Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-12

ton.
On November 8. 1857. tn
people Of Virginia. with over
whelming voice. gave expires
sion to their profound convic
ton that principles cannot b
compromised. and that right
and powers cannot be ahan
doned. without forsaking ever,
hope for their revival and re-
establishment. I interpret an
] accept that expression as ,
mandate to the General As
sembly and the chief executive
to defend and preserve the In
herent powers Of Virginia
sovereign statehood.
I shall exercise every honor.
able means at my commanS
In the observance Of that man,
date and In the execution o.
that trust. -.
Interstate Body Urged
Virginia has a high response.
bility. I believe. to contribut,
in whatever way we can towarC
the preservation Of this consti.
tutional structure. therefore
recommend that the Genera
Assembly give thorough con.
sideraticn to the establish.
ment of an appropriate com.
mission to work with the CHIEF
Executive in cooperation with
our sister States to the enc
that the several States may bt
restored to their proper dig.
nifty. and defended in the ex.
ercise Of their non-delegatec
and reserved powers under the
Constitution Of the United
! am dedicated to the cause
Of public education in Virginia
I want to see every child pos
seSsing the capacity and will
to learn afforded the best edu-
cational opportunities this
Commonwealth can provide,
irrespective Of race or color. As
! want to emphasize somewhat
later. the processes Of sound
education that have been i'm
portant in the past seem 10
me imperative now. The we'll
being Of the State, the security
Of the Nation. even the survival
Of Western civilization. depend
to a large degree upon the edu-
cation Of the coming genera
ton.
In guiding our children along
this urgent path. our public
schools. in the familiar image,
are like lamps: I deplore the
very thought that even one Of
these should ever be dimmed
or extinguished. however
briefly. am determined to do
everything within my power to
promote and sustain an EN-
Gent. progressive. and we'll
functioning system Of public
free schools throughout Viz
ginia.
Yet In approaching this crit
ical matter. We must face GER
tain facts Of life squarely.
Moderation may be. indeed,
the noblest gift Of heaven. but
It Is stark reality that confronts
US here on earth.
School View Detailed
The people Of Virginia, I be-
heve. are overwhelmingly in
favor Of sound public educa-
ton; and the people Of vir-
ginia. I believe. are overwhelm-
ingly against racial integration
OF the public schools. These
two convictions are mutually
exclusive. The society in which
we live demands that educa-
ton reflect a spirit of prog.
ress and advancement. On q
racially mixed basis, progress
and advancement are utterly
impossible in the public schools
Of Virginia today.
No public school system can
survive when it Is isolated from
the loyalty. confidence and
support Of a large segment Of
the people whose tax dollars
are its only source Of material
support. Yet considerations Of
public finance are possibly the
least Of the vital factors here,
though many local governing
bodies. irrespective Of State
appropriations. would not pro-
vide funds for the operation Of
racially mixed schools.
Beyond the tangible matter
OF tax dollars are the count
less intangible factors Of COM
munity pride. individual choice,
age-old custom. and deep DO
litical conviction. Thousands
upon thousands Of Virginia
parents simply would not send
their children to racially inte-
grated schools: they have
made this clear in every way
II Is possible for them to do so.
BY an act Of the special ses-
sion Of the Assembly, no child
may be compelled to attend
such a school: but even II this
were not so. 1t would be abso-
lutte folly for the State TO at
tempt such a compulsion.
The result Of forced integra-
ton would be half-schools or
Quarter-SchoolS or no schools,
struggling for survival in COM
munities torn by dissension.
There could be no education,
not in any meaningfulness
sense Of the word. under these
circumstances.
Need for Firm Front Seen
This is a somber picture
but ! believe 1t is not over
drawn. ! am convinced that
there is not one political SUBJ
division in Virginia where
racially mixed schools can be
conducted without such seri-
Gus, irretrievable loss and dam
age TO the cause of public edu-
Cafi0n ae m render. fha offaV,nrt