, 1885-04-01
SEPARATE
4 Contributor Thinks Colored People
should Determine the Matter.


To the Editor OF THE LEADER.
CHEYENNE, March STA petition
was recently circulated addressed to the
board of trustees asking for a separate
school for colored children. A number
sisnedit- Under very great misapprehen-
sion bothas TO thepowerand object Of such
action on the part of the board, ofense
was taken and things were said that the
speakers themselves will laugh over when
they fully realize the result that could be
accomplished.
But why sign such a petition +?
First, Because it was believed the
colored people were signing and wantedi it.
Second, Because where they had con-
troll Of the matter they had separate or
CARNATIONS, as in their churches, and in
Boston, where their friends are strongest,
in the public schools.
Third, That they might have a gradu-
ate of college of their own color who
would assist both in their social and in
tellectual advancement, and this would
naturally lead to their having a represen-
tative on the board Of directors. As it is,
it is not believed a colored teacher will be
put in the schools, and thus they have no
representative among the the teachers or
directors. Oh, yes. says Mr.. Director,
they are represented by the white trustees
and teachers. Well, sir, suppose we turn
the other end Of the stick, and in a town
where the eolored people are in the
majority they represent the white people
by having all colored trustees and
teachen-perhaPs there would be no
growing. Now, is it not fair to give them
a school and teacher of their own. or give
them a teacher in the mixed schools?
Fourth, A colored minister, a few years
ago, said to the writer he hoped the day
was not far distant when the colored peo-
pie would be able to have a school of their
owp, so they could have an intelligentlady
or gentleman Of their W race to be in
their midst to add to their social, as well
as their intellectual improvement and
pleasure.
Fifth, Pamphlet laws, 1884, section 43,
says: "Where there are fifteen or more
colored children within any school district,
the board of directors thereof, with the
approval of the county superintendent of
schools, may provide a separate school for
the instruction of such colored children -
Now suppose the board passes a law
making a separate school building and the
county superintendent approves. They
must still farther have the consent of the
colored people, or the whole thing falls to
the ground Why? Simply because the
United States law forbids the making Of
any race or color line in public institutions.
In conclusion. With separate organi-
cations of the colored peoples own choice
in churches and lodges, with separate
schools where their friends are strongest,
with no representative among the teach
ers or directors, with the desire expressed
by some of their most intelligent people
for a separate school, with the law of our
territory providing for it, with the law of
the United States absolutely protecting
the colored race from an illegal distinction
not of its own choosing, with all this, it
does seem that the whole subject had bet
ter be dropped. If the colored people do
not want separate schools they certainly
will not be forced upon them.
JUSTICE.
March 81. 1855.