The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-23
Ghe Gateliqetrfer,
wuEELlSa, WA, FEBRUARY 80, 1850


1t is the misfortune oil tbs lNTgLMdRS'
CEN that 1t can never please its respected
nejgbhor, the Register, The offence seems
to be real and aggravated when tho IN
rgIIAeGScER speaks iayoTabIy Of some-
thing done by a Democrat in ciice, as this
newspaper is alwaya glad to do when
truth permits.
A wear ago, when the Superintendent OF
this Wheeling schools, an intelligent
Young Democrat, siIcc houored with a
consular appointment, proposed that coll
ored children aud whito should graduate
together, the proposition aroused much
orpotitiun. 1t was antagonized in the
Board Of Education snd Cut Of 1t. There
wero parents WHO said that their children
should not bo in a graduating clnss with
oolored youth sid ahCnId not appear on
the game stage with Item. But apE ear
they did, and The lNrElAlGGScEn took oc'
casion 10 congratulate al Concerned, re-
markipg that society stood jet asst did
before, that net stone had slipped ont Of
the foundation and that tho event would
be an incentive TO the coIoTed students
who should ccmGai!er.
Atthis time the Constitutional question
was not rated; the lNTALLIGEScEH did
not think It necessary to raise 1t, though
believing that II .tWeie ever opened the
decision must recognize the color
line in thu Constitution When
Acknowledgement Caldwell gave his
opinion pgainst tive repetition Of what
was done lust year, declaring that it was
forbidden by the Constitution, the INTEL
ll0ENcER expressed iIs belielin the sound
nees OF the opinion, adding that itseemtd
to be conceived in coed aplrit. Here
upon tho Rtghtr jumps up, as though 1t
had sst down on u piO, and wants to know
whether "the lN1RLLlGENCER has changed
its base in so short time"
Tho ISrELLlGRNcEH continues to think
that nobody was hurt last year, and that
nobody would be Luh this year, or next,
by examining the graduates in one class,
and graduating them from one plattorm,
without distinction Of color. But tho law
hiss been appealed to- tho law is sgainst
this course, and the law must he respected,
Onlv constitutional amendment can
change this law, and there is little prob
ability that this will he done soon.
The Register will doubtless like to read
In these columns that the lNTELLIoEScER
does not favor mixed HChooIs,-n that it
would have the colored man back In sla.
very, not that 1t would deny him equal
rights before the law, not that 1t would
have him forever cheated, dubbed or
shot out Of bis right to vote,-but because
the INrKLLlGENcER does not believe mixed
schools would DO beat at this time. When
Colored children have equal educational
advantages with the white-to which Ger.
tainly they are entitlod-there is no iea'
son 10 stir up contention, and the friends
OF the colored people will never needless
ly excite heated controversy in their be-
half.
lit wounds the Register for the INTEL
LlagNcRn to approve occasionally the act
or the utteranCe Of o Democratic officer
connected with the State administration,
1t will have this Coptolation, that If the
future may be judged by the past there
will be few such opportunities. Hitherto
the policy Of Democratic State officers has
been characterized by naughty disregard
and gloss contempt Of the Constitution
as, for example, when Democratic Gov.
ernor oyerridsS the Constitution to ex.
tract more taxes under an extra assess
ment, and the Democratic Supreme Court
said he was right In this connection, Of
all Others, 1t will notbe out Of place TO re.
fer to the reduction Of tho ireduciblo
school fund, in fragrant violation Of the
Constitution.
Tho Register remembers these things, Of
course, and remembering them joins in
the common regret that men elected by
lis own party have been 50 unmindful Of
their obligations. Any change in the
direction Of respect for the COnstitu.
ton is to be welcomed and encouraged !
and this Is what the 1NTELLloENcER will
continue to do, hoping always for its
nelghbor's assistance in the good work,