The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-08-09
The New Departure of the Demo-

Editors Valley Virginidn = TIL e VindicdtaT does
well to call the free school plank in the Demo-
have added "a new bid for the negro vote, for
that is the real reason of the existence of such Il
plank in the platform of such a party.
Prominent coored men in Staunton have been
interviewed, and have expressed themselves
favorably in regard to that extraordinary plank,
on the ground that itwoud increase the indi-
scho OILS would prove tobe ofincalculable bene-
fit to the race, and would greatly encourage col
education. We will not. in this paper, discuss
the wisdom of the plank as a practical solution
of free school difficulties, but let ''consder
the source from which this proposition comes. :"
1t comes from q party that has never sup
ported the free schools willingly; that diverted
q large sum of free school money from its legit-
innate channel; whose free school superintend-
ents have almost unanimously discouraged col
ored educators by failing to recognize their ac-
quirements, giving certificates which they
knew We're below the rightful grade in order
that white teachers might not feel that the me-
gro was as well qualified to teach as they were
Il party whose school trustees would not pay Il
colored teacheras much asa white one, tho his
certificate of the same grade; trustees who
would not furnish decent house in which the
colored children could be taught; trustees who
lett the colored SchoolS free lndeed-free OF
desks, free of benches, free of blackboardS, in
fact, free of all the appurtenances necessary for
the successful operation of a school. This prop
oSition comes from party that virtually de-
clared education to be luxury, to be paid for
by those who wished to enjoy it; a party that
has for fifteen wears been casting ignorant mig
GER in the face of the colored race knowing ut
the same time that that slavery i'll which they
held the negro was the cause OF his ignorance
Il party whose every newspaper set up Bour-
bon howl because Gov Cameron put two col
ored men on the Richmond School Board for
the avoWed purpose of looking after the colored
schools of that city; party whose school trus-
tees committed the further crime of spending
white children, while the colored children sat
i'll places worse than barnsl This is the party
which wishes now to take "a new departure. -
(And have not enumerated one-half their
SinS,)
1t is time this party ecas taking "a new de-
parture,' but let them ''bring forth fruits mete
for repentance" before any colored men who
have the interests of their race at heart, en-
dorse any of their plans.
Just before the convention met a great many
Bourbon organs We're advocating a color line
plank. i but the willy politicians were sharp
enough to abstain from all abuse of the negro
tn me, and instead of having for their battle
cry their old familiar war whoop white mans
party Iney nave taken a new departure Win
the motto: "Colored teachers and colored trIs-
tees for.colored schools
The Lynchburg Ne,ps says the colored people
will now have u chance to demonstrate whether
they have confidence in themselves, but hold
that the question to be solvedno is not wheth-
er the colored people have confidence in Hen-
Selres but whether they have confidence in tn e
Democratic party. That great party which one e
rode triumphant in Virginia. but having fought
against every measure brought forward III the
interests of the people, and having failed to ac-
complish its ends, now steps forward and claims
to be the especial champion OF the colored race
by advocating two distinct sets of school Off
GERS in every township to manage the free
schools, which are acknowledged 10 be III the
interest of the whole population.
CoOred men OF Nirginia. this new Departure
is not for the protection of your interests, but
to further the aims of the Democratic party
They do not inaugurate this policy because they
love the free school SYSTEM but because they love
office and pCaCer. They now wish to ont Herod
Herod himself, and virtually make the bid that
il the Readjusters have, in few years, increased
the number of schools and teachers they will
go further; they will put all the colored schools
under the control of colored men. But what
we need is not more control; we want more
school, better schoolhouses, equal pay for teach
ers of equal grades, and colored teachers for col
ored schools which we did not always get under
Democratic rule for the best colored schools i'll
the State have heretofore been given, as gem
eral rule, to white teachers, and that by the
great conserVatlve democratic party, though it
well known that competent cOored teach
ers could easily be found. LOUD professions
need record to back them. No one desires
mixed schools. Every colored teacher knows
that if there were to be mixed schools in this
State he wouldn't stand any chance at all of
getting employment in them, for every free
school would be taught by white teacher. The
record OF the Democratic party of Virginia is as
it could not administer the school laws properly
as now laid down, it certainly would not be
wise for us to entrust an entirely "new de-
parture to the care of such a party.
The true policy for the colored man in Nir-
ginia now, is to be in favor OF the party that
favored them when the schools We're almost
paralyzed because Of the action of those who
considered the free schools too great q blessing
for poor people to enjoy
The time is not far distant when we shall have
the free schools established on a better basis,
and when we shall have colored teachers for
colored schools. equal privileges and advantages
for our children, and that without restoring to
power a party which was hurled from power
few years ago because it had proved false to
ever trust reposed in it, and had shown itself
incompetent to manage the affairs of Il pro-
greSSiye people.
The NEW departure is q highly-sWeetened
bait, but fear it would prove to be 'appleS of
Sodom" to us should we even nibble at it, so we
may wisely 'let well enough alone n.