Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-07-19
EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH.

says that the encouraging circumstan.
ces vastly predominant over the dis.
couraging, the statistics submitted do
not, to our mind, show much cause for
congratulation. Thus, In the State Of
Virginia, we find the school popula-
ton to be All, 62l, of which 257, 900 are
white, and the total number Of schools
of all classes only 1896, or an average
Of nearly liz scholars to every school.
In North Caralina, the report says
"the condition Of the public schools
and education Is far from satisfactory.
There is an alarming indifference OH
the subject among the common people,
and a want Of union aud party coop
GRAFTON among the public men," In
South Carolina, according to the re-
port. over 5000. 900 were a%pproprl'
ated by the last Legislature for educa-
tional purposes, but not one dollar OF
the amount has ever been received
from the Treasury. The result has
been THAT nearly all the public schools in
the State haze been closed" Truly an
encouraging educational feature Of the
Palmetto State aud a Legitimate out
growth Of a mongrel Legislature aud
hybrid legislation which, starting with
a clear credit after the war, hopelessly
bankrupted tie State In four years
thereafter, and created q debt which
AL only be removed BY reputation.
Turning to Georgia, we find that the
carpet bag negro government OF that
misgoverned people has resulted siml-
larly. The report says 1.-THE effort
thus far to establish the public school
system has resulted in comparatively
failure" We fail to find in this con-
dition Of affairs the cause of gratula-
ton perceived by the sanguine Sears.
In Florida, according to the report,
Nsthiee.fourths Of the youth Of the State
areyet unreached BY the educational
SYSTEM" but adds the consollng words
'',he rattQ is rapidly changing There
is then hope In thi. for Florida. In
Alabama, wasind on the same author
ity, that out of the population of
1000, 900 there are 1873, 900 who can
neither read nor write, and of the vot-
ing population, $1,000 blacks and H.
900 whites are in this barbarous condi-
ton. Is It any wonder carpet-bagSers
flourish in Alabama? In Arkansas,
out OF l94,3l4 children of school age,
only 81, S63 attend the schools, OF about
one In six ; and in Louisiana, the mu-
nificent sum Of $3.50 was last year
contributed in aid Of the public schools.
In Mississippi the exhibit is much more
favorable, there being 1850 public and
400 private schools, with an average
attendance in the former Of l25, 900,
and an enrolled list in the latter of
us. $50 pupils, while In West Virginia
(Which has governed herself since the
war; we find 1000 schools IN opera.
ton. supported ut an annual expense
Of $3.50, 900. This latter exhibit Is
doubtless the source from which DR..
Sears draws his encouragement, and II
the same showing were general, it
would indeed be cause for rejoicing.
But when we look ut Alabama, with
nearly two-fiiths Of her whole popula-
ton unable to read or write, aud al
most. IL not quite, half her voting pop
ulatiou In the same disgraceful predic-
ament ; when we turn to South Caro-
Ina and find public schools closed
from sheer bankruptcy Of the State
Treasury, aud contemplate the causes
which have led to such a sad state Of
affairs; when we find In Arkansas
only one-sixth OF the children
attending school. and looking to
Georgia find the public school sys-
tenn a failure, the causes Of congrat-
ulat,on disappear like dust before a
cloud Of ignorance as dark as the ages
before the European reformation. 10
the student OF politics, to him who es-
says to solve the problem of self gov
ernment, these facts are of value. aud
furnish food for thoughtful contempla-
ton upon the question low far cduca-
ton should be a basis for the elective
franchise, aud the no less important
query, are not compulsory educational
laws Il necessity In republican govern
ments? The day Of sentiment in poll
tics Is past. The wrongs Of the ell
shaved are righted, the oppressed are
free. and the politics Of to-day demands
thinkers, profound students Of govern
ment and educatedclectors. 1t does not
intellect to be patriotic. to be
humanitarian. To adjust the great
questions OF internal economy pressing
upon the nation to-day demands the
highest order Of culture among leaders
aud a general education of the masses.