Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-01
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES !. 1884.
Governor Cleveland and Mixed
Schools.


A gentleman in Fluvanna writes to Us -
know whether Governor CLEVELAND ever
approved bill whereby mixed schools were
lcgalized In the city of New York. We
were once told In New York city--and we
have no doubt OF the truth Of the assertion
that negro would place his life in peril II
he were 10 undertake 10 drive dray on
broadway. There are thousands and tens
OF thousands OF Irish voters in the State Of
New York, whose prejudices against ne
grocs are as strong as are those OF the
white people OF any southern state. l. IL
likely, then, that even Republican Gov
ernor, much less Democratic Governor,
would dare 10 favor mixed schools in that
Ssel The story carries its own contra
diction on the face OF it. But we have the
positive testimony OF Governor CLEVELAND
that the rumor is untrue. Mr.. ANDREW J.
BUITs, OF Augusta county, wrote TO Cover
nor CLEVELAND himself on the subject, and
received the following reply:
EXECUTIVE MANSION.l
ALBANY, October 90, 1884.
Dear Sir,-The bill Governor Cleveland
signed was bill continuing separate c0-
lored schools In the city Of New York. No
bill OF the kind you mentioned ever reached
him. Very truly yours. &C..
DANIEL :. LAMONT.
Private Secretary.
Mr.. Andre,o j. Butts.
mo bill OF the kind ever reached him."
That is what Governor CLEVELAND himself
says through his private secretary. No
further testimony is needed. That declar-
alton settles the question.
But Mr.. WILLIAM Il. CRAIG. chairman Of
the Republican Congressional Committee
Of the Staunton district, has published the
following as law which was made laY
by Governor CLEvELAND's signature;
"section /. The cOlored schools in the
city Of New York, now existing aud in OPP
erstion, shall hereafter be classed and known
snd be continued as ward schools. and prl-
marles, with their present teachers, unless
such teachers are removed in the manner
provided by law, and such schools shall he
under the control and management of the
school officers Of the respective wards in
which they are located in the same manner
and 10 the same extent US other ward
schools. and shall be open for the educa-
ton 81 pupils for whom admission Is
sought. without regard TO race or COLOR
Mr.. CRAIG processes to believe that the |
above law was intended to establish mixed !
schools. The law itself shows that it was
intended only to make a change In the
management OF the negro schools. which
sre hereafter to be managed "dS other
,eam Schools" We presume the new law
follows in its phraseology the old law-the
law passed when those schools were estab-
Iished-and that In the old law The phrase,
without regard to race or color" is used
10 describe negroes just az a similar phrase
namely, "the right OF citizens TO vote shall
not be denied or abridged on ac-
count OF race, color, or previous condition
Of servitude." These words were put into
voters, not TO make voters OF white men.
so in the Statutes Of the United States,
wherever the phrase - on account OF race
or color is used. II is used 10 describe
and protect tie negro. We argue, therefore,
that the same phrase used in the law quoted
above was used because the schools spoken
Of are negro schools, and for no other rea-
son. In the original act the phrase was no
doubt used for the very purpose Of show
ing that those schools were to be negro
schools. Having been established, they be-
came known a. negro schools. When,
therefore, the law was amended. they were
described n "cOlored Schools" and the
phraseology Of the old law was left in the
closing part OF the new law. And those
words "on account OF race or color" prove
only that the schools in question are negro
schools.
But who passed this law: Mr.. CRAIG
furnishes proof that il was passed on the
9th day of May, 1884. Turn 10 the 1ribUHe
almanac for 1SSi-named for BLAINE'S
chief organ, aud published in the Tribune
ofee-and you will see on page 80 the fol-
lowing figures showing the composition OF
the Legislature tina, passed the above-quoted
law