The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-02-16
OLDEST PAPER IN I
THE COUNTY. !
rSprinpfieId Republic.1

LOCAL prejudice is the only obstacle
standing in the way of the admission
of colored children to the public
schools in Springfield on precisely the
same terms as white children are ad-
mitted. There is not one member of
the Board who does not know that no
discrimination ought to be made
against single colored child-to say
nothing of hundreds-in the city of
Springfield, by the body with which
he is connected. Certain members OF
the body alluded to are Christian gen.
tlemen and have hopes Of Heaven.
But what kind Of a Heaven is it to
which they are going? Is it the one
prepared for them by the Divine Be-
ing who is no respecter of persons, or
are they having an improved kind OF
Heaven prepared especially for them,
from which people who are common
and unclean"-black people, let us
say, by way Of illustration-shall be
excluded? What is to be the motto
Of the Board, iu general? Is it to be
Equal rights and privileges to all
men-except negroes?" And if it is
decided to exclude negroes, how long
will it be before other classes Of eiti-
zens will be confined to certain dis
tricts or houses, as if they had small
pox, or some loathsome or infe ctlous |
disease?
We admit the fact Of local preju-
dice. We concede that it requires a
manifestation Of moral courage and
nerve to stand up in the face of it and
do the right thing. No doubt there
would be clamor and hubbub on the
day when the school doors Of all the
buildings were thrown open to all,
but it would not be permanent nor
prove at all disastrous except to those
who should exhaust their wind and
collapse! The Board should stand in
a most noble and commanding posi-
ton; on solid ground; with good
consciences void Of offense, assured Of
the approval Of God Almighty and of
the civilized world, and although
Rome might howl awhile the sun
would continue to rise and set as usual
and a great moral and constitutions
question would be settled forever, be-
cause it would be settled according to
right principles.
Let us say, in this connection, that
the action of the Board in refusing to
DO its duty, is having very bad effect
upon school children. That they
should have prejudice is not at all
strange; They know no better than
to entertain such feeling or feature;
but they ought to be so instructed
and trained as to overcome an UNI
worthy and hateful feeling against
my class or race Of human beings.
They should be taught out of the New
Testament that God hath made of
me blood all nations Of men, and out
# the Constitution and Laws of the
Land that all men are equal in polit- ]
cal rights and privileges, and that no
lass of people, of whatever color or
condition, can be prescribed or dis
eliminated against by any official /.
body.
We have no doubt that if each
member Of the Board would act from
;he standpoint Of his own preference,
feeling and sense of justice, the school !
loors would fly open at once! Every t
nan should. so act. All members o
we're elected, not to carry out the t
deas Of Tom, Dick or Harry, but to b
10 their duty, according to their own a
ense Of right. And they should do b
10, should the Heavens fall the next i
But the Heavens would not 3
.all. They would smile. I