The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-07-12
ARTICLES 1876 AND 1886.
[From the opelousas Courier.l

members of the Senate and House were |
parties. We now wish to show the !
truth of this statement, and at the
same time the untrustworthiness of
such a body in the important matter
of framing the organic law.
The amendments propose to leave
intact Articles 1856 and 1856 of the Con-
stitution. They are as follows:
cart. 1876. The General Assembly
shall establish at least one free public
school in every parish throughout the
State, and shall provide for its support
by taxation or otherwise. Al children
of this State between the ages of six (6)
and twenty-one (21) shall be admitted
to the public schools or other institu-
tions of learning sustained or establish
ed by the State, In common, aoiE1t0at
distinction of race, color or previous con-
diEiOn. There shat de no seDnTute
schools or institutions of learning es-
tablished exclusively for any race by
the State of Louisiana.
Art. 1876. No ns,<aicihat corporation
sAoW make assy rules or regulations con-
trusy to the spirit and intention or Ar
ticle one hundred and thirty: 1Sue."
It Is quite evident that the Republic
cans consented to vote for the proposed
amendments on condition that Articles
1856 and 1876 should remain in the Con-
stitution as part OF the law of the
land, and 1t is also equally evident that
Democratic members Of the Senate and
House acceded to this demand.
We are well aware that this thing is
sought to be explained and justified on
the ground that the question of mixed
schools has ceased to be agitated and
has been practically settled. 1t it be
true that the colored people have ac-
quiesced in the separation of the public
schools, the Democrats should have de-
manded the elimination from tho Con-
stitution of so obnoxious a feature, on
the ground that it misrepresented the
wishes and purposes of both races, and
upon the same theory the representa-
tives OF the colorcd people would have
assented to it. But the simple fact
that the Republicans refused to vote
for any of the amendments unless these
Articles were retained, and that they
voted for oil of them upon that condi-
ton, shows plainly enough that the
principle is not conceded by them, but
Is retained and only awaits favorable
opportunity for agitation, if not for
practical enforcement.
] Neither Is it true in fact that the ag-
itatiOn of this question has ceased. We
have before US copy of tho New Or
leans Observer, paper edited and
published by colored men and as an
organ of their race, which contains
thirteen editorial articles on this SUBJ
ject, and insisting upon the enforce
ment of the law in respect to mixed
schools. It repeatedly reminds the
judges of the State that to refuse to en-
force this provision is to commit peaj.t-
judge could refuse to obey these pro-
visions, without violation of his oath
to support tho Constitution Ct the
State? It can not be done. Hence,
tho public school system of the State,
in its most important feature, rests,
not upon law, but upon the violation
of it, and it may be broken up at any
time that race prejudice or partisan
interest may determine to do it.
But the argument that tho question
is practically settled against mixed
schools, put forth at a time when we
are asked in effect to assent to and re-
incorporate in the organic law these
| obnoxious provisions, places tho people
| of this State in a most equivocal and
mortifying dilemma. Suffer these pro-
visions to remain in the Constitution,
but with the understanding that thoy
are to be violated throughout the
State! Consider, if you please, the
spectacle of the enlightened and free
people of great State, whose history
is illustrated'by the best civic virtues
of tho Anglo-SaXon and the Gallo
race, deliberately consenting to place
the commonwealth in n situation SO
Illuminating!
Let us have done with such truckl-
ing policy. 1t will disgust and break
down the Democratic party, if it be
insisted upon and carried out. You
cannot justify such measures by any
appeal to reason or to the law Of neces-
sity. The Same power that rescued the
State from Radical dominion is willing
and able to reform all the abuses
. inflicted by IsadicaIism and to elm.
mate from the law all the ubomina
tions engrafted upon it, unless some
insidious and selfish influence inter
venes to prevent it.
. And this restoration aud reform can
be effected without bargain or com.
promise, and without lowering tho
standard of public or private virtue
Let the people demand n Constitu
) tional Convention. The best Interests
of society, the safety and existence o.
the Democratic party, the adjustment
of tho organic law to the interests ans