Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-08-21
Policy Of the Coalition Party.
MIXED sCHooL-BoARDs, MIXED SCHOOLS,
AND MIXED MARRIAGES.
Us possible.

MIXED sCHOoL-BoARDs, MIXED SCHOOLS,
AND MIXED MARRIAGES.
If the negroes are qualified to act as
trustees on the Public School Boards, then
they are qualified to constitute, exclusively,
the Boards of Trustees of negro schools,
and to act for their race without any inter
ference from the whites and if they are
not qualified for that position, they should
not be put on the Boards of Trustees to act
for white, as well as colored, schools. If
they are not qualified to act for colored
schools, it follows, q tortiori, that they are
not qualified to act for both white and coll
ored schools, as they are doing in Rich
mond by the appointment of the Coalition
State Board of Education.
The Democrats are opposed to mixed
school-boards, mixed schools, and mixed
marriages, and propose that the white
schools be controlled exclusively by white
people, and that the negro schools be con-
trolled by their own race.
The only argument advanced in opposi-
ton to this policy is, ''that the negroes are
not qualified to control the sch ools . but
this argument, if valid, proves too much for
those who favor mixed school boards; for
if the negroes are not qualified to act as
Trustees, they should not be put on the
Boards of Trustees. If they are not qualifi-
ed, as the Coalitionists maintain, then why
do they insist that they should be PUT on
these Boards? ''Tell me, gentle shepherd,
schools for, if the view of the Coalitionists
be correct, they are not4ualitied to perform
the functions of that Office. If not for the
benefit of the schools, it must then be for
the benefit of their party. And to get the
negro vote for their party, Shey think it
wiser to have mixed than unmiXed school
boards, because they think the negro will
be fattered by it, as he aspires to social
equality with the whites and they know
that the negroes are sagacious enough to
see that the first step towards mixed schools
and mixed marriages is mixed school
boards. And that is the secret Of the poll
cy Of the Coalitionists in advocating mixed
school-boards. They know that their adj
vocacy Of that policy encourages the ne
groes to believe that, ultimately, they will,
through the agency of that party, secure
what they are most anxious to obtain
mixed schools, mixed marriages, and per-
feet social equality-and in this the negroes
reason well, for such, in our opinion, would
be the ultimate result Of the success of the
policy of the Coalition party.
Whether the negroes be qualified or not
to act as trustees of school-boards, we are
very sure that they think they are, and they
would hail with pleasure the privilege of
taking exclusive control of the education of
their race, if they did not expect to bring
about social equality by commencing with
mixed school boards and that is the rea-
son they decline the proposition to take
control of negro schools, and insist that
they should be represented on the school
boards for white schools. To effect their
object, they now, with mock modesty,
plead their ignorance and incompetency,
and decline the proposition to act exclusive
ly for their own race but if this be the true
reason, why do they insist on acting for
both the white and colored races ? 1t is evil
dent that they favor that policy which leads
to social equality, and that they do SO for
that reason, and for that reason alone and
it is equally evident that the Coalitionists
have shaped their policy accordingly that
they may retain the almost solid negro vote.
Those who favor social equality with the
negroes can vote, consistently with their
views and wishes, for the Coalition party
but those who oppose social equality can
is the first step which COSTS" and should
avoid taking that step in the wrong direc-
ton. We know that many who act with
that party, and in this section majority of
its white supporters, do not desire social
equality, and do not believe that such will
be the result of the success of that party,
but they have not given this subject the
thought its gravity demands. They should
remember that the will of the majority of
party will prevail, and that the negroes
constitute large and controlling majority
of that party, and that they will not be
slow to use their majority to effect their
will. The whites of that party will be in a
helpless minority, and they will be required
to obey the behests, and to comply with
the demands Of the negroes. These de.
mands they will not make till they are sure
OF their power, and that will be when they
find party in control of the State whose
tenure Of power depends upon their votes.
Then they will make their demands. and
the white minority of that party will be re-
duced to the alternative of granting them,
or of surrendering the power with which
they have been invested and those who
have proper appreciation of the character
and greed for Office of the leaders of the
Coalition party will have no difficulty in
determining which alternative they would
choose. This influence is already having |
its effect, as is shown by the action of the |
State Board of Education, composed of |
Cameron, Farr, and Blair, in the appoint |
ment of negro trustees for white schools |
the position on that subject assumed by
the Coalition party; and the speech at
Danyille of the Coalition Postmaster of
Lynehburg touching the subject of mixed
marriages.