Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-06-26
Sthuuton Spectator.
tMESDAY.- JUNE &c. 1883.
! Sound and Patriotic Views.

Il
We copy the following from the Rich
mond Dispatch of last Friday. In intro
ducing it, the Dispatch says:
"a few of the citizens of Augusta county
have sent to us the following paper as ex-
pressing views which they would like to
come before the Democratic State Conven-
ton soon to assemble in Lynchburg. These
gentlemen do not claim to speak for all the
Democrats of that county, nor for anybody
but themselves.
81 Though the gentlemen who sent the arti-
Gle following to the Dispatch, do not claim
to speak for anybody except themselves,
yet we believe that they express the senti-
ments of not only majority of the Demo
Gratis of this county, but of the whole State.
Read it.
fsTo us it seems clear that but one great
and controlling duty belongs to that Con-
vention; and that is, discarding all consid-
Grafton Of national issues and Federal poll
tics, to address themselves to the work of
so recognizing the Democratic onserva-
tive forces Of Virginia as shall enable them
in November next to recover the admins
tration of our public affairs, both Stateand
municipal, to the actite race.
We aver in the outset our perfect will
ngness that the negro shall enjoy, and be
protected in the enjoyment, of all his con-
stitutional and legal rights. One of the
many proofs the white people of Virginia
have given of their willingness and wish to
promote the best interests of this inferior
and dependent raceis that they have taxed
themselves to support, and have almost
wholly supported free schools for the ne
gro, affording him exactly the same facili-
ties and advantages for educating his chill
dren that we have provided for cur own
children, with this notable exception: that
we have at no time since the Inauguration
of the free-school system applied or appro-
priated 100000, nor any lesser sum, to
normal school for aehite children, as has
been done for negro children. We have
done this while we are bearing the heavy
burden Of national and State debt and OF
individual and private debts.
And now if that race think it for the ad-
vantage and betterment Of their education
al condition that their children shall be
taught and their schools managed and su-
pervised by their own color we have naught
to say against it. We shall, in a certain
contingency and upon certain conditions,
continue TO give our aid in supporting their
separate schools, as we have Individually
given them what aid we could in building
their separate churches.
But Usere the line must be drawn.
For if, misled by scheming politicians,
they shall essay to take any charge and con-
troll OF the white schools, examining and ap-
pointing their white teachers, supervising
and directing our children at school, then
we warn them to beware; for the white
men of this Commonwealth will very quick
ly see to it as to what disposition shall be
made of the funds they contribute from
their hard tolls to educational uses.
We seek neither to flatter nor to brighten
them, but to speak few words of plain,
honest truth to them. We ask not their
votes in amy political matter, nor for any
political or other candidate Of ours. We
would be simpletons, indeed, to do SO. Sew
enteen years of steady observation has
shown to us that whenever an election came
round - Federal, State, or municipal
whatever the law-abiding, property-hold-
Ing, Conservative citizens Of this State de-
sired, that thing the negroes marched
against i'll sold column whatever things
inspired at and engineered from Washing
ton city those same Conservative citizens
treated end stroge against, those very
things this race have banded themselves to,
gether TO strive and fasten upon lis.
We repeat that so long as the negro shall
cuefuliy keep himself on his own side Of
tile line-not seeking to mix himself up in
our schools and our social liie-so long will
We faithfully strive to extend to him every
protection guaranteed to him by the Con
stitutons, both State and Federal
II, Oh the contrary, not content with this,
they shall band themselves together to pre-
eipitate q social struggle, it can possibly
lead 10 but one result, and that is the band
ing Of the great mass of the whites of the
State into an opposing body and profound
ly deprecating, as we do, any such struggle,
Yet if it mast come and when it comes, we
have 10 fears for its issue