The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-10
CO-EDUCATION OF RACES
Is THE THEORY THAT DIR. MAYO
Is INSIDIOUSLY TEACHING.
A Careful and Candid Review Of His
Pamphlet, "Buildlng for the Chill
dren Ofthe South"
To the Editors Of the Appeal.


PINE BLUFF, Ark, February g.
The circular issued from the Bureau
OF Education in the Department OF the
Interior, entitled, Building for the
Children Of the South, contains many
excellent sentiments which every true
Southerner will heartily indorse. In
my opinion, il also advances ideas
closely yelled, which are obnoxious ia
the Southern people. DR.. Mayo is an
enthusiastic friend of popular educa.
ton, and in season and out Of stason
he takes occasion 10 give utteIance to
his views in regard thereto. He
knows, as every intelli1e nt man kno We,
that the State school systems in the
South provide f)r the separate edit
cation II the races. What does that
signiGy2 Our constitutions aud our
laws tolerated what DR.. Mayo and the
political party with which he sfiilists s
called "a relic of barbaTism." The
unceasing agitation finally resulted in
the overthrow of the great domestic
institution. The law was no barrier.
The great argument was the social and
political equality OF all men. The old
abClitionitt, so far as | know, has
made no recant itiOa Cf his doctrines.
The mingliDg Of the races ia the pub
lie schools is the sequence OF the ultra
doctrines OF those who have slways
advocated NEGRO equality" We must
not expect in the beginning pain and
positive language on this subject.
Law, and public opinion, which
is nothing but unfoTmulatsd
/ IL
insinuation; then a query, asking
thought; aud finally bold declaration
of the particular principle. This lie
the way resolutions in public senti-
ment are wrought. DR.. Mayo, in my
humble opinion OF tempting to edu-
cate the people down into his ways of
thinking and feeling. l think | see
the handwriting on the wall. In July,
1884, / had the pleasure Ct hearing DR..
Mayo deliver sermon before the
National Educational Association at
Madison, Wis. 1t was in the hall of
the House OF Representatives, and
quite 1900 people were present. His
text was given from theProphet Isaiah;
it read thus: "And a little child
shall |, ad them" The pathos and the
bathoS OF the sermon was the negro,
and the applause that greeted him
was impressive, whenever he spoke Of
this subject. But the house was
tumultously enthusiastic when he
reached the climax by saying, "And
this was the ausky hand OF little
Co,ored child" A prominent Repub-
licsn Of this city, Northern mac and
one OF the old school of Horace
Greeley, said to me in re ference to this
circular, Building for the children
Of the South" "You are right, and
standing as l do, on my own eide Of
the fence, in the ranks of the Repub-
lican PARTY, I'm prepared to see be tier
than you do, and l know you are
tight in your Interpretation"
The charge that DR.. Mayo fAv o;s the
mixing of races In the public schools
was made over year ago. He has
never cisclaimed the inference which
has been drawn from this circular. II
he was in favor OF the Anglo. Saxon
race in one school and OF the negro
race in another, unmistskably and un.
alterably go. nothing could have been
easier than to disavow and repudate
the charge alleged against him. He
has not done so. How can it be said
that he does not mean what his Ian.
gusgs implies2 Words are the signs
OF ideas. language is the vehicle Of
thought, and in the absence OF any ex.
plana'ion am forced to believe that
DR.. MAYO means what he says. He is
sincere man. His sincerity is kith
and kin to the prevailing sentiment of
his native locality. In Boston the
black urchin sits upon the same seat
with the white boy. 1t is reasonable
to infer that it is under the sanction
Of this prominent educator, who is q
man of great influence at home. tits
also reasonable to believe that he de-
sires the whole country to do as Bos-
ton does. His practice at home throws
a food OF light on the theories
he promulgatss abroad. The fol-
lowing extract from this circular,
Building for the Children Ct the
South" is on page / "And here the
church of every communion has
field Of operation 80 broad and ex-
acting that it may well limit its efforts
to wi at it never can half include, and
provoke TO conflict with the people
on that field, where the people are
bound 10 have their way whoever |
goes to the wall; the maintenance at |
public expense Of the free elementary
school, open 20 every child, unseGs |
tartan in religion, though profoundly |
MOI al and religious in the grain, I'M
partisan in politics, knowing no dis
linction of race or sex or social condi.
ton, the peoples university of Ameri-
can citizenship, for every American
child"
Does this language mean what it |
implies2 Do we not find it's interpre-
tatioR in many cities OF New Eng
land2 II these words mean anything,
they mean the JOINT education Of the
sexes, the joint education OF the races.
On page l3 Of this same circular we
find the following words: at is prac-
ticable in towns or cities of 1000 peor
pie to organize class of the superior
students of both races, especially for
training in the art of teaching; and
this is important in towns VI "r'
there is no good academy for DO. Il
girls"
1t is relation to this *
tract that the APPEAL -,
that DIR. Mayo does not Il can
what his language implies. How does
the APPEAL know The only critic
rion / have for judging of mans
opinions is tie language he employs
for expressing them. Or, Mayo says
that the co-educatiol of the superior
students Of both races in FORMAL
school is pIa tlcahle in town popu-
lation Of 10000 inhabitants. Is there
aoy ambiguity, patent or latent, in
that deClaratiUn2 Dr.. Mayo knows
the meaning Of language, and cherish
ing, as he does, an innate love for "the
man and the brother" he uses Ian
guage for the latteI's elevation. The
APrEAL is opposed to educational
amalgsmstion; so Is every true man
and woman in the South. But public
opinion may change in the course of
time, Just as it has on other questions,
and we deem it our duty TO protest
against the "sbominable sentiment"