The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-09-04
oMy maryland, and The Negro,

"My Maryland" and the Negro.
Baltimore city has u real case OF
negrophobia on hand, and tho citizens
OF My Maryland do not know what
to do with 1t. 1t Is all the fault Of
Harry I Pratt, smart, bright young
lad, fifteen years old, who took a
notion to make good use Of his time
at school, and became remarkably
good at draughting, and in fact In all
other studies he excelled his fellows
He is also splendid amateur musi-
elan, preferrlng the flute for an in
strument, and he has become very fa-
miliar with the best compositions OF
Bach, Beethoven, Haydn and other
classic authors But Harry 4. Pratt's |
ska, though not exactly black, is not
exactly white, In fact Harry belongs to
the despisei race. But here comes the
trouble.
Maryland has an Institute OF Art and
Design to which many OF the promis-
ing youths of the State are sent to ac-
Quire an advanced aud practical edu-
cation. Under an act Of the Leglsla-
tlre, appropriating $4,000 annually,
contract was made between the
State and the Institute, that one pupil
should be sent from each Legislative
district to scholarship in the Insd-
tute.
A similar contract was also made
with the city OF Baltimore, by which
for the payment of $4,000 each City
Councilman Is given the right to ap-
point pupil to three years course
in the Institute. 1t happened in gerry
Wandering the wards OF the city of
Baltimore for political purposes, the
same as has been done here In Will
mington, that the Eleventh ward was
left with not ouly large Republican
majority in it, but the majority OF
those Republicans were colored. 1t is
not strange then that the colored vo-
tiers should elect one of their number
to the City Council, which they did,
and 1t is not at all strange that Coun-
Gilman Cummings when informed Of
his privileges should appoint young
Master Pratt to three years scholar
ship in the Maryland Institute. This
is what stirs up the blue blood of
Maryland. The Institute opens on the
first of October, but the question with
the directors is, shall 1t open for
young Pratt2
The contract between the city OF
Baltimore and the State is a binding
ono and no provision is made for
color. Nobody ever thought a little
negro boy would dare intrude his
presence amongst the white sons Of
Marylands ehivalry. The board O.
directors are looking up the law, il
in the case but SO far they have found
no paragraph sentence or line tina
gives them the authority to reject
I any boy sent to the Institute by the
properly constituted authorities
How to help the Maryland chivalr.
out OF their difficulty we really d.
not know. If IL was in Kentucky the
bluebloods would assemble l25 strong
mask themselves and take youD;
AAdll pul ullI lihlE tbuL AINi yllui
ehivalry have not reached this stag
yet, indeed we are pleased TO say the,
are receding from it.
If it was in Mississippi the chlva
ry would just simply shoot Pratt II
the back and the man who did tn
shooting world be elected Mayor OF
city, but Maryland has got away b.
You'd this Chivairic mode OF settln,
the question. No amount OF washin
and serubbing will eliminate the rae
stain from Pratts veins, he woul
still be- tainted. II lie is admitted t
the Institute he will no doubt carr
OF the honors as ha did in tho Hig
School from which he graduated, an
this would be terrible humiliation
to MY Maryiandsr sons. II the Il
stitute refuses him admission til
contract between it and the city wi
be broken and the Institute Will los
Its $4,000. Never vera tho Democrat
of Baltimore in such fix bcfor,
What they will do about it will
anxlously awaited by the public.
BisHoP Coleman is on tho rig
track, and we hope the City CounG
will carry out his suggestion to bea
tify not only the small park owned
the city, on Twelfth street, betwe