The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1870-09-22
FREE SCHOOLS AND DEMOCRACY.

FREE SCHOOLS AND DEMOCRACY.
Some Of our Democratic contemporaries
having discovered that our Free school
system is becoming very popular, are
claiming that the Democracy are in favor
of educating the masses, by a Free school
system to be supported ly taxation, ullcg-
ing. however. that our present system Is
bad one, aud badly administered We
admit that sonie Democrats Of scanty or
moderate means in this aud other southern
States arc in favor of Free schpols. but We
assert that the leaders aud wealthy por-
ton OF the Democrats party. are bitterly
opposed to them Every Democrat can
easily settle this question for himself by
calling to mind, all the wealthy men Of
his party within the circle OF Ills acquaint-
auce and recollecting what they have said
aud done respecting Free schools, within
the last four or Eve years Have not such
wealthy Democrats, with scarcely aud ex-
ception. denounced Free schools in the
most unqualified terms, cursed the Repub.
lican party for establishing them. and
pointed with regret to 1.-THE good old
times" when under Virginia rule. no man
was compelled to pay taxes for the educa-
ton Of the poor2
The Democratic party had The State OF
Virginia under its control from the found
alton Of the government to the close Of the
rebellion, and yet during that time she was
destitute Of Free schools supported by tax.
alton, except in some two or three counties.
The result. all men Of any intelligence
know In 1860, there was not less than
$4,000 adults in Virginia. who could nei-
ther read nor write Here. in the county
of jackson. with population Of about
1000, there were not moro than half q
dozen school houses. and they generally,
Of the meanest kind, in which very indif-
ferent subscription schools were OCCASION
ally taught. Hence, in Jackson county.
we say it with surrow, there are hundreds
Of men and women who do not know a
letter of the alphabet, If the Democracy
had been friendly t. popular education,
would this have been 81?
In Tennessee and Maryland. the De-
mocracy recently abolished Free schnol
systems which had been established by
Republicans, on the ground that no man
ought to be compelled to educate other
peoples children. But why give oxam-
Piles? The fact is iudisputable that in the
South genes$lIys wherever DO"ncrats have
had the power, Free schools have been op.
posed by them, and the masses have been
denied the privileges Of education at
the public expense On the other hand,
wherever Republicans have had the power,
whether in tho North or South, school
houses have started up as If by magic, the
best teachers that could be found have
been employed. and all the children en-
Couraged to attend school. To buiId these
houses. and to keep the schools in opera
ton, Republicans have freely taxed them.
selves as well as Democrats, who all the
time have been denouncing Free schools.
There is not man in West Virginia
who believes. that if the Democracy had
controlled the State FROM its organization,
we@ould be enjoying our present educa-
tiOnal advantages No intelligent man
will deny that It was the policy Of the
southern Democracy to keep the mud
sills Of society" in ignorance. that they
might. the more easily, be held in subjec.
I';op to the wealthy and educated GLASSES
n,.lad tho .nonr hath white and black