The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-17
THE vINCENNEs INCIDENT.

a colored girl had passed examination in the
studies of the course and had pursued the
studies required by the board of school officers,
and was therefore as much entitled to diplo-
ma as any of the entire lot. 1t is humiliating
that such narrow prejudice should yet obtain
in Christian land and in this age of broad
culture and charity. Some of the parents Of
the pupils who have refused to graduate for
the reason named are professed Christians,
perhaps, and as such have contributed year
after year to the support and upbuilding of
foreign missions, established for the purpose
of saving the heather from the error of their
ways. 1t is quite probable, too, that some of
the members of the class of 1886 are professed
Christians, and as such are intent on doing all
they can to further the cause of Christianity.
The church they belong to is exerting itself to
save the lost in countries not blessed with the
advantages afforded here and are trying to
swell the throng that shall people heaven. To
do this the Christians of Vincennes are con-
tributing of their means to keep up foreign
missions, in Africa and elsewhere. How
comes it, then, that these very consistent
Christians can not bear the idea Of allowing
their children to graduate with colored girl
of good repute, yet expect to spend an eter
nifty in heaven with such Africans as may be
saved through the ministrations of the Chris
tan church? The action of the recalci-
trant pupils at Vincennes gives the lie to
the professions of such Christians
among them as refuse to allow this
colored girl the poor privilege of standing up
with them to receive the acknowledgment of
her work. The good men and women who are
wearing out their lives under tropical suns to
spread the good news of the gospel might well
come back and exert their influence, if they
have any, on the people of Knox county.
There is a field for practical missionary
work. Ii there be Christian among the pa
rents of the pupils who have refused to grad
uate with the colored girl because her skin is
black, he owes it to his consistency to compel
acquiescence. If the colored race is good
enough to help people to heaven, we see no
reason why it is not good enough to graduate
from the Vincennes High-school. 1t is dis
grace upon Christian civilization that such
thing should happen in the State Of Indiana
The day will come when the people Of Vim
cennes will be ashamed Of such contemplate
meanness.
1t would be interesting to know what harm
could result from allowing this girl to receive
her diploma in the same year that the naughty
Caucasians do. 1t is hard to understand how
it should work harm to anyone that she should
receive her diploma from the same stage that
the others do, and at the same time. None
of her black will rub off on any Of her class
mates, neither will any of her modest self
respect be impaired to the Others though it
would be we'll for them if it did. Many a
brave Indianian gave up his life that the
despised black man should have his freedom,
and that he should enjoy all the rights and
privileges enjoyed by the white man. It is
hardly probable that the Union soldier who
gave his life for these mon and women is
whit less to be honored than are the
naughty and foolish maidens who have pub
lished their shame to the world by reason Of
their obstinacy in refusing to graduate
with certain girl, because her skin is darker
than theirs. They might, with equal reason,
have refused to graduate with that class, be
cause one of its members had red hair or was
cross-eyed. Unless it could be shown that
the colored girl was not what she should be
morally, it is narrow and despicable, under
the circumstances, to refuse to allow her to
enjoy the fruits of her industry in securing an
education. 1t could have done none of the
white members of the class any harm to have
allowed her to graduate with them The me-
gro is here, and the negro is supposed to be a
human being, outside the Vincennes High
school. They are allowed to come in and to
go out before the people in the ordinary bust
ness of life, and no one is harmed by it. It is
a shame and disgrace that intelligent boys
and girls could so far forget every principle of
honor and fair-play as to take this cruel ad-
vantage of girl who had the misfortune to be
born with dark skin. We should like to see
every one of the recalcitrants deprived of her
grand victory, and the colored girl given her
diploma, amid the applause of every citizen of
Knox county with brains and decency enough
the world ever saw displayed-that of color.
THE departure of one Washington society
correspondent for Europe is announced. To re-