, 1875-06-13

Alusion was recently made in these col
! unns to the fact that ir Arkansas and other
J portions OF the South deliberate attempt is
}; being made to suppress the education Of the
! masses that the school-houses are being
closed, ona after the other; and that the ta1-
! payers refuse to contribute anything to their
support, in consequence of which, not only
the blacks, but the poor whites, are now de-
prived of the means Of education, and are
leading a life Of idleness and disaolntenese.
Til 9 real motive of this iu-adyised and unfor-
tunate action is apparent at the very first
glance It grows ont Of the fem Of the aris-
tocracy, the landowners, and the ex-plantars
that they will lose control Of the blacks and
poor whites if they are allowed to be educat-
ed The right of suffrage has already stripped
them to certain extent Of political power,
and they can only see in education an in
huence which will elevate the lower classes,
and confer upon them the blessings Of equal
ity. With their ahort-sighted eyes, they can
see no other way to retain the power thsy
held in the days Of slavery-when their hol.l
both upon tho negro and the poor white Was
absolute-than By keeping them in igno-
rRnco. They fail to soc that, while this vGs
practicable in q condition Of slavery, it is
dangerous in q condition Of freedom,-that
the negro could be kept an ignorant chattel
SO long as he vas an article OF property Like
horse or an OF, but that they are turning the
edge OF very dangerous weapon against |
themselves by attempting to keep him in |
Ignorance whan they have no title Of property
in him.
The dangers Of a general condition Of I
ignorance ought to be apparent to the |
Southezner BY reference to its effects else
where. In Europe, the most powerful /
countries arc those which have enjoyed tbs
highest degree Of educational culture, like
England, France, Switzerland, Germany, and
dolland, and they are not only the most
powerful but tbs most prosperous. They en-
10y the highest conditions that &an result
rom wealth, science, lterature and art.
fheir civilization is based upon the highest
ype OF morality and religion On the other
land, those nations, like Spain for instance,
which have discouraged CT neglected educa-
ion have fallen to the rear in the march
It progress, and are no longar possessed
i any influence or power in tha
reat family Of nations. How is it in the
United states7 Are not those States the
aost powerful and prosperous which have
njoyed the highest dagree OF education7
he school-house, the academy, and the COL
'ge have been tho principal factors in the
aoza1, social, and material growth Of New
ngland, New York, and Pennsylvania, and ]
ley are tho agencies which are helping to
nild up tho great West in its wonderful 9
with It is the absence Of these which is /
seping the South back, and, where Ignorance i
dansast in the South, there is no growth, d
It, On the other hand, stagnation, and | c
agnaEon always involves decay and destruc- 2
IN. These are facts which are so palpable .
ID so universally conceded that We do not G
'ed TO dwell upon them q
Southern men bring up two 1easons why t.
ey are opposed to education First, they IL
=, tho negroes and por whites, II they are il
owed to go to schools and obtain education, H
Il be looking for higher things and Will not Il
Tx in the fields, and thus the Agricultural al
terosts OF the South will suffer. We might | T
swar this BY asking the question, Do the Al
,erests Of the North 6ulfer because laborara ..
ve the advantages Of educafon2 Docs tbs d.
uer find that his flalds are untitled because II
sons and his Iaborara and his laborers' I CT
Ii can go to school? Do great public | dr
rks languish because aborata are A.
dying and will not carry hpda pr
vel din, dig in aeusr4, Sxea,ats tun- 10