Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-10-07

rule since 1871; it had never been much
in favor of public schools indeed there
were none there before the war-it will
be seen that though the public school
system is still far from being imam ad-
vanced state but progress is evidently
going on. In this State Mr.. N. intro
duces his notice of the schools in
paragraph subsidiary to his statement
of financial affairs; after stating that
the State debt was much less than that
of the other Southern States he pro-
ceeded as follows:
The counties have no debts of any
consequence. The cities have some,
but not very heavy Indebtedness.
1t is altogether such a showing as
these Democrats need not be ashamed
of. 1t has one weak spot only-the ex-
penditure for schools. Georgia had
no free schools before the war, and the
system makes but slow Roadway in the
State. The present superintendent OF
public instruction Ga Democrat is
Jealous and efficient officer, and he
looks forward to better days.
There was apportioned by him for
the support of schools in 1914 only
$3.50 900 and the schools are open, in
/ general, less than three months In the
4 year. For the present year the school
tax will yield only $270, 900. Last year
/ there were $4,000 children in the
public schools-an increase of $4,000
over 1873. In 1873 there were actual
" attending school only g. 22 white,
and 1875 colored children in 1874 the
numbers stood SO, l67 white and A.
374 colored children. This was out OF
a total of 21S,733 white, and 1904
colored children within the school
ages.
There is still in many counties some
prejudice against colored schools, but
it constantly decreases; and you will
notice that more than twice as many
colored children attended schools IN
1874 as in 1873. Atlanta has colored
university, and the Legislature appro-
PIRATES yearly toward its support s., 600
the same amount which is given to
the old State University. The COVER
nor and superintendent of schools
both desire that this appropriation
shall be diverted to colored normal
school and there is some Ignorant
prejudice in Atlanta against the teach
ers IN the university, on the ground OF
their sitting at table with the colored
students, which is thought to promote
social equality" 1t is not denied,
however, that the school does good
work; and L imagine the teachers
can best instruct the pupils in the mi
nor morals by eating at the same table
with them"
So that if education does not pro.
coed at as rapid rate as in the North
much is done and everything is hope.
full.
And now we ask our readers to run
their eyes over this succession of ex.
tracts and notice that, First, wherever
the Radical party were in control o
everything the school fund was stoler
, and popular education was practically
} absent.
That in exact proportion as the Dem
ocratic party acquired influence, educa
, ton of the freedmen's children became
{ efficient and in the two States in which
the Democratic party is predominant
and in them only is a fund systemati
cally applied to that purpose withou
stealage. We are collecting material
for history of the education question
in Tennessee to be given more in de
tail than the above which will appea
in our next, enough has already beef
demonstrated to show with how LITTLE
ground the Radical party makes it
, claim las it did in Congress last SEES
, sicn) to have the whole matter of tn,
education of the freedmen turned owe
to it, on account of the alleged incom
potency and indisposition of the Dem
ocratic party in the South to deal will
: it.