The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-02-29
Cd. go Caaeluded.

eaGse us to tax ourselves heavily to
educate tie aegro. This, like other
ghosts, though it may hook terrible
in the distance, vet, when we march
straight ap to Il, turns out to be
no ghost st all BY referring to
thc Banner of the 9Th inst, YOU win
see that Separats schools for
whites and blacks are authorized by
Congress. The proceeds OF the
public land are given 70 the States
for the benefit Of education, and
Congress does not interfere with
the management Of che fund, which
is assigned as the share of anr ear-
ticulaF State. 1t further provides
that the share Of no State shall be
withheld for reason that the laws
thereof provide for separate schools.
I do not know what the share of
Tennessee will amount to. What
ever it may be, the eolored children
win be entitled to their rateabie
share. The State of Tennessee has
also a school fund, of which Giles
county is entitled 20 a share. do
not know what our share amounts
to. Let's say It is $4,000. The
share of eolored children viii then
be about $TOO. If this proposed
tax IS levied, the negroes win pay
a poll tax. suppose there are
nearly a thousand colOred polls
Let us say the 500 viii be collected
from them. They pay but very lit
tie propeFty-tax, but still some
thing. If the tax is voted. they
viii have altogether Il fund Of their
own, amounting to about 81, 400 or
81, 500.
Let Us see now what it win cost
to provide schools for them. The
colord population is a little over
one-tbird or the total Let us put
it then at ], 400, leaving the white
scholastic population 1t our former
estimate of 2,400..
If the county he divided into 10
districts, We shall have 40 ia each
district. Ali Of them will not go
to school. Suppose that $50 in the
whole county 90. This is a much
larger numbe. than now 90. We
viii then have T5 in each colored
school.
No one, white or black, radical or
Democrat, or Third Party, or Lib
eral, or Conservative, will suppose
that we viii take all our money to
educate the colored children, and
leave our own uneducated. Then
their benefit from this tax must
bear n corresponding ratio to their
contributions. In other words. we
viii give them the benefit of their
tax and ourselves take the benefit
of our own; nay, we may even help
them a title, if necessary. Let
US now apply these principles to the
organization Of their schools.
They now pay from 80 cents to
one dollar a month piece to teach
ers. If there are 75 children in the
school, all are in elementary grades.
Suppose we keep a school open for
them . months in the year. aHd pay
to Principal $50 per month, and as
sistant SI7 per month. The school
viii cost for Eve months 1925 to
each district, and the total cost will
be to the county -, ,250.
Suppose the county TO be divided
into / 5 districts, then tie number
Of scholars in1each district will be
reduced to so.
One teacher at $50 per month will
cost for five months $3.50 to each
district, or $2,250 to the county.
Their own fund would be about
81 400 or 81, 800, and to carry out
what share proposed, the whit.
would assist them to the amount Of
less than $1,000
/ do not claim that these figures
are accurate, but they show that We
may, at a very trig5ng cost, furnish
them q much hetteF system Of
than they have new Look
ing at the matter as a mere ques-
ton of dollars and cents, Is it econ
omy to permit an expense Of about
1000 to prevent US from saving
S27, 600 or $4,000? Will we not
make money by giving them, if nee
essary, two or three thousand dol
lars to escape an expense To our
selves Of ten times that sum.
/ have, so far, taken Onlya pecu-
mary view og this question Let
as now view it from higher stand
point, as question Of wise policy.
These people are among Us. we can
not get rid Of them, &c We EOuid. If.
they are a buF.ien. does anybody
know how 20 shake it OF. Shall
we then let il crush us down 10 the
earth, paralyze us and hold us fet
tered and motionless. while all the
world is mOviHgf
These people constitute our labor
system. Shall we be 50 blind as TO
permit adventures to come
Us, and, for political pnr
poses, under our very noses, co
llienate oHr labOrers, and TO ill
them with notions hostile 70 us and
injurious 10 our interestsf Shall
We merely stand idle, ike Tam
D'Shanta's dame,
2 Gathering her broWs Ike wintry
storm.
Nursing her wrath TO keepit il warm.
Shall we rather not step forward /
md put stop TO Il, seize the pres /
mt opportunity, shut the door on I
Congressional interference, and cut /
1a all excuse for H2 Since the ed !
lcation OF the colored children I
must come, let US control It our
selves Let as make the best and I
visest use OF the circumstances, byI
Fhich we are surrounded. ] think, l
ellow-citizens. / see In your eyes /
hat you agree with me on this 4
Joint. / think I can safely answer
he question We have just been L
in the affirmative and /
.oBclade : it win pay, i
Let as nov put the test OF eau
ions old John Buii-@ Has il been i
ried
You might, pethaps think %
this. man Is visionary, iii
we're % stop here. Let Us try the
natter by the light of experience.
IN this head I shall simply read I
og facts from reliable sources. and I
Ter no comments or my own.
The speaker here read extracts
rom rarious edueatioual journals. !
nd zfuefaefas ahnufnr that aahsssis