Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-23
Race Preiudices.

At the time when STEPHEN GIRARD made
his will providing for the institution which
Is now known as Girard College. there was
such a state Of feeling between the two
races in this country as the people OF the
present generation can hardly understand.
This feeling was well described when the
Supreme Court of the United States said
in the DRIED SCorr case-not what has thou
sands of times been falsely attributed to
that august tribunal-but said that there
pervaded the Union at the time spoken OF
q feeling that negroes had no rights which
white men were bound TO respect. We
repeat, to assist in keeping history right,
that the Supreme Court did not say that
that court had any such prejudices. but
merely argued from the state of feeling
existing at the time spoken of what the
status of the negro was then held to be.
We have said that this feeling existed be-
tween the two races; but we ought rather
TO have said that tho whites entertained
the feeling. seeing that nobody knew and
nobody cared" what the negroes feeling
was towards the whites.
The aggressiveness of tho negro-who
has been made aggressive by the unwise at
tempt of the northern Republicans to
make him the equal of the white manor
rather to make him white man-has re-
Gently been well exemplified i'll Philadel-
phia in the efforte made by him TO force his
children into Girard College. This inst-
tuition is one of which Philadelphians
have right 10 be proud. 1t has done for
their city a good work. Its charter. so to
speak. is the will of Mr.. GIRAgD. fits pro-
visions do not run counter TO public poll
cy, they must DO carried out in good faith.
As TO the question of the admission of chill
dren il is specific IN its instructions. The
benefciaries of Mr.. GIRARD's noble charity
must be orphans, must be boys, must be
white, must be poor. must be perfectly
healthy, and must be domiciled within
certain designated districts. Not one of
these requirements Is contrary TO public
policy. Not one of them ia difficult of
execution. The negroes of Philadelphia
are admitted into the public schools, but
not into Girard College. Nor need we
raise any question based upon that fact.
4Ar tupiiS ocAioois oic iOf hii tuo pcopios
Girard College is private institution in a
certain sense. If Mr.. GIRARD were living
nobody would question his right to ex-
clude negroes from his college. He tad
the same right when be wrote his will. Is
II possible that the people Of Philadelphia
can seriously contemplate the Africaniza-
tion Of his college ?--to cheat HIM out of
his rights?
Yes; the aggressive negroes OF Philadel.
phia threaten 10 take to the courts their
impudent appeal in behalf of the aamis-
sion OF negroes into Girard College. They
would. if they could, make il hotn for
the manasers-styled 1.-The Board of CITY
Trusts" They would, we doubt not.
rather see Girard College torn up root and
branch than 10 see II in successful opera
ton as an institution OF which whites only
were the bene1ciaries.
Race preJudices are Just the same in
Philsdslphis as they are in Richmond. II
q large proportion OF the population OF
tho former city ~ that of the latter were
negroes the same feeling would crop out
there Is here. Indeed. this dispute over
the exclusion Of negroes from Girard Col
lsge u likely TO excite prejudises in the
Quaker City which might have been kept
down indefinitely by prudent and proper
conduct on the part Of the negroes.
We reksf 70 this Philadelphia case a.
abevias thst Il tho whites give tho ne