San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-10-28
AUSTIN CORRESPONDENTS

the effort to migrate the colored
people to Mexico is being discussed
by friend and foe, we wish in this to
notice the grounds taken by teacher
n Austin's public free schools. His
article appeared in last Fridays
Statesman. After reading it care
fully, we shall notice only the first
paragraph of that lanomaous letter.
The intelligent, reading public has
the benefit of his reasoning. He says {:
The project to carry great numbers
of colOred people from the United
States into Mexico will fail for the
reason that the average colored school
teacher and preacher will oppose it.
They will not be slow to dis
cover in this move menace
to their means of gaining living; so
they will find a way to hinder it. Ill
deed, for similar reasons this same in
fiuence may be depended upon to
throw obstacles 10 the way of domes.
tic migration, consequently the pres
ent distribution of colored people will
not be altered at least for many wears
to come. These teachers and preach
ers know a good thing when they see
it-how much more when thew have
it?" Now, Mr.. Editor, I have the
kindest regards for Prot. Henry CLAW
Gray, but, with the first stroke of his
pen, he displays great ignorance of
the subject which he attempts to dis
cuss before the public. it shows that
he is toying with subject which re-
quires more than q mere play of
words. Viewing his cunningly con-
structed letter on it's literary merit,
it Is of no value. We conclude that it
is tissue of false reasoning, and
Misrepresentation of the class of per-
sons he SO safely relies upon. It is
easy for any enthusiast to give out
strange utterances for effect. If the
move to Mexico or elsewhere for safe
ty of colored people is to be opposed.
il must be opposed on more tenable
grounds to confine craven people in
the old ruts simply to furnish a fat
livelihood to a few itinerating YAM
pires, whose greed prevents them
from seeing anything but a mere
Giving" in these honored and
positions. I am not ac-
quainted with Mr.. G. H. Furguson,
but admire his pluck at attempting |
to do whatever he can to better his |
own condition and that of his neigh |
bors, whom he believes to be in the |
same jeopardy as himself, of being
driven from their hard-earned homes. |
Who blames him tor seeking shelter
when his own home authori-
ties fail to protect lite, ard guarran-
tee that protection to property which |
makes life desirable? However. I |
am well acquainted with Mr.. w. H.
Ellis, and the good family of which
he member. Twelve years ago he
we'll in a public free school
taught by myself, since, he has added |
much to his store of knowledge by
one of our best colleges. / |
believe he has the purest motives in
taking an active part in any move to
better the condition of his people. / |
had several important letters from
him while he was in Mexico. can
not believe it is for mere maudlin
social equality they go across the Dor
der, nor for intermarrying with the
Mexican people. You you may find |
one, out of ten, such intermarriages, a
grain of wheat with kernel. In a
private interview with Mr.. Ellis, Oc-
tober End, on this subject in San An
tonic, he understood my views to be
point blank against going to Mexico
for several reasons: |. Notwith-
standing the friendlness of the Next
can people toward the colored people, 1
believe the best governed portions of
that country are in no particular as
we'll governed as the worst portion of
our own county-since the means are
1T home to correct the abuses of the
nfuriated mobs and the midnight
raider, and the regulating bands
who take the law into their own
hand. We believe all this sort of
hing will be brought to an end.
Z. We now have our being, and live,
md move among a civilized and re-
ined people. and we have to large
extent imbibed their spirit of enter
prise and do accept their civilization.
And our magnificent free school sys-
jem, and those erected for our use by
christian benevolence, and what the
General government proposes to do by
ne blair Bill" now pending before
,)ngress, there can be no reason for
allure on our part. 3. The few idlers
who now prowl the country terrifying
law-abiding citizens, will
n time be put down with vigor, and
f the state authorities be not adequate
o this task, the constitution of the
United States of America makes it the
iuty of the chief executive to protect
he lives and property of the humblest
citizen, regardless of race or previous1
To this, we must look in
uture, as well as to use every lawful
means to procure the protection and
guarantee to rights belonging to the