pOorhOuses and prisons. The board of
education of Memphis desire it under
stood, and would proclaim it from every
house-tOp if they could, that our public
schools are open, and invite the chill
dren of all to come-rich and poor
white and black. The Clay-street
schOOlhOuse has been erected, and all
our public schoolhOuses have been pro-
vided, and schools have been established
and ali carried on IN the interests of no
party, class or sect, religious or other
wise. They are alike for the benefit of
all who choose to come-whetherr rich or
poor, white or black, humble or proud
without regard TO nativity or birthplace,
and whether born bond or free. Here,
in the public schools, all are equal, all
are free. The poorest, the humblest, and
the darkest, may here alike aspire and
strive for the greatest learning and the
greatest good, aud through these, when
attained, rise to the brightest stations
men and women can reach. While in
dulgiDg in these hopes and aspirations,
| would like to present another thought.
Let us do Justice to the Over-burdened,
taxpayers of Mem phis.
Our public debt is large, cur business
and property taxes are heavy, in fact
they are almost unbearable. The great
bulk of these taxes are paid by COM
paratively small number of persons, the
and large property owners.
While our children, to make them bet
ter members Of society, and better fit
them for usefulness in life-are being
educated with means thus obtained, we
should and must give all due thanks and
praise to our patient, public spitited
people, who, for the greater good In the
future, pay taxes for the education Of
poor and rich, black and white alike.
True, our school taxes are the lightest
part, almost trivial, in comparison
with our other public taxes believe
about one-twentieth part of the taxes
the people of Memphis pay are for the
support of the public schools. Small
RS they are, they are our only depen-
dence for buying ground, building school
houses and for support of the schools.
The schOol-board has no revenues of
its own, has no taxing power, no means
to pay teachers and carry on these
schools, except as taxes are levied and
collected under the mandates and re-
quirements of our school charter, by the
mayor and general council of the city.
The schOOl-bosrd is but a subordinate
branch of the city government, charged
only with the duty of providing school
houses, employing teachers and carry
ing on the schools, as means are
furnished US by the princi-
pal and reponsible city gov
ernment. On the mayor and
council rest all your prospects,
children; all the prospects and hopts Of
all the poor children of this city for
public school education. Let this, what
ever may be the fate of the schools in
the future, be remembered by all; and
let us all unite in q sincere prayer to
God that the hope and dependence of
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