The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-05-01
RACE PREJUDICES.
Thoughts Suggested by Recent Disturb
anceS in an Ohio Town.


anceS In an Ohio Town.
Another serious outbreak Of race
prejudice is reported from Ohio. New
Richmond, town of 8, 900 inhabitants
in Clermont County, has about 700
white school-children to 800 black
After the repeal of the "black laws
two years ago, and the consequent
throwing open of the public schools OF
the State to children of both races on
equal terms, the negroes OF New
Richmond were persuaded to have
their children kept in separate rooms.
and thus virtually allow the old line
of distinction to be maintained. But
one negro. James Ringold, decided to
insist upon his rights, and sent his
children into a room occupied by
white children. The little negroes
were abused and made miserable in
every way, and finally Ringold ap-
pealed to the courts to protect him
and them, suing the superintendent OF
schools and thirteen prominent citizens
for $1,000 damages. The Circuit
Court decided in his favor, giving
him one cent and costs. This showed
the negroes generally that they could
legally send their children into the
rooms occupied by white children,
and they did 80 on Friday. Great ex-
element resulted, and 80 much
disgust was expressed that the
school board closed the schools
for the remaining three months Of the
school year, as the only way out OF
the difficulty. The situation is thus
described in dispatch to the Times
This has been one of the most ex-
citing Sundays the place has ever
known. The streets have been
crowded all day. All other topics
were forgotten. Ministers counseled
forbearance, and wise heads attempted
to calm the impetuous. Each side
processes to fear violence from the
other All the teachers will sue fol-
their salaries for the remainder of the
term, and costly litigation, if nothing
else, is sure to follow. There is 6
prospect that mandamus will be
asked for in the morning to compe
the school board to reopen the
schools
These outbreaks OF race prejudice
in Ohio, for the New Richmond in
cident is only the latest in a long
series, may we'll be associated with
the alarm now felt by the intelligent
and well-to-do white citizens O.
Topeka, Kan, lest their city shall be
bankrupted by the votes of the poor
and ignorant negroes, who flocket
thither few years ago, and, with the
unanimous protest of the whole Repub
llcan press last winter against the pro
posed admission OF New Mexico as g
State, because of the ignorance of thu
white inhabitants Of that Territory
ignorance not so dense nor widespread
as that which prevails among the
blacks in Southern States. All thes
incidents serve to illuminate tn
Southern problem. and they ought tt
show the most partisan the need o
charity. Hereafter, when We hear O
some abuse of a Southern negro by
Southern white, let us recall how ne
gro children have been treated b,
whites in more than one Ohio town
when we find Southern whites com
planning that the unrestricted rul
Of the blacks would involve the com
munity in financial ruin, let us thinl
of Topeka's complaint; when we ar
told by Southern Democrats that tn
control of Southern State by it's ma
iority OF ignorant blacks would be in
tolerable, let us remember that tn
Republican party of the North refused
to allow the majority of ignoran
whites in New Mexico share in tn
government of the Union because sue
an idea was intolerable. IN. Y. Post.