National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-30
OF PRUDENCE CRANDALL
Almost everybody had nowspaper in bis or

Almost everybody had a newspaper in his or
her hand. 1t was an issue OF that morning
and q terrible issue, too. The startled and in
dignant people of the little town of Canterbury,
Conn, didn't know what to do about 1t. So
they hurried from street to street, each point
ing out to every other, who already was fully
informed, the alarming article in print; all, at
one time, exchanging opinions concerning it,
and the opinions coinciding. What was the
cause of the agitation? An advertisement had
appeared announcing that Prudence Crandall
would open school for "young ladies and
little misses of color" Such school And in
Canterbury An outrage against common
sense, morality, and deCency! Who was this
impudent woman, and whence came she? a
member OF the Society of Friends, by birth
Rhode Islander, by profession teacher-and
lately very successful one-of white school.
Now, in her novel and not.tobe.tolerated en-
terprise, she was encouraged by William Lloyd
Garrison and other friends of the colored race.
The prejudice existing to-day In parts of the
south against the black man can properly be
compared with that of Connecticut half O GEN.
tury since, and no more favor did the young
lady receive in Canterbury than was bestowed
on the recent attempt to establish colored
school In Quitman, Ga. At the head of the
strong opposing element in the town stood An
drew T. Judson, whose devoted services in this
case were afterward rewarded, the Democratic
party sending him to Congress.
The commotion and clamor utterly failed to
frighten The earnest young Quakeress from her
purpose. What measure remained to prevent
its accomplishment? After long conference
the aid of the legislature was suggested, ap-
pealed to. and q law passed prohibiting such
schools. The law, in Its most imperative mood,
exclaimed "StopP' The little school would so
on, What nextl Prudence was arrested. She
was tried The jury disagreed. She was tried
again, and this time convicted. But, finally,
the whole proceeding was quashed on tech.
nicality by order of the supreme court.
Yet the good people of Canterbury resolved
to take more efiectual means to liberate them
selves from the obnoxious institutions they
ostracized the teacher and her pupils. A ride
in public conveyances was refused thcm were
they i'll, no physician would grant his SER
Vices their own well was defiled, and water
strictly denied them from every other; they
were excluded from attending church; no
shop would sell them anything; an attempt
was made to set their house on fire, All these
efforts failed to break up the school. AS u last
resort, n mob assailed the house. Windows
crashed In doors fell in splinters; 1t was to-
tally unfit for habitGtion. The desired end had
been attained. Friends advised the courageous
young tepcher, and she gave up the school.
Soon alter, marrying. she removed to the west.
Now comes wonderful point in this event
full history. Last week a petition was pre-
sented in the Connecticut legislature, numer.
ously signed by the people of Canterbury, ask
ing that Preparation be granted to Prudence
PhilleO, formerly Prudence Crlndall, for
injuries inflicted upon her in 1888 by citizens
Of Canterbury because Of her persistence in
teaching free school for negro girls"
Prudence is still living. Her home is Elk
Falls, Kan, She is now in her SD year.
The vigOr of her mind Is retained to a remark.
able degree, and her interest in the colored
race continues undated. r"TiIu5 a. last makes
all things even" Fily.three years IL grea:
while to wait for retributlon but 1t will be
acceptable yet to the brave and venerable
Quakercss
Half century hence tho descendants of the
present inhabitants of QuitmGn may, not i'm.
probably petition the Georgia legislature to
repair the injury there done a few months ago
in breaking up colorod school by precisely
such extraordinary methods as were employed
in 1893 against Prudence Crandall. At least,
we are finn of beliGlthat the world is improy-
ing.