Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-31
Barbarian In American Institutions of


the year OF our LOru, 1870, fourteen years
hence, will look back to certain prominent
political and social features now disgracing
our country with as much shame as our en-
tire people now feel when they recall the
existence and enormities of American
slavery, quarter of a century ago. Polyg-
amy in Utah is one of these burning
national outrages and it is q most remark
able thing that it has not been wiped out
long ago. all the more so because il is so foul
and inexcusable an institution that il has no
apologists outside of the few who are even
now Implicated in its beastly criminality. An
entire people is opposed to the continuance
and to the very existence of the evil, and
yet. through the scheming Of interested
partisans in congress it is allowed to con-
tinue its bIighting work.
An evil of another sort, but quite as dis
graceful-and unjust and unlawful as well
is the discrimination against persons of
African blood in institutions Of learning.
This discrimination has been exercised in
our public schools, in an aggravated form,
and is to be deliberately exercised again, as
soon as the arbitrary and oppressive pro-
gramme of the dominant element in our &C
cidental board of education can be carried
out
! A more fragrant discrimination is made,
however, in another locality-that of Dick
inson college, as will be seen by the follow
! ing editorial paragraph from the Cincinnati
| TimGS-Stdr:
| The students Of Dickinson college at
Carlisle, Pa, are making a great deal OF
noise over the application for admission
made by a cOlOred man. the son of the col
| lege janitor, and though the admission has
been denied threats of all kinds are
being made against father and son.
| This is good place for the enforce
ment of the civil rights law. A few
southern gentlemen in attendance upon
| this institution are responsible for the
| present state of affairs. Their hot blood
was chilled at the sight of a dark face,
/ behind which were brains equal to their
own. Dickinson college is nothing if not
notorious. IL is not many years since col
ored ianitOr was hung TO beam in one of
| the room. of the college, raised and lowered
repeatedly and at last driven out of Carlisle,
all TO extort a confession from him Of a
| theft of which a senior was subsequently
convicted When the late Bishop Peck was
president of the college e.ic students by a
ruse had him locked up in neighborrng
lunatir ~Tyium in payment for an aftront
| they claimed to have sustained.
This discrimination is more fragrant than
that exercised here, because Dickinson col
lege is supposed to be a Christian institu-
ton, managed by men who are above low
and unhOly prejudice against those whose
only disqualification is their African blood;
men who, as educators ought to be abreast
of the spirit of the age-liberal and progress
sive-men of character and personal
strength-and who, II they are not ali OF
this are eutterly untitled for the position they
occupy.
The people will have no quarrel with
| these smart southern gentlemen" (?) who
have doubtless been reared on milk from
the breasts of black nurses. and been fon-
died and kissed by them from infancy. and
who, therefore, cannot be supposed to be
able to endure the admission of q colored
student into their college building: but that
the faculty OF the college should submit to
their domineering dIctatiOn and bulldoZing
is most unaccountable and reprehensibie.
Not one of them has son or daughter who
will not, in 1890. look back with grief and
shame at their pusillanimOus and most un-
worthy conduct in 1886. We have received,
in often-recurring instances, circulars and
uAntlatnAn
panied with requests that We should make
editorial illusions to the institution. IL We
have neglected our duty heretofore, We
hope now to cover the whsle ground and
make up fully for former failures.
We are glad to append to this editorial
the following special telegram to the Pitts
burg Dispatch, received since the forego-
ing was written:
CARLISLE, Oct. 2s.-RObert Young is
the cOIOred janitOr of Dickinson college.
He has a son who desired 10 enter the pre-
paratory department of the college with a
view to entering college year hence. Sew
eral weeks since he intimsted as much, but
made no formal application. No effort has
ever been made 10 hinder or prevent his en-
trance.
The only reason of the delay was the
failure to make a proper application. There
has been no hostility shown by any one in
authority al any time, and when the eXecu-
tive committee came together this week the
question was met and the admission of the
boy recommended.
This practically settles the question.
though the faculty will act at special
meeting tomorrow night The boy will en-
ter the school on Monday.
The admission of the boy will vindicate
Dickinson college.
I,........... ...I. L.. .....I ..,,Ir--n.