The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-02-22
RACE PREJUDICE.
OF THE NEGRO
NORTH AND SOUTH.
Opposition to Mixed Schools in
Ohio---A Law That Operates
to the Disadvantage OF Both
Whites and Blacks---Separate
Schools Again Demanded.
Wilmington Messenger.l

in the NOrtn as IL IS III any part Oh tne
South The most abundant evidence
has been given from time to time to
prove this. One fact of much signih-
canoe is, that in the Northern facto-
rlts of all sorts negroes are not ad-
mitted to work with the whites In
the South this is common, and espe-
cially in the trades 1t is also estab-
lshed that when the negroes are prop
erly bossed or supervised, even in
cotton and iron mills as elsewhere,
they make as efficient laborers as the
whites. Indeed, SO much impressed
was Mr.. Julian Ralph, an able North
ern writer, in his Southern series of
papers in Harber's Magazine last year,
that he said the negroes employed on
the Mississippi steamboats, performed
more labor than any Northern work
ing classes, and more than he had seen
done before in any section of country.
But let us turn to the color preju-
dice in the North. 1t crops out con-
,inually 1t will be seen in this State
or that now in New Jersey, next in
Indiana, after this in Ohio, or Kansas,
Pennsylvania, New England and SO
on. The latest manifestation of hos
tility to the negroes we have observed
is in Ohio, Mckinley's State. 1t will
be remembered that it is but a few
years since this great Republican
State wiped from its laws all disCrimi
nation against the blacks as to schools.
Both races were to share equally. But
the new law has worked with much
friction. The machinery has to be
constantly oiled and even then it
CRATES as it grinds. The Atlanta Con-
sHtuti0n refreshcs the memories of its
readers with this reminder which is
correct every way, we believe.
''I'nder the New system there has al
ways been trouble i'll Felicity, where the
population consists of nine whites to one
negro Black children applied for ad-
mission into the public schools, but were
refused, and on one occasion negro
father who accompanied his children, was
men. SO hot was the race feud that the
blacks were forced to accept separate
schools. \ year later the negroes made
another effort to secure their rights un-
der the law, but they were again repulsed
The complaints took their case into
the courts, but the iuries refused to con-
Wet the persons who had obstructed
negro parents when they tried to enter
the schoolhouscs with their children
You see cup there" there are not
many of "the colored man and
brother" as compared with the vast
white population. In Chilicothe there
is a new rumpus. The agitation has
taken on such a decided form that the
whites are sick of the law and are talk
ing loudly of having it repealed. The
| Cincinnati Commercial tells this
This movement has gone SO far that
! there is at present petition being clrcu'
| lated widely throughout the country,
which is being signed by almost every
| body, asking the Legislature to repeal
| the present law respecting cOlOred schools,
and that separate schools be again de-
| clared legal Excitement is even running
al III tie liSIitI tiIttli 'iittt, anu 1Heic 10 q
good deal OF talk going around now to
the effect that all colOred people i'll the
city, and especially those in the "shoe
string district, be boycotted and re-
fused employment of all kinds
Not only is there talk of repeal oi
an Objectionable law, but the thumb
screw of an indignant public opinion
is to be applied to the negroes greatly
in the minority and they must shift
for themselves as best they may, hav-
ing no recognition or employment
from the whites. 1t will be case o
sroot hog or die" But this not all
The Board of Education of the city
has SO constructed the law as to con-
fine the negroes to one school build,
ing. This is resented and the negroes
appeal to the courts. The best home
the negroes have ever had is the
Sunny South" where they have their
only real friends among the whites
In North Carolina the schools are
properly separate, the school fund il
equitably and equally distributed, and
there is no friction or disturbance
growing out of such a natural, accom-
dating, reasonable method. The ne
groes like it and the whites like it
The latter pay ninety per cent. of the
taxes for both races.