Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-12-05
The CoIored People of the South.
Il. l

philadelphia Times.
The colcred men of Kentucky have been
holding at Lexington a convention ''sald to
be tina ablest convention Of the colored race
that has yet assembled in the State" This
proceedings were orderly and harmonious,
and the convention is believed to represent
fairly the colored citizens Of Kentucky. The
resolutions and the address adopted are in
teresting as statement Of the grievances OF
which the colored people in Kentucky, and
TO greater or less extent in other Southern
States, complain. The convention petitioned
the State Legislature net for social rights,
but for the removal of certain discrimiua-
tions against the colored people. The reso-
lutloas ask for she removal OF the diserimi-
nations in law against the organization OF
negro militia companies, and in fact against
colored jurors, for normal and other schools
for eolored pupils, the erection Of all school,
houses cut Of q common fund and system
of compulsory education, and for the pas
sage of stringent avs against mob law and
against discrimination by Kentucky rail-
roads.
1--WE are charged frst-cIess fare, - saws
the resolution against discrimination bv the
railroads, land refused hrst-Class accommo-
dstions, and in many CAGES our mothers and
wives and daughters are forced to ride in
smokinS-cars and sometimes on the plat
form, with no apparent redress" This is
certainly a serious injustice and ought TO be
allow the colored people in the same cars
with the whites, it is none the less unfair,
and even dishonest, 10 charge the same
Price for good and for bad accommodation
The discrimination against colored jurors. if
il exists, can scarcely be rsmedied by law.
The judges and sherifTs probably represent
public sentiment in Kentucky on this point.
Still, the discrimination is one not likely to
be permanent. There will be q strong pref
udce against the drawing of colored Jurors,
- 1v-Sf
the coiored people are more ignorant than
the whites. Education and the requirement.
OF property will doubtless do much to re-
move this prejudice. Ia criminal cases, GER
taiuly, the negro juryman in some other
Southern States eTTS on the side OF Justice.
As TO education, at least for elementary
education, the colored people OF Kentucky
can not ask for too much of it, and normal
schools are nee assary, IN order that the sup
ply of competent colored teachers may be
increased. But il should be remembered
that this white people have yet to pay
R1ost of the cost OF education Tor both races.
For their own interest, however, the white
people OF Kentucky can not afford to to
backward III giving the colored people suff-
cient educational facilities. 1t is cheaper to
pay sol education than for pauperism, crime,
and social deterioration.
The Gistrust OF colored militia companies
Is a survival Of the old South a lingering
fear OF insurrect1on ana social disruption.
AS for lynch law, we must remind our coll
ored friends that there is no great dscrim-
inatlon about that. Indeed, the trouble
with it is that it is not discriminating at all.
Plenty OF white men are lynched every year,
aud the growth Of public opinion against
this barGarous practice is slow in the
farther West as in ths South.
On the whole, serious as are some Of the
grievances Of which the colorsd Kentucki-
ans complain, they ars by no means
as great might be expected
among race snfranchised without
preparation and living among its
old masters. A perpetual and weary
struggle awaits them still, a struggle which
will prove all the qualities Of the race. But
the struggle is not only not hopeless, iG is
even most hopeful. And this Lexington
convention, with its avoidance of passionate
defamation, its sobriety and order, its calm
statement OF grievances, its iusistauce upon
economy, education, temperance, the accu-
mutation Of property, self-reliance. is another
assuring sign. THE day, says the address
OF tins convention TO the colored people of
Kentucky, 'in which you shall stand
clothed In the full garment of citizenship
may be fastened by a positive and prudent
course on your part. The working out of
your salvation In committed into your
hands,