Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-03-28
From Rich. Dispatch. March 23rd.1
Assimilation or Miscegenati0n i?

The speeches made at the negro meet.
ing held In this city night before last,
for the purpose, ~ was stated in the call.
of considering the best means of secur-
ing negro teachers for the negro schools,
have attracted much attention, and were
of such as character as might well be
expected to arouse slumbering COM
munity. We do not refer to anything
that was said in favor of the employ
ment Of negro teachers to teach negro
schools. This Is question which the
negroes ere not to be blamed for discuss
ing. We shall, therefore. pass it over
without further comment than that as
the negroes become better qualified to
become school-teachers more and more
of them will no doubt be employed to
teach negro schools But we do wish to
call attention to the outgiviDgs of the
leading negroes who participated In the
meeting to which we allude, which
show that the appointment Of negro
teachers for negro schools Is but the lad
der of negro ambition upon which those
leading negroes would climb into social
equality, ii social equality is implied
and involved in mixed schools. Those
negroes no doubt speak for their race,
and therefore their utterances are inn
portant. Let Us look at some of these.
Professor J. E. Jones spoke a. follows {:
HE said his convictions were decid-
eddy in favor Of mixed schools, and In
opposition to all others not.that he was
specially anxious to come into contact
with the white man In. order to be bet.
tered by the association-for he did not
believe this possible-but he thought 1t
best on the ground of economy, because
1t would make schools more numerous
in districts which under present regula-
ton paid tax and had no schools.
HE said the c0l0red people had not
been accorded their rights and it was
time they should claim them. He de-
ciared that races having the same re-
l1gion and speaking the same tongue
could not be kept seperate. Constant
contact would break down all barriers,
and assimilation would be the final re-
suit. 1t was only q question of time be-
fore all this would come to pass.
HE argued that he colored man was
equal to the white man in every re-
spect
HE said Democracy meant laws for
the white man, with the negro left out,
and the Constitution wore = lie on its
face In Its execution. He asked if the
colored people were willing to allow
these abuses, and loud cries of MOP
No! came back In response"
He said the negro had been recognize.
ed last fall, and would be this spring,
and ifthey choose they could make their
influence felt" ..c-..
Now notice that the utterances of the
negro who made that speech were re-
sponded to by the meeting, and that he
was appointed on the committee to wait
upon Mr.. Garnet, the Superintendent
of Schools in Richmond
Notice this Negroes words
Constant contact VouId break dOs0n
all barriers, and complete assimilation
Mould be the final result. 1t was only q
question of time Vhen all this sOould
come to pass"
That's fine prospect for the Caucas-
ians. That's such was the speakers mean
ing is evident from his remarks in call
ing the meeting to order. The same
Jones then said: .i
He believed the schools the proper
channel to break down race. prejudice,
and while it was probably not quite
time to have mixed schools in Rich
mOnd. it was only right to have colored
teachers for color. d schools"
mot quite time TO have mixed schools
in RichInond" ,r.r
Listen to a negro member of the Leg
islature. A letter was read from r. 6.
L. Paige, of the House of Delega ties,
stating that he Was opposed to pro
scriptive system of public schools. He
didn't want school for white or black,
but school for American children.
Blacks and whites together constitute
american childrenP' The present
schools, according to this negro law
maker, are "pr0scriptive."
Only one negro Cornelius Harris
showed any respect for the prejudices of
the white people. OF course he was not
hOnOred with place on any committee,
nor with any office in the meeting. We
give below the names of all the negroes
mentioned as having taken part in the
meeting. These are representative men
of the negro race. If any one of them is
opposed 10 mixed schools. we will give
him the opportunity to say so. We de-
sire to know, not whether he thinks 1t
mot quite time to have mixed schools"
but whether he has the pride of the
white people, who are now and always
will be opposed to mixed schools. Rev.
A. Binga, chairman E. A. Randolph,
secretary; C. II. Payne, John Oliver,
N. P. Vandervall. s. D. Jones, Thomas
Hay, aud E A. Randolph, committee
in the meeting; and e A. RandoIp h,
John Oliver, J. E Farrar, J. E. Jones,
and o. M. Steward, committee to wait
on Mr.. Garrett.