National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-05-15
THE COLoRsD SCHOOLS.


'''.S ~ sS'1stou W wv OFsult Of inc ADVANCE
mont-A Gard from Mr.. Henry johnson.
EDIroR REPUBLICAN You have, in your
editorial comments OF this date upon Mr.. Fred
Douglass, In saying "that improvement In cduca-
ton, OF which Mr.. Douglass correctly boasts, is
due In great measure to the assistance rendered
BY white school men and educators" stated in q
nutshell the principal objection raised by prom.
nent colored men against the consolidation Of the
white and coored school boards without consoIi.
dating the schoois-not that they objected to the
association, but to tho American principle that
negro can do nothing creditable unless under the
Immediate supervision Of his white brethren
with no desire to detract from the ability and
usefulness OF tho white gentlemen composing tho
present and former efficient school boards, 1
must In common fairness, protest against n dis.
through their representation In tho school board,
OF the credit duo them In the manag ement OF the
pubic schools for colored children.
The colored schools OF washing ton and George.
town have, with tho exception OF the hrst years
OF infancy been under tho INN sdiate control and
lence they hayo attained In tho way OF progress
and general management must be accorded
81 Ri h Cook and the colored managers
assertion that from tho dato Of con soida ton to
the present, not ono single charge Of any material
consequences, either in rules or studies, have been
made in the coored schools. 1t may be said that
We are over sensitive Can you bla inc US for being
enough Is accorded ans whom dSl En0T nttls
effort for seltadvancement do not, for argument
sake, deprive US OF that little. The workshops
OIL nearly every branch Of industry are, on ac-
count Of color, closed against onr boys yet we are
deriiei Tor not having more mschanics artisans
and scientists. For the education Of our youths
We have under the most adverse circumstance,
battled, and when credit is given we are ennded
that We are Indebted to our white citizens. !
crave the association of superior minds, whether
white or black. and my personal knowledge OF the
Whlts gentlemen who have served as trustees
since the consolidation induces mo to say that
there Is not one Of them but will accord full credit
70 their colored associates IN the mana cement OF
tho schools under their immediate control.
concede with pleasure all that Is claimed for
tne citizens OF Washington In contributing for
these schools, and, as apparent, feel, when gaze
upon the beautiful Sumner Lincoln, L0yeioy and
Randall school buildings. truly grateful Tor the
generosity which prompted the taxpayers in
paying Tor their crection feel more so when |
contrast their liberal spirit with that OF the Gen.
eral Government, which has, In many lnstanc es
been uyGrgcnerOus in donating lands Tor educa.
tonil purposes, yet have never contributed one
dollar towards educating the thousands brought
here through Its instrumcntalty. The colorcd
people are not only gsatofui to the citizens gene
rally, but h ave warm spot In their hearts for
the honorable CJmmissiOners OF the District of
columbia Tor their vigilance In protecting the
tunh set apart Tor the support OF these schools,
aud point with pride to the new Randall and
John D. Cook school build ngs, the latter rising
Phoenix like from It's ashes las practical eyiG enee
OF their desire to DO equal ami exact justice to all
HENRY JOHNSON,
May IL, 1871. ~ VI street northwest.