The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-19
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1868.
Education in the South-ActiOn of the
Louisiana Legislature.

THE educational system of the Southern States
before the war was, like everything else
under the control OF their Governments, framed
to promote the interests OF the Shareholders
end their families. The general policy was to
build up few colleges or universities at the
expense of the respective States, where the
planters could educate their sons, aud to make
no serious effort to establish an effective COM
mon school system. The result is well-known.
The colored population remained in state OF
enforced ignorance. Not only was no pains
taken to educate them but severe penalties
and punishments were imposed upon all who
dared to teach slaves to read and write. The
annals of the world scarcely afford parallel
instance Of this species of barbarity. If
the pro-slavery leaders had been guilty
of no other crime than this infamous offense
of seeking to dwarf the intellect of four mil
lions of human beings, they would deserve
the execrstion Of all just and enlightened
men. In spite of their execrable laws, how
ever, it occasionally happened that negroes
gained knowledge as they gained freedom by
stealth; and it is probable that one of the
causes of the intense desire to enjoy the
blessings of education which pervades the
entire mass of the freedmen, may be found
in the natural reaction against the former re-
strictions, and in the recollection that, under
the old regime, knowledge was to them a for
hidden fruit.
The mass of the poor whites Jared but little
better than the slaves. 1t was, indeed, neces-
sary on account of their political power, that
a pretence of providing for the education
of their children should be made, for
the crying injustice Of providing literally, by
State aid, for the education of the offspring of
the rich and aristocratic planter, would have
been too evident and too unpopular, if the com
mon school system had been totally neglected.
But nothing more conclusively proves the
failure of the South to disseminate educational
facilities among the masses of her white popu-
lation than the ignorance which habitually
prevailed among them. The census returns
show that very large proportion of her white
adults, of native birth, can neither read nor
write, and a contrast of these statistics be-
tween the natives of Northern and Southern
States shows an overwhelming preponderance
of ignorance in the latter. Meanwhile, the
Southern States were mach more liberal in
granting aid from their treasures to colleges
where planters sons could be educated, than
the States north of Mason and Dixon's line.
These features of the old educational system
OF the South present marked contrast to the
policy which has been foreshadowed by the
reconstructed governments in their consttu-
tions and in the action Of their Legislatures.
The disposition has constantly been shown to
prize education above all things except Free
dom. The question is repeatedly asked and
discussed, how shall we obtain the means for
establishing an effective common school
systemP and some of the constitutions
have specifically provided that a certain
tax shall annually be levied for this pur-
pose. However much the Republicans
of the South may differ on other and
minor questions, they all agree that the
people, without distinction of circumstances
or color, shall henceforth enjoy the opportu-
mites for securing an education which have
hitherto been cruelty denied to them. And
the freedmen have displayed thirst for learn
ing and an earnest desire that their children
shall be educated, which is at once highly
Commendable and indicative of their rapid in
tellectual progress. The schools established
under the auspices of charitable societies in
the South, and protected by the Freedmen's
Bureau, have spread the seeds of knowledge
broadcast, and an incalculable amount of good
has already been done, despite the antagonism
of the desperate class OF Rebel ruffians, and
their repeated attacks upon school-houses and
school teachers.
The Legislature of Louisiana, impressed
with the importance Of establishing universal
education on a secure and permanent founda-
tion, has under discussion bill which has
been bitterly denounced in some quarters.
Judged by itself, and without reference to past
events, or to the peculiar circumstances pre-
vailing in that State, some of its provisions
might be deemed highly Objectionable. 1t pro-
poses to make education compulsory, and thus
to take step in advance in accordance with
the example of other countries and the recon-
mendations of many of the most devoted
friends of education in the Northern States.
Special objection is also made to clause
providing that the schools shall be
open to all children between the ages
of six and twenty-one years, without distinc'
tion OF race or color. In towns and cities
common agreement would probably soon lead
TO system OF classification that would sepa
rate the races, but in the rural districts of the
South it is evident that without some such