
The Gazette (Raleigh, NC) · Jul 24, 1897
The editor of the News and Observer, in an editorial, says: “One of the most intelligent negro educators in the State said: ‘It was a big mistake to have elected a single negro on the board of education in the State. It would have been better to have left them of the school committee, too. What the negro wants is a chance. The politicians have hurt his chance by clamoring for and getting petty places for petty negro politicians,'” The negro who uttered these words, if he sincerely believes them, is not an “intelligent educator,” and is unfit to teach the children of any race. It is from just such cringing sycophants as this negro is, whoever he may be, that the race is caused to suffer so much. Because this mealy-mouth was in the presence of a bitter partisan who has been foaming at the mouth because negro manhood has been recognized on these boards and committee, he cringes and cowers like a whipped spaniel, and stultifies his weak manhood by denouncing men for doing the very thing he doubtless had asked and expected them to do. One essential thing the negro race needs is manhood to stand up under and all circumstances.

