Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-10-09
Our Free Schools In Danger.


our Free Schools be continued, or shall they
be turned over to lot of political gamblers
who will shyster upon them?
There is no party that had not at heart
the true interests of the Free Schools that
we would support. We are the advocates
of the true interests of the Free Schools,
and that is the reason that we protest
against Malone controlling them. Why ?
Every man who has ordinary intelligence
and has the enterprise to take newspaper,
and can think for himself, without being
influenced by one of Mahone's agents, (who
have especial directions from him how to
seduce,) knows that you cannot turn over
the schools of this Commonwealth to be
specialized upon by politicians.
Malone has made the Free School system
political counter in his game. He cares
nothing for any thing OF body except to
further his personal ambition. His record
shows that he will grind any one to pow
der to gain his point. He has turned out
of office widows, with large number OF
children, because they could not vote.
Such man only would appoint as Su-
perintendent of Schools r. R. Farr, who is
VIGOROUSLY known as incompetent. He,
whatever may be his personal qualities, is
ignorant of the three ''R's' that any boy
Of ten years ought to know how to teach
A politician and slave to Malone, who, if
he ordered it, would say that two IRIS"
only should be taught in our free schools.
Mahones Legislature attempted to say
that every school trustee should be turned
out and appointed by Governor Cameron.
This was done on the general line that the
people have no voice in the matter, but that
the whole matter of appointment to Office
should be under the dictation of Malone,
Now what do the people think OF this p
That among and amidst them they did not
have the intelligence to say who were best
fitted for the position of school trustees, and
that they had to ask Gov. Cameron, who
would, for political reasons and misrepre-
sensations, say who would be the best 20
trustees to govern your schools in the sew
eral districts. Are you willing to put this
decision in the hand of any one man, we
care not who he is? Will you give Govern
or Cameron an opportunity to place ne
gro upon your district school board?
We think the greatest curse to free
schools is to allow them to become the shut
tie cock of politics. Upon the same grounds
we think if you turn over the church to
politicians you will do no good to the adj
vancement of religion.
The Whig says that there has been an in
crease in the number of schools, scholars,
SC, as shown by the statistics, since the
Readjuster party came into power. Grant
ing this to be the case, the question arises,
why? 1t is easily explained. 1t was by
reason of the agitation of the debt question.
The Wing shows it by its figures. What,
then, is the remedy? Stop the agitation of
the debt. Stop it now. VIII you follow
Malone into the Radical party to further
agitate the question, under Judge Bonds
decision-the political c0ntreFe of Malone
Will mixed schools be to the interests of
the free schools of this State? How many
white men will send their children to mix
ed school to sit along aside with a negro
child? Mixed schools may be 'butter
sauce" the negro, but will it be 'butter
sauce to the white man? How many of
the voters of this Stale, poor white men,"
as Malone reports you to the New York
papers) will endorse Mahone's plan of put
ting negro children in the same seat with
your daughter or child. Malone, Cameron
or Wise wont do it. They, from the spec
ulations they have made out of your taxes,
can now send their children TO Northern
schools, but you will have to take the con-
sequences. Are you willing to do it?
Gov. Cameron, obeying the orders of his
Boss, Malone, has put negroes upon the
School Board of Richmond, to say whether
any white man is competent to teach white
or negro children. VIII you endorse that ?
But the Democrats stand upon the plank
of their platform which says simply thatwe
will give the negroes every right that they
are entitled to under the Constitution Of
the United States and Of the State, but that
the Democratic party will oppose mixed
schools and mixed trustees, let it come in
whatever shape it may.
Now will any man say that to bring about
war Of races on this question will enure
to the benefit fthe free schools?
Doesn't any man know that to oppose
the platform of the Democratic party, would
destroy the free school system of Virginia :?
Doesn't any person know that if you in
troduce the negro into the school house Of
every district in the State that there will
be protest upon the part of the whole
people?
The question is simply this: Will you adj
wise mixed schools Of negroes and white
children, or will you stand by the platform
of the Democratic party, which says they
must be separate? Read the p atform.-
Democratic Campaign.