The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-12-27

ne u, l., ~ - IDll chIntu 600, 10000 III
November, and spent $2G,64039.
The Frceport Syrup factory is expected To
produce from from 1900 to 1000 barrels of
syrup per week.
No Bulldozing in This.
COLUMBIA, s. G. Dec. 4-The persistent
assertions made that the negroes Of the South
are Systematically oppressed and terroriZcd is
certainly disproved, so far ms South Carolina
is concerned at least by facts taken from the
annual report of the State Superintendent of
Education. Many who give no credence to
the blood-curdling tales of horror SO ndustri.
Ously circulated on the eve of the important
elections are nevertheless inclined to believe
that while the Southern Democrats yield
obedience to the reconstruction acts and re-
spect the political and civil rights of the ne
gro, they studiously refrain from taking any
steps to ameliOrate his condition or elevate his
intellectual status. An examination of these
educational statistics conclusively prove that
democratic party of the South heartily lends II
helping haad 10 the newly entranchlseG cItl-
zen BY the report IN question 1t appears that
the total school attendance for the year 1878 8
was 122, 4G3, Of which %, 4GS were white pu-
pills and Ga 095 colored, an excess of 5,727 col
Ored pupils, During the period of reconstruc.
average colored attendance in the state was
al SOL. The average colored attendance dur
the three years Of democratic rule has been
co. 1913, an increase of 45 per cent. Every
school district i'll the state contains separate
schools for white and for coored children
These Iun for an equal period of time and are
alike paid from the treasury,
The first coored school IN Charleston, the
Morris street school, was established by a
Democratic City Board in 1867. In 1868
Republican Board was elected, and during its
term OF two years the attendance at this school
never exceeded 900. In 1871 the schools of
Charleston were closed, and the teachers sala-
ries for SIX months remained unpaid. A Dem
ocratlc Board, elected in 1871, found empty
schools and an empty treasury. The schools,
Since then the attendance in the Morris street
school has steadily increased. During the
past year it had an enrolment Of l,404 pupils,
under 26 teachers. Other tirstclass coored
schools in the city run up the attendance to
1868 while the entire county shows a colored
attendance of $500.
This favorable showing is by no means con
fined to Charleston, but is general through the
state. 1t will be sufficient to cite the returns
from Edgefeld, Akin, and Barnwel counties
These are given only because, in bloody shirt
harangues, the names Edgeield Hamburg,
and Ellenton are synonymous with shotgun
democracy, bulldozing and blood.
Edgcteld reports 2, $50 white and 1880 col
ored pupils; Aiken, 1920 white and ,533 col
ored, and Barnwell, 2,113 white and 2,544 col.
ored In Aiken the white population FREEDOM
mates; IN the other two the black are some
what IN excess If in these much landered
counties of colored people. instead of fleeing
error. stricken to the woods, are quietly pur-
suing their peaceful avocatiOnS, and raising cot |
On to sell for eleven cents pound, while their
children freely attend schools supported by
AK of which seven.eighths IS paid by demo
ratio property holders, it is convincing proof
hat these tales Of terror are fabricatlons out of
whole cloth.
Again, ip the whole state there are 1000
white and 1876 colored teachers. This is
most favorable showing for the colored race,
md also for the democratic official who en-.
,loy colorcd teachers for colorcd schools
wherever they are found competent.
The only institution of higher learning in
he state receiving state aid is the Clsf1in Uni.
,ersity and Agricultural College, devoted
olely to the education Of the Colored race. Its
PRESIDENT the Rev. Dr. Edward Cooke, is
Northern man, an eminent minister of the
Gospel, and teacher of large experience
The faculty consists of seven instructors. two
If whom are natives of the state. Over 200
tudcnrs were enrolled last year. Here II may
&c added that native white teachers bearing II
IGNORED names IN South Carolina, are engaged
n the task of instructing the colored race
The Rev. p. f. Stevens, formerly Superinten-
lent of the state Military Academy, a confed-
rate colonel during the late war And now
Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, Is
he School Commissioner Of Charleston cOun-
,r..tf l. 1n,,u -
he intellectual and spiritual elevation of the
oored people of the seacost The principal
# the Morris street school is a Distinguished
graduate OF the State Military Academy, and
most of his assistants are graduates Of the
charleston Normal School. This school
building is the handsomest in the city, and
vas erected at a cost of 500 !,
The distribution of the Peabody fund may
$50 be taken as an evidence of the educational
achtes of the blacks 1t is given only TO
thoroughly graded school, containing at least
ne hundred pupils, continuing in session ten
months, and deriving support from other
ourCcs Of at least twice the amount contrib
tied by the Peabody fund. During the years
$50 five white schools received $3.50, and
i've colored schools, 50 $50, the difference be
nc due TO the larger attendance in the schools
f the latter class To secure this fund, lib
raj support from the state was required by I
he terms OF the Peabody trustees. In addi-
ion to the schools maintained by the state,
here are several excellent colored schools sup
orted by missionary funds from the North.
When statistics show that the South raises
i've million bales Of cotton yearly, chiefly by
olered labor while colored children secure
quail benefits from a school fund contributed
by democratic property holders, il
easily seen why Liberia exodus associations
nd Kansas immigration societies alike fall
tIllborn. Much need -ess sympathy is wasted
pom the oppressed negro" in the South.
Outh Carolina does more for the colored pop
lation than many Of the states whs thank God
ber are not as she is.-N. y. Sea. ;,