The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-01-14
DIGEST
By FLOYD J. CALVIN
Gaines Reaction

GdlneS Reaction
1t has been interesting to observe
the reaction of various groups in
American life to the Supreme Court
decision in the Gaines case. The daily
newspapers of Missouri at first tried
to discount the edict, but the serious
implications were recognized when the
State of Missouri applied for a re-
hearing of the case in Washington.
which was promptly denied.
In the South we find the various
white leaders bringing up the supposed
barriers to fulfilling the terms of the
new ruling. The cost of giving Col
ored graduates educational privileges
equal to those of other citizens within
a state is the most frequently men
toned factor. A few Southerners are
brave enough to come out and say it
might be all right to admit Colored
students to the regularly established
State Universities for their graduate
work
Race leaders of the South have uni
formly backed the Gaines pronounce
ment. This is encouraging. for it
shows that equal rights under the law
is still the Race ideal, in spite of the
pussy-footing that is sometimes neces-
sary to get money for certain worthy
causes in the South.
The Commonweal of New York.
representing the high Catholic view
point, says: Missouri, which is an en-
lightened and progressive state. NAV
now take the wholly right course of
throwing open her state university
doors to her colored citizens who prove
themselves entitled by prevailing stan
dards to the education given there"
But it remains for the Interracial
Review of New York to give the ag-
gressive Catholic attitude. "The In
terracial Review is hopeful that this
decision will be read and carefully
studied by the administrative heads of
Catholic colleges throughout America.
particularly by those who have not
yet seen fit to admit the Colored Cath
Ollie student. We do not contend that
this decision is in any way binding
upon privately maintained institutions.
However, we feel that the legal prin-
clples involved, which are so clearly
and forcefully eXpounded by this de-
cision may convince many Catholic
educators that the same reasoning
may applied to the moral principles
involved in the question of admitting
Colored Catholic students into Catho-
lie colleges. We profoundly hope that
the following thesis may suggest itself
to Catholic educators:
prelates, priests and laymen-have
contributed to the establishment and
maintenance of Catholic colleges in
order to provide higher education for
Catholics, it would seem that a dulv
qualified Catholic applicant may not
rightfully be rejected solely on the
ground of color. The broad and un-
restricted purpose for which gifts are
made to, and accepted by Catholic
colleges would seem to impose a moral
obligation upon the individual college
to admit the Colored Catholic who
has the necessary qualifications. And
may it not be urged that such an appli-
cant has the right as well as the
obligation to seek a Catholic college
education
If the civil law is persuaded to i'm
pose legal obligations with regard 10
the right of higher education, with
how much greater reason should the
moral law impose the same demands. /"
In view of the fact that the sacri-
fices and generosity of thousands of
-G-
fpInaGn Dak-A.s-.