The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-22
And
THE NEGRO.
THE EFFECT OF STOPPING HIS
EDUCATION AT BEREA.
How the Legislature Crippled the Work
of That Institution Colored Stu
dents Sent to Fisk University by the
College-Berea' White Students Elk
press Their Views by Resolution.

was forced, for the first time In nearly
forty years, to admit only white stu
islature, it has been decreed that no
person, corporation, or association of
persons should maintain or operate any
school rinstitutionwith persons of both
the white and negroraces as scholarship
der penalty of a fine Of $1,000, and also
of $100for every day of operation. White
Teaching in It, were to oo be fined $50 for
each day. A colored branch Of a white
school may be maintained, but not
nearer than twenty-five miles. In the
eyes of the legislature, twenty-four
GUS proximity Of races that yet have to
work and live side by side.
Although in the form Of a general
bill, this law was aimed exclusively at
Berea-not, however, because of any
scandals among its black and white pu-
pills. Its offending may have been that
blacks side by side was contrary to the
doctrine Of white superiority and tend
| ed to disprove the theory that equality
Of scholastic. opportunity would mean
the degradation Of the white race.
tered far and wide. AS the Berea Quar-
terly reports, they are now attending
colored public schools, or have been
sent to Fisk university, and other rep
| uta BILE institutions. The arrangement,
it is reported, is working as well as
the friends Of the school has been won
as never before, and it is needed, for
the law amounts to a confiscation of
large part of the institution g resour
ces, since it has had to assume extra
expenses for the colored students by
their higher tuition, etc.
Naturally, this is only a. temporary
Estate of affairs. Berea, having brought
a formal violation of the law to the at
tention Of the state officials, a friendly
suit to test the nationality Of the
ing to obtain a decision from the high
est courts as speedily as possible. On
it's face the law appears wholly uncon-
stitutional. AS the Quarterly remarks:
HIt invades the sanctities- Of personal
liberty, ,and. if allowed to stand, would
ties Of white and colored alike.' The
head of the law department in a south
ern state school has written. a private
letter congratulating Berea's trustees
upon their stand, denouncing the lay ',
and deargge b er stpagge
not for their own liberty, but q o9e for
the liberty of every citizen:'' More
over, the action of the legislature was
"ruthless and inconsiderate. Officers
of the state circulated gross misrepre-
sensations, and both house and senate
gate the college, which is the one i'm
portant school in Kentucky open to the
: negroes, and which has done work of
inestimable value in spreading knowl-
edge among the pitifully ignorant
Highly significant is the fact that
many members Of the legislature told
President Frost that they were opposed
, to the bill, but that 'Fthe controlling
: element had determined to push it thru
and that any man who voted in opposi
, ton would; have the niger 9uSes; t q.
= ture career. " It was the old story OF
= = "bulldozing' good citizens by the
politicians, who seek to make capita!
, out Of race prejudice. This explains
= why there are thousands of highmind
/ ed southern white people opposed to at
the presence of the ignorant, blatant
and violent element Of the community
In the case Of Berea, the evidence &C
cumulates that the attack upon it was
due to instructions received from poll
ticians further south.
: Berea's white students have had nc
hesitation in expressing their views in
J. dependent of politicians or of those
l. who are the victims Of unconquerable
u prejudice. We take from their resolu
! ;. tions of sympathy just voted. the fol
[. lowing passages, which we commend
= ments in the Kentucky legislature.
v "Friends and Fellow Students: A.
we meet for the first time under new
conditions to enjoy the great privileges
of Berea college, we think at once o.
he are now dsp d ns Of sh hSs
e us that others have the same rights a
lggg ourselves, and the teachings of Chris
q. lead us to 'remembe them that are il
bonds as bound with them
- "We realize that you are exclude
from the class rooms Of Berea college
Of your own, and that this hardship
part Of long line Of deprivation
under which you live. Because 20
were born in race long oppressed an
, largely untaught and undevelopet
heartless people feel more free to d
you wrong, and thoughtless people NEE
your attempts at self-improvement wit
Indifference or scorn. Even good peopl
sometimes fear to recognize your wort
} or take your part in neighborly way
because of'the violence Of the prelude
around us. .... .-..--. ~.
eve are glad. that we have know
\ you, or known about you, and that "
D know you are rising above all discou
agements, and showing a capacity an
character that give promise for yor
people ana you Will aIWaJ
!. have our friendship, and the friendshi
Of the best people thruout the WORLD
We hope never to be afraid or ashame
to show our approval of any colore
person who has the character and wort
Of most of the colored students {
Berea. We are glad that the college
. providing funds to. assist you in CO
tinuing your education, and we are SUI
the institution will find ways in whie
, to do it's full duty by the colored race.