The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-08

numbered 8. g. 10 and il are intended and hereby declared to constitute and indivisible plan for permitting local special assessments in aid or pubic schools maintained by this State. Separate schools for the races and what Constitutional provisions will best promote the interests of each race. First-Separate schools for the races are not only permissible but they, are approved by the courts of last resort both North and South and by the Su- preme Court of the United States and by the instincts of humanity.
 Second--Organizatio of the races in- to separate school districts logically follows and Is the proper exercise of the right to separate schools. The or yanization of white school districts and colored school districts without reference to each otEer as to territo- rial boundaries is specially provided for by the Statutes of Ohio and approved by the Supreme Court of that State jn the case of Garner vs. McCann, 21 Ohio State Reports 19S. Third-Local assessments for school purposes as well as for many other purposes, has been universally ap- proved. If the people of one race are entitled to a separate school and to Or-
 gan!ze themselves into district for inc patronage of such school, of which school district persons of another race can not be members, then 1t can not De a discrimination against the members of that other race to permit the pen sons composing such district to levy mon the property belonging to them a snecial assessment for the better carry ing out of the purposes of such organ izstion. The rights of the other race are neither increased or diminished by such special assessment, any more than the building of a sidewalk along one side of a street by an assessment against the owners of property along that side is a discrimination against the citizens on the other side of the street.
 Fcurth-It is admitted by Christian
 civilization that all children of every
 race are entitled to some training to
 aid them in performing the duties of
 good citizenship. It is the duty of this
 convention to guarantee a reasonable
 school term so that the weaker races
 may have their anxieties reasonably al-
 layed and their faith and hope en- couraged.
 Fifth-It is further admitted by
 Christian civilization that the strong
 owe some obligation to bear part Of
 the burdens of the weak, and that the learned owe some obligation to teach the ignorant. This Convention should adopt some plan by which the white
 people of Alabama agree to discharge
 these obligations under such condi- tions as will enable them to increase their aid, if encouraged so to do by the moral, intellectual and industrial progress of the race so aided, ana thus promote a spirit of friendship be- tween the races which is absolutely necessary to the happiness and we'll being of both.
 Sixth-It is not sufficient, however. for the strong to give to the weak. The weak must be encouraged and given opportunity to do for themselves, oth- erwise they become mendicants who never grow in self-respect and useful ness. Individual and race initiative is absolutely necessary to the substantial growth of a man or a race Of men. The children of both races should be given a reasonable start in life. Then each race ought to be invited to the noblest exertion of all its powers with out indivious distinctions and without
 the irritation arising from the ina bility of either race to make individual effort.
 Seventh-When the negro is permit ted to make some distinct race effort in the organization of his schools and some systematic contribution to their maintenance, he will begin to feel the responsibility and begin the cultivation of those principles of race fraternity approved by the universal experience of mankind. Until the negro is in- etilled with this sense of race frater- nifty and pride, we may expect con- tinuation of that suspicious envy and jealousy which manifests itself in the commission of those crimes which shock the sense of mankind.
 E Eighth-We must not treat the ne gro as he treats us We must continue to lead him onward and upward. We must not be led backward and down. ward by him. Now we are clothed with the privilege and upon us Is laid the obligation of exhibiting progress i've philantrophy and statesranship worthy of our race and it's traditions and hopes We must now graeiously commend our civilization and ourselves to the enlightened conscience of the whole world, or, distinctly set back the hands of moral and social progress. Shall we seek to save the life and lose 1t. or shall we, in a spirit of lofty charity and patriotism. loose something that we may find stronger and hap Dier State?