National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-03
MARYLAND,
An Omen Letter to Senator HamiIto,

An Open Letter to Senator Hamilton.
To tie Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: In your issue of to-day March y I see
in the report of the Senate proceedings that
Mr.. Hamilton, Of Maryland, is credited with
the assertion that "the last Legislature of
Maryland levied $500, 900 for the education of
white and 500, 900 for the education of eolored
children"
Now, Mr.. Editor, that astute Senator has
fallen into error in that assertion, in so far as
relates to the appropriation for the education
of colored children-let US be charitable enough
to suppose unintentionally.
The facts, sir, in the case are simply these:
At the session of the last Legislature of Mary
land the Committee on Appropriations in the
lower House reported s25, 900 for the support
of colored schools, and, strange to say, after
entreaty and protest on the part of the Repub-
Hcan members, that body-having a majority
of the ''best friends Of the colored race" the
modern Democracy-actually refused to in
crease that amount, and passed the bill as re-
ported. When it went to the upper House,
the Republican Senators, led by the popular
Democratic Senator from st. Mary's county,
after hard fight and worthy but fruitless
attempt to fix the amount at 100000, finally
effected compromise by obtaining an amend
ment, which barely passed, allowing $50 900,
which amendment, after much renewed parti-
san opposition by the "best friends of the COL
ored race" was concurred in by the lower
House by a small majority, and thus stands as
the State appropriation for the education of
the colored children.
As far as relates to Mr.. Hamilton's "error,"
Mr.. Editor, might close just here; but as in
cident TO this subject, will mention that, since
the adjournment Of that Legislature, the DEM
ocratic Senator above alluded to has "passed
away" and am informed by Democratic au-
thority that CHS Democratic constituents so
derided him and discountenanced" his manly
effort in behalf Of the colored people-and thus
indirectly of society generally-"that, smart
ing under the disapprobation of a confding
constituency" he yielded more readily, "under
TeuorSe," to the attack Of an otherwise control
able disease.
This vile SANDER of the dead, Mr. Editor, I
do not believe. 1t seems to me, sir, that If he
were troubled at all by this condemnation"
it was because a constituency he respected and
be so much given up to ''man's inhumanity to
man." or Democratic inhumanity to the col
ored man. Over the "civil rights BILL" as
passed, feel no ecstatic enthusiasm, because
believe the "cream" of the whole-"eaual
facilities for education"-has been ignobly sac
rihced to the Moloch of blind and ungodly
prejudice.
AS much as 1 am in favor of all the rights
conferred by this bill, l am sorry, beyond ex-
preston, that it passed Without a guarantee
for education to its poor, degraded benef-
Charles. 1t is such liberal % States as 'My
Maryland" that desire to see compelled (if
they will not Voluntarily to furnish "equal
facilities for education" to all their children,
and not TO be allowed TO discriminate at the
ratio Of three to one against the colored chill
dren, as is nearly the case in Maryland, If Mr..