The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-10
tvvritten for the sunday journal,
UNCLE JACKS STORY
An Episode Of War Times
ny JOHN G. ocHrLrREE.


impression prevailed that / had acted
contrary to my inclinations. though a
lew We're willing to give me credit for
having sense enough to see the mon
strous absurdity of tolerating a niger
In the school. I noted that while Miss
Spencer seemed disinclined to take any
interest in the controversy, she looked
grave and thoughtful. Once when she
met my gaze 1 thought / saw a faint
expression of scorn fit over her pretty
face: But said nothing about my in
tentions until the afternoon Of the sec
ond Friday. Just before dismissing L
addressed the school about as follows:
L wish to say to you all that I am too
much interested in my work to do any
thing purpose that would injure the
school. A colored boy wishes to enter
next Monday. His father pays taxes
and is helping in that way to educate
you. He thinks he is entitled to his
share of the public school fund. and /
am quite sure that we have no right to
deprive him Of it. Many of your parents
seem to think otherwise and oppose the
boys entry simply because he is black.
l nave not yet heard Of any of them
saying his father should be exempt from
taxation on that ground. The young
man seems to be bright. modest and
manly. AS I see no good reason why he
should be refused admission / have de-
cided to let him enter Monday. You
may so inform your parents
VIile L talked l. nOtlCeQ a gOOQ many
headS shaking and faces frowning. Miss
~Spencer's facial expression was neutral.
She had doubtless observed that the
pupils were watching her critically and
was determined to give them no cause
for charging her with partisanship.
After the pupils were at liberty 1
heard and saw enough to fill me with
grave aDDrehensions, but resolved to
stand by my decision though it should
end the school. Miss Spencer fingered
behind the rest of the pupils and
s~tealthily handed me a note. When
alone / opened it and read the follow
ing missive:
Mr.. Strong-I hope you will not think
me forward. but I wished to say to you
your brave action in regard to the colored
BOY. and will stand by you even if he is
the only patron to do so. L. s.
Sweet and sensible girl. Her words
of encouragement were worth the ap-
proval OF a score of patrons. / began
to suspect myself in love with her. 1t
was my first experience, but / found
afterwards that it was the genuine arti-
Gle. My uncle and cousins said SO little
o the Smith affair that 1 could
easily see they were in sympathy with
the majority. But 1 remained steadfast
in my determination.
The following Monday was an excit-
ing one in. school No. 5. About the time
for calling books twenty or more pat
$50 III A4CllN1 ~ O1lC leu
arrangement. Several were women, and
there was a fair sprinkling of specta-
tors and sympathizers. 1 welcomed
them cordially, although 1 observed with
secret misgivings that the faces of the
men were stern and angry. The last to
arrive were Mr.. Spencer and the negro
and his SON. 1 seated them all and:
called the school to order. 1 then ad-.
dressed them briefly and frankly, antici-
pating the object of their visit by bring
IN tho 20 q q nf Coarra shin fo-
Smith. l stated that he was entitled to
the benefit of the school fund, and made
a conciliatory effort to impress the COM
planning patrons as to their moral duty
in dealing with the dispensations of
Providence. At the conclusion of my lit
tie speech I invited any one represent
ing the malcOntents to make such state
ment as he desired upon the subject.
A white-haired old farmer named Jehu
Jenkins rose to speak. Being a very
rapid writer I managed to jot down a
synopsis of his remarks. Mr.. jenkins
said:
While I do not wish to cause any
human being pain or humiliation, I
speak for myself and friends in SAYING.
sir, that this is still a white mans gov
eminent. and that we are opposed to
abolitionism and the evils it threatens,
chief of which is the mixing Of the races.
History shows that wherever miscegena-
ton has occurred among the white and
black races the latter has been improved
and the former has suffered deteriora-
tion.MWe do not think the time has
come to enforce negro equality. and as
we have opposed this abolition war on
the ground that peaceable methods and
arbitration would nave resulted better
to all concerned we have agreed to be
consistent in dealing with the matter
before us to-day. We therefore are here
to inform you, sir, that if you persist
in your determination to admit this
black follow into the school xva will
peaceably withdraw our support and or
der our children to take their books
and go home
The venerable gentleman took his
seat amid a loud gust of applause,
which l quickly suppressed by using my
ruler vigorously on the desk. l then re-
marked that as Mr.. Jenkins had failed
to discuss the question of the negro's
legal or moral rights l was still of the
opinion that / could not refuse him ad-
mission. 1 inquired if any one else
wished to speak. Mr.. Spencer took the
floor and said:
ST have no speech to make, but I
will say that if this matter is to be de-
cided as q question of right or wrong,
of justice or injustice instead of a ques-
ton of traditional prejudice the teacher
can't afford to alter his decision. even
if it stops the school and stirs up bad
blood in the community.
when he finished there were indica-
tons of a stormy outbreak. but I hap
pened to be equal to the occasion and
suppressed it. I then asked the negro
patron If he had anything to say. He
shook his head, but his son arose and
asked if he might say a few words. L
promptly forestalled a movement of pro-
test among the audience by telling him
in a very positive tone that he had a
right to be heard. He stepped to the
middle of the floor n in a strong and
steady voice delivered the following re-
markable speech:
Mr.. Teacher and P~atrons-There is
not a man. woman or child in this audi
ence who selected the color of his skin.
/ was not consulted in the matter. If L
had been 1 am not sure that l would
have chosen your color. Had / been
permitted before my birth to look over
the slave States and had seen my race
toiling under masters / would nave
prayed God never to give me a black
skin. for that would have meant unpaid
labor and degradation. / would have
PRAYED Him not to make me white, for
that would have meant infinite cruelty
and idle luxury or a condition among
the poor of that color lower than the
blacks. think in view of all this that
I would awe implored God not to give
me life, or at least to let me die at