The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-10-01

tainly a source Of qualification to see her
public spirited citizens aroused upon sub.
ect Of such vital importance. There Is
none more intimately connected with the
: future destiny Of Mississippi, and none
which should command more attention from
those who desire to promote her prosperity.
Nature has been profuse Of her blessings
upon this State--a climate as mild as any
could desire--a soil rich, luxuriant, and d.
versifed, well adopted to the growth Of
nearly every variety Of production, render
Il one Of the most desirable portions Of the
Union. Her laws and constitution are also
such as should commandthe universal hon.
age of those who desire the extensive
propagation Of democratic government in
its widest sense--for here the people are
thought capable of selfgovernment, Of de-
Gliding by their sutfrages who shah be
clothed with the judicial ermine, as well as
who shall represent them in the councils Of
the nation. Blessed with such advantages
for happiness and prosperity should they
unmindlul of their real welfare, and forget.
full of that which will render their State the
brightest constellation that adorns our ma.
tional galaxy, neglect that which is more
important than all else-THE EDUCATION
OF THE RISING GENERATION To effect
this object Of such paramount Importance,
to shed abroad the light Of learning and
knowledge, by means Of the common school
system, so that it may shine equally upon
the rich and the poor, they should become
fully awakened upon the subject, and delib-
crate thereupon with that calmness but de.
termined zeal which its importance merits.
The present system which was devised
to promote learning throughout the State
has proven in most cases failure-wheth.
er il is because the people have not been
active in the application of the means gran.
ted them-whether the lands which were
appropriated for purposes of education are
generally useless, or have been injured in
value by unlawful trespassers-are ques-
tons which it is useless to solve-inasmuch
as the late census and the deductions rea-
sonably drawn therefrom prove that the
present plan is wholly defcient-that the
cause Of education instead Of advancing is
relrograding, and therefore some other
must be adopted. The only one which has
yet been presented for the consideration of
the people, and the next legislature is en-
braced in aletter Of some length, written
by the Hon. ]. S. B. Thacher to Governor
Brown, and published in recent number
of the Natchez Free Trader. He commu.
nicates some startling facts in reference to
the dePlorable condition Of education in
Mississippi, which will doubtless astonish
many who have not properly reflected upon
the subject. In 1910 when there was a
population Of 81 ,459 of five and under
twenty years of age-the total number of
children educated at Colleges, Academies
or Common Schools in this State, only was
1l,243! Which shows that there were
upwards of ffy-six thousand persons under
20 and over 5years of age in Mississippi
either educated abroad, or by private in.
struction, or receiving no education at ALL
Mr.. Thaeher also concludes that.
" AT the present day, even admitting that
the means if instruction have increased 40
per cent. since 1910, there must be the in.
credible number OflOl, Os9 children IN this /
State, to whom the facilities of instruction {
are imPeHectly if at all extended
He also mentions the fact (which we
sometime since alluded to) that according to
the census Of 1910 there were in this State /
upwards of eight thousand persons over 90
years of age who could neither read nor
Vr'te' and according to deductions legiti. :
mately drawn, there must be at the present 4
time, between fourteen and fifteen thousand /
now in the State in the same deplOrable 8
condition. He therefore justly (and as mus E
every good citizen concludes thala reform T
must be adopted, which viii be speedy and o
efficient in its effects. The tide of ienO- 8
rance must be rolled back, and MississiDDi 3
must stand before the world as bright and Z
shining example in proro,i,, lo.-.e.-5 y