The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-09-03
PROFESSOR BROWN.
A Meeting of COlored Citizens
Held Last Evening.


Last evening at the Recorders court
room meeting of colored citizens was
held for the purpose OF considering the
reappolntment Of Professor Brown as
principal of the Riverside school. j. II.
Holt called the meeting to order and
stated that Ii had been convened for the
purpose of investigating the rumors in
circulation regarding the above named
preceptor, and to show their dissatisfac-
tion at his reappointment.
A permanent chairman WAS then APP
pointed, Rev. Mack Henson being nOmi-
mated and elected, and Rev. j. w. Carr
fulfilling the Office Of secretary
The Chairman on taking the chair,
he said he felt somewhat honored at being
chosen rs Chairman, the object having
been started by MIR. Holt. They were
now prepared to hear whatever might he
best. lie regarded the meeting ms one
of vast importance and was one of deli
cate nature. They were not there to ar
ralgn anyone or TO talk OF the past, the
City Council which had the appointing
power of principals as well as teachers
after their due examination, and MIR.
Brown was reappOinted and Miss Ida
Harris. This was Unsatisfactory to the
community, and the patrons OF that
school. and they as citizens thought best
to come together and see what is the
best thing to do in the matter.
Holt then asked If Professor Brown
was a married man.
The Chairman in reply stated that lie
was not altogether prepared to answer
every question that might be propound-
ed. lie understood that Professor
Brown and Miss Ida Harris were law
fully married at New Braunfels on the
10th of January 1855, and he understood
what raised some little confusion In the
community this same lady received
her disappointment as. Miss Harris and
not Mrs. Brown. 1t involved the moral
character of the school where future cit
liens are framed, and If they were to let
the standard be so low as to have teach
ers questionable AS to their moral char
acter, they set a precedent for our
children and aimed very low.
Davis said 1t seemed they felt deli
cacy of entering into details of the af-
fair. AS rumor has 1t, IL goes like wild
fire. lie believed that the action of the
| NGnOOl DOhIu Dhu lnt lutl anu
: they knew nothing to the contrary that
MIR. Brown and Ida Harris were mar
red. The only objection he had to the
marriage Is that the fact was only devel-
oped since the rumor has existed. If
Brown and Ida Harris were married,
certainly this community, Brown filling
, the position he was at present, this COM
, munity, as he understood it, has certain
ly been mistreated; they should have
| b. hon ri fla..Na .a
no necessity for such profound secrecy.
The School Board said they were mar
red and 1t was well done, they as n
, people did not think so. Brown being
the principal of the best school they had
in the city, and supposed to be an exem-
plary man to intrust their children and
1 | Ii seemed that what has been done by the
p School Board was not sufficient to salts
fy this people and he believed the people
disapproved of 1t, and he thought there
. ought to be some presentation "a to
whether he was immoral or not, and he
= thought they should petition the Coun-
Gil to have these parties removed, IL
. they had the moral Interest of the people
at heart. lie was up to see the Mayor
the other day and he met him rather
. abruptly and he asked him for the IL
cense. The Mayor said to him he ought
to go to Mr.. Brown and he (the Mayor
r could not see why they were acting so In
the dark towards Brown. lie told the
Mayor that he thought the people were
dissatisfied and he had been r. quested
: to get the license and see If they were
married. The Mayor told him he had
not got it. lie said he was tired of this
5 affair about Brown. The speaker said
he could not help If he was tired, the
people were dissatisfied. lie thought
y the best action to take would be to petit
tion the Council for the removal of these
e parties If they had the moral welfare of
= the community at heart, because If they
. were to tolerate anything like it in their
4 school houses they would have more OF
i them soon. He did not want to censure
@ Brown, but simply wanted him to get
: out of the way.
p David Williams made motion that
;. the chair should appoint committee tC
Y draw up q petition setting forth the bes
: reasons possible to cause the removal o
y Brown and showing the grounds of re-
r moval.
o Richardson rose to his feet and com.
i menced stating what action the Sohoo
u Board had taken in the matter, but h,
was quickly called to order by the Chat
saying Richardson was little OIL.
The Chair considered the rumor wa
ia sufficiently mysterious concerning
Brown, he should live above suspicion
i being public instructor. They did no
le call into question the right o
lie Brown to marry as he pleased, but h
N did not think 1t right for the communit
" to sit with sealed lips when there is g
t. much rumor.
TO Riohardson-Don' you think you ar
H. too late now?
=, The Chair-No sir; 1t is never too lat
~ to do good.
II Richardson-Thank you.
pc Wilson said he thought 1t was kin
ne of SANDER to treat Professor Brown tn
st way they were doing, and he did nc
v think they were doing him justice
80 make any petition to place before tn
in City Council, and did not think III
er meeting large enough.
ut Holt opposed Wilson's views, stain
y. that he considered the sentiment of IL
mt colored people was represented at Il
n present meeting.
ys. Wilson asked the attention of Il
'at Chair, and said that the only inform
MS tion on which they proposed to dow
Der Brown was from reports that had n
ST. peared in public print, and he did N,
nst consider that sufficient to down an
hu ma
ust Richardson-r That is Just the point
IN am opposed to and | was asking you
nj, points of information on Ii.
are The Chair drew the attention OF NJ
mes Richardson that the committee to be a
AZ pointed was not for the purpose
OF "downing" any one, but simply to "A
the Council to dismiss him as prlncip