The Washington bee., 1888-11-10

There were about 500 people at
the 5th Baptist church on last
Wednesday, who assembled there
under call of the BEE, for the pur>
pose of taking some action relative
to the supposed bargain entered
into by DIR, Francis and the school
board, for the purpose of abolish
ing the office of superintendent of
the colored schools. At $50
o'clock, Mr.. w. Calvin Chase
called the meeting to order and
STAGED that the meeting was called
for the purpose of obtaining an
expression from the people, rela-
tive to the proposition of DR.. j. R.
Francis, a school trustee of the
7th school division, to abolish the
office of superintendent of the col
ored schools, and whether a cit
izen should be condemned and
ostracised for pointing out certain
defects iu our High School? At
the conclusion OF his remarks be
nominated Rev. Geo. W. Lee,
presiding officer, who was unani
mously elected. Rev. W. ]. How
ard nominated Mr.. Chase as Sec
retary, but he declined in favor OF
Rev. r s. Laws. Mr.. Chase
moved that a committee of seven
be appointed on resolutions. The
chair appointed Messrs w. Calvin
Chase, John A. Gray, R. F. Will,
Jams, Revs. w. J. Howard, G. r.
Champ and Edward Furbush.
While the committee was out
Mr.. w. r. Laws, one of the
most gifted and eloquent takers
within the negro race, spoke in
condemnatory to the action of
DR.. Francis and his methods of
managing the High School. Col.
M. NJ. Holland followed Mr..
Laws, and while speaking the
committee, through tina chairman,
Mr., Chase, reported the following:
THE PEOPLES PROTEST.
WHEREAS, an amendment to
the report of the committee that
investigated the charges of Mr..
Cardoza against Prof. Browne, was
submitted as a remedy for the anne
liofation of the condition of the
colored schools in the District of
Columbia, by DR.. j. R. Francis,
recommending the abolition Of the
office of superintendent of the col
ored schools, and
WHEREAS, such abolition of said
office is inconsistant with the fun
fundamental principals of equity
aud justice, and as experiance has
taught us that separate schools
m can misrepresentation of our
ladies and gentleman of ability,
and
WHEREAS, said measure vas in
troduced, not from principle, but
from a personal difference which
has long existed against the per-
sonal of the office, which should
not be tolerated by the colored peo-
pie; and we know that our schools
have not had the same advantages
as our white schuols, but we do
claim our ability to control aud
manage them when we have equal
school facilities. We compliment
Prof. III. M. Browne for his manly
and concise criticism of the bad
condition Of our High School un-.
der the present principalship, and
suggest that immediate steps
should be taken to remedy the
evil. Therefore, in view of these
facts, be it
Resolved, That we, the colored-
citizens OF the District OF COlum>
bia, do hereby oppose the abolition
of the uffice of superintendent of
the colored schools; that DR.. John
R. Francis does not represent the
wishes of the co,ored people in
asking for the abolition of said
office, and that be is responsible
for the bad condition of the High
School. We brand the assertion
that our colored teachers are far
below those in the white schools,
nor are our schools in such bad
condition as represented by some
who are inimical to the success of
our schools.
Resolved, further, That we ask