Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-05-22
REV. DIR. KoRGAE's LETTER.

Raw. DR THOMAS J. Mono ANS letter
which We publish in another column
is plain, straightforward. practical
statement OF the position of the AMER
loan BABrIsr HozK MISSION Society,
1t does not propose to place Baptist
of color, regardless of his capability
over any one Of the departments OF the
VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY, unless
such department is supported 10
lutely by the Baptists OF color them
selves.
We think we do no injustice to this
Society when we make this statement.
Rev DIR MORGAN is a pleasing writ
ct SO far 40 language is concerned, and
hand les cisAgreeable facts with a can
dor that is paraly zing to the Afro
American who does not take the time
to think.
We think that he speaks conscienti-
ously and believes all that he has been
kind enough TO say.
What would he think OF the United
States government were is to- make
such proposition az the one he has
just cited q prerequisite to hold office?
Suppose that President MCKINLEY
should require that colored people
should do enough business at the Of
6ce of the Recorder--of Deeds OF the
District of Columbia, before they
should be permitted to have one OF
their number selected to that office.
Suppose that this was equally true OF
othsr governmental appointments.
what would REV. DR. MORGAN say of
such . proposition? And yet this is
practically the position he has assum-
ed relative to the selection OF some
Afro-Amerlcan as the head of one of
the departments of the VIRGINIA UNION
UNIvsRsIrY
Tho government of the United States
relies upon the people for it's revenue,
and so does the AMERICAN BAPTIST
HoME MIssIoS SocIErY.
Mark, you. no one has asked that any
one of these schools shall be turned
over to the control of tho Baptists OF
color Al Regardless OF who is appointed
- the principal or president, TIE AVER
IcAN BAPTIST HONS Mission SOCIETY
controls.
The qAestion raised is rs to wheth-
sr or not the Society In question in
tends TO draw the color-line by having
all Baptists OF one color, or will ignore
IL By giving US representation there.
We are asked to raise only thirty.
five thousand dollars In Virginia-will
We be recognized to the extent of hav
ing one Of our number appoint.d as
chief officer in one Of the departments?
It would be absurd for us to ask to
cORtrOl and manage q school of the
AAsRIoAN BAPTIST HONS MISSION SooI-
KTY. II We desired sgch y favor and
we're required to maintain and support
IL, We would not be under the necessi-
~ Of seeking foster mother or father
IN the person Of the society in ques.
ton.
When RRv. Dr.. MORGAN presumes
that to appoint a Baptist of color az
principal or president is to turn over
the school absolutely to the coIored
people, we urge that he is in error.
II the Society knows no color, we do
not see how it could presume that
such an appointment would carry with
It such responsibility to us.
We regret that the tone OF the dis
tingulshed corresponding secretary's
latter would seem to indicate that il
the Board OF Trustees OF anyone of the
colleges should elect Baptist Of color
- principal or president, the Society
would withdraw It's financial support !;
and require that the colored people
shall support it themselves.
We claim though that the colored
people, properly organized are able to
do what REV DR. MORGAN says they
cannot do. We spend enough in the
Injuries OF life to support two or three
colleges, and endow the chairs.
We appeal to the HOME MISSION SooI-
xrY because that organization is q we'll
managed begging institution. 1t begs
and We beg it
We never knew until now thst even
though there might be objections to
the colored people controlling abso-
lutsly the money. that there was q
pimileF declinatiOn to permit worthy