The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-26
The PEABODY FUND
An Open Letter Prom tbs Superintendent Of
Public Education.
NEW ORLEANS, September, 2G, 1879.

NEW ORLEANS, September, &C. 1879.
70 the Editor of the N. o. Democrat:
The undersigned is unqnestiOnably deair.
Gus Of preserving the efficiency Of the town
schools of rural Louisiana-the only schools
that afford free instruction for Ten months III
each year to white and eolored children, re-
spectively, who, but for such schools, would
be consigned to the streets. during ut least
five months. instead of two, for training In
the petty vices which. so often, ultimately
Disgrace adult life. The Peabody Education
Fund, only, eau no proiong the sessions OF
such schools, and preserve the children from
numberless temptations; and, hence the IN
dersigned, who prefers morality to vice and
social order to political confusion, Is natural
ly anxious to save, for impoverished Louis
lana, that sacred fund, which Is worth six
times the amount of the salary OF the State
Superintendent OF Public Education. under
the new constitution.
Citl zens Vi Louisiana who know. as you do.
that the undersigned has been Iaboring, gra-
tultolsly, since 1868 as agent of that fund for
Louisiana, extending the beneficence of Mr..
Peabodys trustees even TO Columbia and
Estchitoches say nothing Of the larger
towns which have been aided through their
public schools can readily appreciate tho
ton Of 30 Indecent sffrontery as Characterizas
the Columbia Herald in your journal of yester.
day, and the scorn which he IL constrained to
express for the insinnations Of all journals
that venture to question his motives In becom-
Ing q candidate for reelection rs State Super
tntendent OF Public Education.
YOU sir, know thnt II tue large towns Of
Louisiana shall establish III after years euch
fr6e public schools AS are ordained by the new
constitution OF Louisiana, they cannot afford
to lose the benevolent aid OF SO noble and dis
Interested q friend Of Southern education as
Geurge Peabody, who, through the sctuaries
OF his henetleence, has 50 long aided and Ia
Still aiding, the public schools Of Louisiana,
unless, indeed the directors Or euch schools
shall. against h. bitter Judgment Of all edu-
Gated men, be satisfied with an Inefficient sys-
TEN Of schools, aifDrding bit four or fre
months free instruction 10 Hc children ~ ar
tendance.
You have had ample evidence, moreover,
Mr. Editor, Of tho tact that the undersigned
haS made an effort 10 secure the agency OF !
the Peabody fund for rural Louisiana, Tor
such one OF the educators other than himself |
HIS are now before tho public for the nomlna-
ton at Baton Rouge; and that so far as there
is necessity OF his candidacy TO secure 4 con |
tinuance " aid from The Peabody fund, that |
necessity has been derolred anon lin nv tho
generous confidence OF the Rev. Barnas Sears |
general agent Of the fund. whose character
and services in the cause of Southern edtlca- !
tfon command the highest respect OF all emf
Dent Southern citizens.
The directors Of the public schools, In the
rural parishes of Louisiana, are the best and I
only judges Of the qualifications aud eff
cheney Of the present State Superintendent,
with whom they have had official reatlons
and the most Of these who have rend, under
deratood and faith.fNtiy obscfred the eristing
school Inn, and Others who bavs desired q
legal sanction for more equitable system Of
public schools, or one more practicable In
some Of the parishes, ,rah dhc limited SCHOOL,
fund adorable under The ne,o constitution, are
the enlightened citizens" WhO, Ttthom u,,y
reference Thaterfr 10 the Peabody find. have
expressed their satisfaction with his past
administration" and desire that he should
become G candidate for re-e!cction He Is con-
tent with their spontaneous verdict, and re-
quests n ratification thereof ny the State
convention at Baton Rouge, and such friends
OF public education as desire an efficient svs-
ton. Rog'T NJ LITsHER
state Superintendent and Agent for Louisiana
OF the Peabody Education Fund