The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-03-12
A RIGHTEOUS MEASURE.

cordance with the genius of progress
s.ve American ideas, more important
in its bearing upon the future citi-
zens OF this State-especiaily those nf
other than white parentage-more
just and equitable in its provisions
more righteous in is aim, than Sen
ate bill No 200, elsewhere printed
in full introduced and pressed to
successful issue in the Senate this
week by Senator Youngblood, of Nor
ris county.
1t confers no special privileges upon
any class; it guarantees to every
child in this State the rights to which
it IS entitled under the Constitution
of the United States and the Consti-
tuition of the State of New Jersey
OF part of which large number have
for years been illegally deprived the
right OF equal educational advantages.
1t is measure, in the success OF
which every parent, every fair-minded
man, but more especially every col
ored man, is deeply and particularly
interested. No matter how poor, nor
how humble, nor how black he may
be, it will enable him to give his child
the same free school education that is
given the child of the wealthiest citi-
zen of the State.
The one inestimable privilege, the
one great right which the State OF
New Jersey has always denied to the
colored people within her borders, is
this right of equal participation IL
the educational advantages enjoyed
by every other class of her citizens.
And it is the great need of the col
ored people. Education is the
mighty river which makes the great
sea of intellectually f.; the great mold
ing power, the controlling agency in
establishing true civilization. All
other agencies are but continent
streams-tributary to this omnipotent
force in determining the character
and capacity and possibilities of the
race. Full, free, equal opportunities
for its requirement, the black man in
New Jersey has never had. The pas
sage of this act will give it to him
Senator Youngblood did a brave
act, a great and noble act, in the in
PRODUCTION of such measure and
he has discharged his whole duty in
the premises by securing its passage
by the Senate, of which he is an hon
ored and influential member. Now
let the colored people themselves show
that they appreciate this service, that
they understand the advantages which
such law will give them, by seeing
to it that the bill is speedily reported
by the Committee on Education and
passed by the House.
There are great many so-called
leaders of the colored people in this
State. Now let us see how many Of
them are really leaders and how many
merely pot-house politicians. The
passage of this act is worth more to
the race than FIVE hundred petty Off
ces. Who will aid in securing it?
Let every man who cares aught for
the future of the race do his share
toward its accomplishment; let him
call upon the member whose consti-
tuent he is, and urge him to vote for
the bill, and then come to Trenton
and see if he does it.
The Eclectic Club, the Colored
Mems State Executive Committee, the
Union County Equal Rights Associa
ton, and every representative body
of colored men in the State, should
send committees before the House
Committee on Education, to urge the
Justice and necessity of an early and
favorable reporting of the bill. This
must be done at once but two weeks
Of the Session remain. 1t is openly
boasted that this bill shall never get
upon the calendar of the House of
Assembly. See to it that it does.
Once there and it will surely pass.
And then the equal opportunity for
which we have been struggling so