The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-06
The End.

will be thousands Of voters at the polls be
fore this mornings DiSpatcA is received
hundreds Of them In this city. We could,
therefore, reach but few readers with rev
appeals II we felt IKE making them. But
there Is no necessity for them. The pcpu-
lar temper Is at white heat, and needs cooI
ing down rather than being raised higher.
There Is majority OF three or four thou
sand white voters in this city. Conscious
OF their strength both at the ballot-bcx and
in the streets. the whites have nothing to
do hot 10 I've cain. cool, dignifed, decided,
and not unduly excited. There ought to
be no trouble anywhere; and certainly not
In Richmond. Proper measure VIII be
taken by the authorities to insure peace
full election during the day and quiet streets
at night.
Let us make a retrospect. When Gov
ernor CAMERON said two years ago that he
would " carry Africa into the war;" he be
gan to pursue the policy which eliminated
in the appointment OF two negroes to be
trustees OF both the white aud the colored
schools OF this city. Boards OF trustees
have the power Of electing and dismissing
teachers. The Board OF which the two
negroes were made members has In fact
removed twenty-seven white teachers from
negro schools. 1t was permissible for
whites TO teach regro schools, seeing
that the teachers occupied the re-
lalion OF master or mistress to the ne
gro pupils. We do not object how
ever, TO the displacing OF the white
teachers from the colored schools. But
surely 1t was an outrage to reverse the
natural order OF things and put negro
trustees over the teachers OF white schools
and make them the associates Of white
trustees at the very time that negro leach
ers were placed over all the Negro schools.
This totally unjustifiable act OF CAMERON,
FAIR, and BLAIR was done, and could have
been done, for no other purpose than to
crafty the negroes, and cause them TO
vote solidly for the MALONE candidates for
the Legislature. 1t was evident that no
higher motive actuated the Governor and
his associates on the state Board. And the
people saw through the trick, and resented
it. 1t was in vain that presidents were
hunted up. These effected no change in
public sentiment. The people felt that
there had been no precedents; that the
motive was the thing; that appointments
made in the interest OF the white people
were not the same as appointments made
in the interest OF the negroes. The charges
made against KRMPER and WALKEIfell dead.
Governor KENPER indeed assured the pub
lie that he had never knowingly appointed
a negro to he trustee OF white schools;
but his protest was not needed, as the
ayerments OF his opponents had not been
needed. Instinct proved itselfto be strong
er than unexplained facts. CAMERON had
doomed his party to defeat.
Blu. here let us take care not to do inius-
tice even to Governor CAMERON. Grievous-
" has he sinned. But he is entitled to
even-handed justice. He could not stop
the ball which he had set in motion. He
saw, however, what his act might lead to,
and must have forecast what has now hap
pened when he said that II the worst came
to the worst he would take sides with his
own race.
The Lynchburg Convention declined to
draw the color-line. 1t foresaw danger,
and made most liberal offer to the negroes.
"Giye u.s." said the Democrats to them,
"give us control OF the white schools, and
ortx. of oil a
schools, besides paying your teachers out
OF our own pockets" Alas, the negro
had been taught by Governor CAMERON to
make higher demands; he wanted to be on
the Board OF Trustees with white men,
and would be content with nothing less.
A year ago he would have accepted the
proposition with gratitude and thanks.
But CAMERON's apple OF discord, cast down
amongst the negroes, had changed them
altogether. They went solidly against the
Democratic offer, and with the party which
justified one mixed School Board. and by
implication promised more Of the same
kind. The entertaining OF tins hope led
to others OF like nature, and to still high
or demands ia prospects,.
Well, TO make 4 long story short, the
election is upon us, and to-day the voters
OF Virginia are to decide whether Gov
eruor CAMERON was iustifable or not in
his most famous act. The issue has forced
itself to the front in spite Of the Lynch
burg Convention. Of Coalition denials and
explanations, and OF all the efforts OF Con-
sentative Democrats TO staye it off. There
Is nothing more unmanagcable than human
nature. II they come in conflict with it,
"The best-laid plans OF men
Gang aft agiey"
Human nature-Caucasian human nature
could not stand negro trustees for white
schools. And the result OF to-day's cleo.
lions in Virginia will show that hundred
thousand negro voters will not suffice Ia
make majority out OF the few thousand
white voters who Justify CAMERON, FAIR.
and BLAIR.
We make no partisan appeal. We simply
recognize the facts as they stand before us.
We VIII only repeat that the issue we are TO
decide to-day has forced It's way to the
mont Let us thank Heaven that 1t will be
decided Alright. II not
~ro-morrow and To- morrow and tomorrow.
But never fear. 1t win be decided Alright
0nlydo your duty.