The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-09-22
News from Our Friends.
N.\TC!IITOCllES.
PARISH OF NATCHIT"|iil:S, }
Sept. 2I>t, ~. !

PARISH OF NATCllIT"'iiES,|
Sept. 2I>t, ~. !
White Teachers for (nlorel Schools.
ENitoy Of Fi"7icnioy:
was clad 20 see in vnnr last week :
paper. in rnnlrrl!nN with some judlcl"'>
remark: OF your OVID. that two white
teachers had already been engaged for
the ro'or"' schools Of oHrparish. This is
as it should be, and it is to I've hoped that
SO good an example will tc followed by
others. Th"ir is really no good reason
why il should not be, and many in lis
favor Still it must be conceded that
public opinion Gu this subject needs re Z.
form. Now. that Il = probable ti1at the
question will be left to us to settle, it
becomes us to look the mattr' reasonably
and squarsly i'll the face. lirsr people
are with lis, we must live with them
our interests are identical. we must try
to elevate them, or we shall certainly
fall beyond our proper level; they have
been suddenly and universally invested
with IN t." civil and political rights we
i" 49, rs they are incapable of eN-
.. ..., lrtrlligrnt|y, and We have
plnu;>''l to II rnynizr and sustain them
jH -. en- ovnrnt Of all the privileges of
N. We can not keep this promise
~ - better, and break il IN tt" sense:
w. can not supply them with teachers Of
their own color. for too few Of them are
capable Of filling Sncl, p'r"s, W" must
not in on; own interest turn them over
to their false friends. BIT one ronrS"
remains cpcn, to take the matter in nur
hands, and prov III" suitable teachers
where they can uI"',f hr found. AMONG
on: own people, The remuneration j,
ample, and we have in onr midst many
Young men of sufficient intelligence,
who With the best will in HE unrlI. can
find nothing to do. Is tlrir ami. Good
reason why they should not take THESE
piacr>' Plainly none. yet few or none
offer themselves. The Reason is evident.
1t is simply the fear Of social o>1racism-
the loss Of caste: a negro school, phew!
yet when looked at fror, proper stand
point. how unreasonable this iS-cvrry
wise person, every one who has the
good Of the community at heart should
set himself steadily against this express
sion of feeling. Suppose for Il moment
that one of these very Young men were
to devote himself to this object from
purely philantlropic Or Christian motive,
steadily refusing any remuneration,
would it really make the luty easier,
amy less disgusting, ifyou will and yet.
how few who now Snrcc at such course
would then condemn it. The fact of
receiving q compensation makes no rs-
Scntial difference. 1t is right and hon
orahlc, that one should maintain HIM
self Ivy doing What it is the plain duty
Of the community to see done. Thc
pride and prejudice. which would in
ducc us to yield less consideration to
such a person, is unworthy Of us. it is to
prove ourselves false to our promises,
unkin,l and ungrncrons to our interiors,
and unworthy Of the trust committed to
us. We are sorry to say. that the most
bitter opponents Of these progressive
measures are 20 he found among the
ladies' few young men have the courage
W ClltOuuttI tut d\ cl ttu tN', luc Cool
sarcasm. which he is likely to meet
among them. 1t is q pity, for it proves
that such persons do not keep up with
the age; can not throw off the old race
feeling, or remember the changed rcll-
tions. "rhc world moves" and we must
not clog the wheels ofproSrcss, if we can
not help them on. We do not say that
to be a teacher in any primary school
must be a pleasure, in negro school
much less SO, but where necessity and
duty plainly combine, it is not orr place
to condemn. If the persons who take
these places were worthy Of respect be-
fore, they have certainly done nothing
to diminish that claim. Let Us he gene
rous and just, and show that we honor
their courage and integrity. We must
all 10 our part to help up the social fab
re, and in this matter, a sheer, or an
idle word takes She proportion Ola sin, a
sin against ourselves and the community
in which we live. X.