Daily Republican., 1883-03-14

against the education OF the cOlored peo-
pie of the State. 1t is hard to conceive
how any man can conscientiously op.
pose the better education of the colored
people. Looking back over the past we
can partially excuse that paper for the
stand it took against everything which
tended to improve the moral, mental
and intellectual advancement Of thu
colored people away back in the days OF
slavery and even for years after they
We're set free by the arbitrament OF
armed forces. But there is no excuse
now whatever for such unreasonable op.
position. Delaware of all the States OF
the Union is the only one of the old slave
States that has made no special provi-
sion tor the education of her colored
people 1t is now over twenty years
since slavery was abolished and yet un-
til two years ago owing to the opposi-
ton Of such papers as the Delawarean,
the State had never given one cent to
educate and advance the colored people.
Even then it sparingly agreed to give
twenty-four hun lred dollars annually
for that purpose a sum far too small
and out Of all proportion when com
pared with the amount appropriated for
the schools of white children. This do.
nation was disbursed to the colored peo-
pie through the Wilmington Association
for the moral improvement of the col
ored race of Delaware. In spite of the
persistent opposition to the mutual i'm.
provelnent of the colored people by such
papers as the Delawarean and the bale
full influences they exerted as partisan
organs, the colored people of Delaware
have improved their condition lfthey
had equal facilities for improvement
with white people they would have
shown by this time a more advanced
degree of Improvement. For the oppo-
sition to such improvement the Della,
warean and its partisan supporters are
responsible.
Slavery was introduced into the
American colonies by the Treasurer, an
English ship in 1913, and it was brought
to an end by President Linroln's Eman.
| cipation Proclamation, issued on New
Years day, in 1868, having run a course
OF 24j years. A survey of the present
condition ol the coI"red population OF
the United States shows greater pro-
gress than the world has right to ex-
poet from the colored race in IA period
OF only twenty years of freedom. The
antiquity OF the race ante dates the Dirt
of Christ 5000 years and the history o,
the race has chiefly been one IF seryi
tude
1t was not to have been expected tha,
the removal of the Sllark les Of The slave,
would Immediately raise them to The
level of Il more fortunate race, bur j.
cannot he denied hat freedom has re-
suited in the coIured man steady pro.
greSs III industry and intelligence. Tn,
Increase i'll population Of the cuiurcI
people assures the nation that they viii
! always he an important element in its
politics. WHEN til" Revolutionary wa,
began there We're only 800, 900 slayrs
III the colonies and WHEN the Emanci
patton Proclamation was issued tllrr,
We're 1000 900 The census for 1888,
shows Ia" "ntlr" roIoT"d population oI
the matt ion 10 be &. $50 1!y. The Remark.
able increase in number during tht
twenty year, OF freedom is not more
wonderful than the "i"ylriou Of the
social and Industrial condition vt the
roIurrd people, The better education
these people receive thr better citi-
Gems they will make. II looks to us a.
hrart1ess III the extreme tor Il partisan
/ press thai controls a partisan inliuritN
of the people to oppose whatever wuul,
advance the mental and moral cundi
| ton of the "olored people and then
accuse them afterwards Of being ignDr
ant and inferior beings. Happily tn,
! Delawarean stands alon" in its Spitrfu
opposition. Other Democratic paper
have seen their error and are now nd
vOcating more extended educational ia
riliti"s to the c"lored people of the State
The motiv" for doing So shall not b
questioned by us. Education vii
make a cOorrd man Il better Rcpubli
can, ii better Democrat, and, best of a Il
u better citizen, and thungh we rcgrc
/ IT, say il, We must say hat We lOOl
upon thos" who put instructions in tn
way of the mental and moral develop
m"nt If the colnred people of Delaware
rs enemies 10 progress and the good on
! der OF society.