The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-04-07
The Public School Act of Alabama,

The Democracy in the Southern States
seem determined to acquire notori,y for
deeds that are both unmanly and iniuri-
GUS. If they ever knew and appreciated
the spirit Of liberty, they must have
known that the free institutions of this
country can only be maintained by the
INTEL gent loyalty of the citizens. Who
ever interposcs a bar TO popular educa-
ton exposes the community to n dam
ger OF the most alarming character.
The wisdom OF the Bible is shown by its
insisting upon the right training of youth
n what people a expect prosperity
or peace who neglect their youth and de-
prlvc them of what Is necessary to quail
ify them for a useful and industrious
manhood? Society has its laws. obedi-
ence to which renders it secure and cap-
able of advancement: but u willful vio-
lation of those laws is u crime that brings
its W punishment.
Are Southern Democrats so besotted
as to imagine that the old system of ig-
norance which prevailed in the times of
slavery is applicable to a state of free
dom? The prodigious ignorance fos-
tered by the institution reacted disas-
trOusly on the whites, who grew up with
a vile example before them, and with no
respect for labor. One of the first OBJ
jects Republicans had in view in rehabili-
tating the South was to provide liberty
for the education of the rising generation,
and had their system continued in force
there would have been no lack of means
or OF men for the work. AS it is, South
ern Democrats, saturated with the old
prejudice against knowledge becoming
general, have actually set themselves
the task of diminishing the number of
school-houses and teachers. the result
of which can only be widespread ignor-
ance. In Alabama the Legislature has
even gone beyond this, and outragedt the
feelings ofthat friend ofblack and white
humanity, Colonel Forsyth. LOT the Mobile
Register. He knows enough of the ne
cessity Of education to see the danger
incurred by the act of the Democratic
lawmakers OF his State in defeating the
measure prepared by the Committee OH
Education. The bill to establish n pub
lie school system was, upon a vote on
its final pcssage, recommitted to a spe-
cial committee. This was near the end
OF the session, when there was little op-
p%ortunity Tor consideration, and much
Ignorance prevailing among the men re-
quired to prepare II new bill. But they
do not appear to have been conscious OF
deficiency, and the product of such abil-
tiles as they possessed in thus described
in the Register.
1.-The new bill restricts the pay of
school superintendent to 4 per cent, of
the school fund, after deducting the en-
penses OF the Department at Montgom-
cry. If the fund should reach $500, 900
next year there would be less than Sl2,-
600 to pay the county seprrintendents.
There are 60 counties in the State. The
average pay Of the county superiutend-
ents would, therefore. be about SlS5
per annum-less than the wages of a
Louisiana negro. Such penury can new
er sustain an enlightened school system.
The Legislature provides as a fee for Il
single lawyer representing the State in a
single case Il sun larger THAI the salar-
les of Il dozen county superintendent.
And the worst feature of the business is
that the bulk of the 4 per cent. salaries
will go to the black counties. The
county superintendent in the white
counties will not receive pay enough to
hire a horse to ride around to the school
houses"
What can be expected in the State of
Alabama from II school system of this
characterp 1t IS q farce to expect that
any good can be accomplished from
such u penurious scheme. Where is
tho Southern generosity-the chivalry
which should wish well to their children
of either race who have yet to battle
with the world? One thing however,
is clear. The persistent opposition and
oppression of such men as Colonel For
syth could issue in nothing else than
such apublic school act; and the men
who passed it supposed that they were
currying favor with just the class who
deserve to suffer for the injury they in