The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-10
THE SPIRIT OF THE STATE PRESS
The Race Question.

The VdHey Virginidn says that IL wouid
be hest for negroes 10 manage negro schools
and whites 10 manage white schools. we
have said nothing on this point. What we
object 10 il n mixed board OF negroes ana
whites 10 manage white schools. The
question raised by the Virginidn Is an en-
tirely different one from the one we have
been discussing. We maintain that no ne
gro should be made q trustee over white
| schools. III the law makes one board man
ace both white and colored schools, then
every member OF the board should be a
white man. And so say the white people
OF Virginia. Richmond Dispatch.
orr contemporaries have raised, or
rather. IL would seem, are seeking TO avoid
an issue between themselves on the qlles-
ton Of the relation Of the two races to each
other. We agree with both OF them. The
Vafley Virqini1p is right in saying itwould
he best for negroes to manage negro schools
and whites to manage white schools. Inc
DiSpqfch is right in saying ii the law makes
ono hoard manage both white and cOlored
schools. then every member OF the Board
should be a white man. The VirgiHidn
and Dispatch agree in this, that the
School Boards ought not 10 be "mlXed,"
in part white and in part black. Wen,
gentlemen, editors, IT would seem when
there is such cordial agreement between
YOU in principle, there ought not to be any
difference in practice. Do not your own
principles require you both To advocate
a change OF the law, so rs to give the
management OF white schools to boards
composed exclusiyelyO OF white men aud the
management OF negro schools to boards COM
posed exclusively OF negroes! The EbpO-
nent will join hands with you in advocating
such change OF the law. Such law would
he in harmony with the law fOrbiddiDg the
intermarriage OF the races, the law estab-
fishing separate schools, separate regis
tration-ists and separate military COM
panies. and With the voluntary action OF
the negro race, since the close OF the war,
i'm establishing for themselves separate
church organizations. 1t would be in
harmony also with the law OF nature.
You have, in the controversy between
Yourselves, hit upon sound principle,
| and we beg you will not stop short, but
carry it out to its legitimate results.
Your principle is based upon the fact that
the races are distinct by nature, and, to
be I'm harmony with it, all our laws, as far
rs practicable. should recognize this fact
lHtlu DOl Stth W iViliiil1A' thWNN Nh'hi
God has separated, each to itself. Let
| the two schOol-systems be separate in all
things, in the boards to manage them as
well as in the scholars. Let all the taxes
paid into the school fund by the negro
race be devoted to the support OF the
negro schools, and let all the school taxes
paid by the white race be devoted to the
support Of the white schools. What. Mr.
Valey Tirgiaidn, does the white race in
the Valley, from Frederick county, on the
northeastern border, to Lee, on the eX-
IRENE southwest, say to this: And what,
Mr.. Dispatch, says the white race from
the Blue Ridge to the shores Of the
Atlantic ana Chesapeake What says
/ the negro race? Which OF YOU will speak
for them. and what does justice demand !!
Come. gentlemen, speak out. The EIpO-
nent has it, convictions OF justice and pub
lie policy, but out OF respect to it, seniors
who have raised the question, defers to
them. 1t can, we think, with safety say it
will follow them, provided they are agreed,
and we do not see how they can differ. II,
however, they should not, the Exponent
will not be slow to uphold either it shall
think right Cmpeper Exponent.