The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-30

now found out for the first time that it is tneir
duty to mix the schools. II so, first let them go
have received. because the law says that if they
do not enforce the duties assigned by this law
they shall forfeit their salaries.
| One step further, and will have finished.
care not whether the Constitution Of the Unifed
States contains the one hundred and thirty fifth
article OF the Constitution Of Louisiana; l care
not whe her the Civil Rights bill includes instead
| OF Omits the sc"ool question; care not how
carefully may have been written the present one
hundred and thirsy-ffth article; nor do l care
what may have been the legislation since to en-
force it; because, as said at the outset, there
are some things which no human legislation
shall regulate. [Applause.] The man who en-
tertains the idea that this American people can
ignorant to enjoy the few blessings we have
under the United States government. Zap
plause.l
Why, sirs, what in the name of common sense
induced in 1776 to defy the authority OF George
III? Sop and think about it. Was it suf-
ficent answer to our forefathers in 1776, and
thereafter, in he progress OF the war, when the
men in Boston harbor threw overheard the tea.
10 be to that there was an act OF Parliament
which compelled the collection of the tax? Why,
the man who has read the history of this country
so specifically as not to know that when man
| undertakes to improve upon the legislation OF
God he is doomed an ignomiDious failure. is GER
tainly unfit to advise the people. [Appiause.]
The following letter from DR.. Palmer was
then read by the secretary:
NEW ORLEANS, September Is, 1875.
Messrs p NJ Baker E. Phillips, c. Buck, and R. H.
l. Mari
! Gentemen-I am sorry that I do not see my
way clear to comply with your request to address
the meeting tonight. which is called to demo ucen
the recent School Board outrage. 1t is true the
subject is not properly political. 1t may and
should be discussed simply as one OF social order
and propriety. But, as the obnoxious policy in
tended to be rebuked has been inaugurated for
purely political ends by the partisans of faction,
It would be difficult to speak upon it without
skirting at least the edge Of politics, from which
desire particularly to refrain. l can not think
this will be any serious loss to you; as there are
so many gentlemen competent to deal with the
issue who are free from the embarrassments
under which lie.
There is one broad view OF the case, however,
under which 1t should be ruled, viz: That no
school system can flourish which is not rooted in
the public confidence After the parent, the
teacher stands nearest to the fountains OF youth,
full life. 1t is trust Of the most delicate and
sacred kind, and should be committed to none
whose character does not challenge the warmest
approval. 1t is not enough that the teacher
should possess knowledge and the faculty OF I'M
parting it. These technical qualifications are no
doubt indispensable; but, lying entirely back Of
these, is personal character. l do not mean by
this mere outward morality or freedom from
vice, but the possession OF all those high attrl-
butes which distinguish the gentleman. He
should not only be protected by his instincts
from whatever is mean and base, but there
should flow out from him an unconscious and
pervading influence, which, like the atmosphere,
should be alb sorbed by the pupil, and through
which he shall be silently but etfectualy elevated
and toned.
In regard to private schools, the parent at
tends to this when he makes his selection. But
in a system of public schools, the only guarantee
for the teachers is found in the integrity an
wisdom of the appointing power. Under our
present administration it is notorious that every
guarantee needed by the public is withdrawn
Native born teachers, known and tried, have
been displaced in favor OF strangers and adVen-
turers, for the most part, who have little or no
stake in the community. Our old citizens OF
established reputation have been retired from the
board, and their places are supplied by hungry
and factious partisans, who can suoslst only by
agitation and misrule. 1t is, moreover, openly
avoWed that the new movements have been
made as test Of the power which they WELD,
| and OF the degree Of patience which a SUFFERING
people may be made to exhibit. The whole sys-
tenn therefore ceases to be pub &c benefit, and
has become an instrument Of oppression and
wrong, against which IL Is proper to roll up q
public and indignant protest
The intermixture OF the races is too large
subject to be discussed in note like this. You
will please accept single hint. The human
family having single origin, has certainly been
broken into a few grand divisions, which are sep
arated by very obvious characteristics. This dis
tinction runs back Of all historic records. Most
Eprobably it was accomplished when the unity OF
human speech was destroyed-as part OF the
same Divine policy to prevent those huge com
binations of wickedness which brought upon the
world the Judgment of the Delug& Within these
great zones, the different varieties may inter-
mingle without injury. But all history proves
that their iimis cannot be crossed without con-
sequences the most disastrous. The attempt to
amalgamate these separate races is therefore
public crime, and exactly the crime which God
so signally rebuked at the tower of Babel. For
tunately, this instinct OF race, both with the
black man and with the white, is too strong for
all the agitations and the schemes designed to
fuse them together.
Let all necessary facilities of education bs az
forded to the colored people among US, in their
own schools and under their own teachers, and
let every opportunity be allowed for their ad-
vancement in knowledge, in morals, and in re-
ligion. But the first great lesson for them to
learn is that they can become historic race only
by the same method with every other race which
has achieved history at all, viz: by process OF
development from within themselves. II they
are incapable Of this, no amount OF external pat
ronage can exalt them to historic rank, and no
man is a true friend to that people who obscures
from their view this primary truth. The ivy may
creep upon the wall but it is only parasite. The
oak of the forest grows from its own root and
100000 b. M. PALMER.
G. F. Buck was called for, who addressed
the people as follows:
FeNo,c- C1izens-It is by no means matter OF
ease to address an audience like this on a ques-
ton Of such Importance. 1t is difficult to under
stand how this people, so apathetc, 80 quiet, has
at last been brought together, and the gathering
is indicative of the fact that we are yet alive to
| the fact that our rights are in jeopardy. This
vast crowd satisfies me that our people are alive
to the real issues presented by the action OF the
| School Board.
We are not here to discuss questions Of law;
wait until have finished, and then decide. We
are here to arraign the School Board for their
past conduct We will arraign them, first, be-
cause the board is Illegally constituted. A popu-
lation of 10000 white people demand right OF
representation and the fact that it is constituted
as it is, is sufficient TO SHOW the truth Of this
charge. The next charge is that this board is
constituted only on political grounds. The per-
sons in charge Of the education Of our children
should be pure and unsullied. Are these men sog
| Another ground OF complaint is that the Board
is scandaIousy immoral. 1 90 not know my
self of the turpitude of any individual member,
but the press for weeks past has teemed with
charges against them. As for mixing the schools,
grant, for sake of argument, they have the Con-
1 -. IL,