The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-07-18
The School Question.

In another column we publish thu
act in relation 10 colored schools, upon
which the people Of the State will be
called to vote in August. We desire
to be understood as being in favor OF
the law. We hope all fair-minded
men will read the act carefully and
then cast their votes for Ii at the COM
ing election. We do not propose TO
advert to the causes that have made
the enactment of such a law necessa-
ry. However humilialing and NOR
flying it may be to white man to
admit that the negro is his equal, it
is fact recognized by the courts Of
the country, and in collision with law
sentiment generally amounts TO
naugIt. This state Of affairs exists,
and viii continue 10 exist. 1t Is not
likely that the social barriers sepa-
rating the two races will ever be re-
moved. But in matters OF citizen
ship all are upon an equal footing.
The colored man is citizen with all
the rights Of citizen and one Of the
rights guaranteed TO citizen OF Ken
lucky is free education. Whether or
not he shall be given this right, is to
be decided BY the people at the polls
IN few weeks. Its a matter that
should receive the thoughtful consid-
Grafton ofeyery voter in the State.
The negro is asking for knowledge
and the best interests Of the State de-
mand that II BIO given to him. Edu-
cation enlightens, eleyates and emo
bles people; it lessons crime, II pro-
notes morality and men for bet
ter and more intelligent exercise of
the inalienable rights of citizenship.
The negro is a citizen; educate him
and he will make better citizen. Let
him continue to grovel in ignorance
and he will continue 10 crowd eur
jails and prisons with criminals. Let
il not be said that Kentucky with her
broad acres and well-filled money
vaults, with her progressive ideas and
above all with her overwhelming
Democratic majority, discriminates
between her citizens, educating por.
tion and allowing others 10 grow up
in ignorance. The meagre assistance
given the colored people in their
laudable efforts TO educate their chill
drcn is entirely insufficient. II is
true that the negro has an;agonized
The dominant party from the time
lie was given suffrage, but this is no
justification for Withholding education
from him. Enlighten him, let him
think for himself and he will see who
his friends are and will vote accord
ingIy. Even if he adhcres TO Tho Re-
publican party, 1T is better to have
an educated than an Ignorant party
opponent aud he should be given an
equal amount of The achool fund. The
increase in the tax will be trifling and
its results will be great TO the coloreG
people. The pallry two cents will
treble their fund and remove the oh.
noxious poll tax of one dollar, and
their property instead FLEEING taxed
for school purposes alone will be
taxed as oil other property is, aud the
unjust discrimination will no longer
exist.
| II will be observed that the I'LL
does not allow the races TO be educa-
ted together, but simply gives them a
pro rata of the school fund. This il
just, fair and proper and il the peo-
pie do not give II to them they will
demand It, and the courts have al.
ready decided in their favor. Judge
Baxter, at Paducah, has decided that
they have right to demand nh equal
share of the school fund, and unless
provision is made for them the white
citizens MAJ have cause to regret
that they were not disposed 10 con-
form 10 the law that is higher than
the State law. Let the Democrats Of
Kentucky pass this law upon general
principles of right and justice, TO say
nothing Of other weighty consilcra.
lions which circumstances may de-
velop In the future. We do not wish
TO straddle this question or 10 remain
silent. We believe It is'right and
hope Democrats will vote for it.