The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-26
Why Not2

The Coxlitionisfs Of Warren county
passed recently in public meeting the fol-
lowing resolution:
4. That we ere In favor Of securingto the
colored people the civil and political rights
guaranteed to them by the Constitutions OF
virginia and the United States, but we are
opposed 20 mixed schools and socisl equaii-
". and favor colorcc teachers fer colored
schools and white teachers sor wh''e
schools.
Warren county h In the northern part o.
Virginia. where there are ccoparativev
few negroes. The Coalitionssts OF tias
county adopt the school resolution OF the
Lynchburg platform so far as mixed
schools and the Jewellers for all the puo'ic
schools are concerned, but they say never
a word as TO whether they are In favor OF,
or opposed to, that part OF the Lynchburg
resolution which declares for white u'is-
fees for white schools and negro trustees
for negro schools.
WHY II thisy why isit that white men
who ayow their hostility to social equality
and to mixed schools, and their preference
for negro teachers for negro schools, and
white teachers for white schools, should
maintain profound silence upon the sub
lect OF the management OF the public
schools y--should not dare TO say that they
desire the white schools TO be managed
md the white schoohteachers to he elected,
nv white trustees, and the negro schools TO
he managed, and the negro teachers elect
ed. by negro trustees? II there were any
nroyision of the State or the Federal Con-
stitution which would be violated by such
a law as the Democrats proposed in their
Lynchburg platform it might be ac-
knowledged that there was good
reason for this singular silence upon
the part Of the Coalitionists. But
the Warren Coalitionists do not even
pretend that there is any such obstacle in
the way. And, by the way, if there were
anv such obstacle In the State Constitution,
II would require but few years to alter or
amend that instrument so rs to obviate that
objection--a period not worthy Of the least
consideration in view OF the important in
terest1 involved and the breyity OF that pc
Rod compared with the lifetime OF State.
But there is nothing in either the State or
The Federal Constitution which would pre-
vent the passage OF such law as the De-
mocrats Of Virginia propose.
Can't the reader guess, then, why the
Coslitionists are afraid to. come out for
white trustees for white schools! We
think he can. We guess that 1t is because
the negroes are anxious for the recogni-
ton involved in the appointment OF ne
groes as trustees Of white schools. 1t is
impossible that il can be because white
men desire TO divide with the negroes the
honor OF managing the white schools and
of electing the white teachers. 1t cannot
be because the negroes desire to divide
with white men the honor OF managing the
negro schools and OF electing negro teach
ers. II must be, therefore, because the ac-
ton OF CAMERON, FAIR, and BLAIR in APP
pointing two negro trustees for the public
schools, white and black, OF Richmond
city has stirred up an ambition in the ne
gro which will be satisfied with nothing
less.
Suppose General MALONE had made
year ago to the negroes the same PROPOSE
ton which the Democrats made 10 them
through the Lynchburg Convention: how
would they have received it? With glad
shout-with unanimous approval. A year
ago the negroes would have considered it
the greatest favor which had ever been be-
slowed upon them by their white fellow
citizens OF Virginia II the management OF
their own schools, including the election OF
teachers, had been offered TO them by both
the Democrats and the Mahoneites. Why
are they not satisfied now with that liberal
propositions Let CAMERON, FAIR, and
BLAIR answer.