The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-02-21
Somebody's Rlnuf.ers.

m0nRealth would be Infinitely prolited by
it:
Somebody's Rinutsers.
In recent Interview with Gov. Lee, of Viz
ginia, reported by the New York Herald, the
governor Is alleged to hav said: go TO the
public schools and youswill learn that eighty
i've per cent. of the scholars are colored. $
Charitable institutions. again, furnish about
ninety ger cent. of al their benefits to colored
people," These are very gr. SIS plumbers, and
We cannot believe that the governor made
them. They are attributable to the inter-
viewer, and not to his ex cellency, we have no
doubt.
Let us be just and true. The daily average OF
lunatics in our central asylum (the only one
we have for colored persons) during 1887 was
4'0. Our three other asylums (ail for whitesj
contained that year the following daily aver
ages:
Eastern Asyirm............ .................. 49l
western Asylum. ........... ...,... Gal
oaiuWestefn Asylum OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1872
Total white lunatics ...... ........1.1 9i
1otai coIoreu lunarics..... .............. 40
Excess of white lunatics .........,........ 72I
There is no asylum at all for the deaf aid
dumb and the blind VINO are coiored; but we
have one for whites, and In 1887 it cared for l5s
inmates.
AS for our public schools. in 1857 they en-
rolled S5i,l8 pupils. of whom 2G963s were
white. and only 1856 were colored.
That three fourths of the Inmates Of our pen
ftentary are colored is true, az stated in the
interview; but that can hardly be estimated as
one of The blessings or benefits conferred on
the negro by our government. Besides, it is
claimed that the penitentiary is self.support-
ing
NOW, while the negroes have the normal in
stilute, established by the state, and to which
we contributed $50 800 in 1887, the whites have
the Military Institute, tie University of Nir-
ginia. the Female Normal school, the Medical
College, the Soldiers Home, Sc in which the
negroes have nc share, to which in 1888 we gave
about 100000 in annuitles and more than that
sum under cover of alleged interest on bonds
held by them.
1t iswell to remember, too, that if most of ouI
criminal expenses are chargeable to the negro
IT is the white man Who gets nine-tenth of the
benefits OF our whole civil adminjstration-ex-
ecutive and iudicial-as well in place holdine
| as in the general protection afforded.
According TO the Heqdid interviewer, Gov
Lee said: "The white population pays ninety
| per cent. Of all taxa tion-aboLt that" This
may be correct, but we doubt it. J ct, if it be-
SO. 1t is as certainly tr,le .st Isvo
| I,te- pay pretty well Tor what they get even i
| this pay be res tricted to the revenue derived
from them. Bat it is labor after all, that pay,
| everything, aud the negro, for all that is sale
about him. is preferred hand for al our hare
| work.
/ On the whole, it 10 very bad taste, as well a,
rank injustice. to underrate the negro, ant
represent him as pauper dependent on ou
| bounty. The facts and figures do not sustain
such representation, On the contrary, con
sidertng his long servitude and his recent
emancipation. his sobriety and industry are
remarkable, and the amount of real and per
| sonal taxable property he has amassed in 81
| few years is actually wonderful.