Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-12-13
NO BULLDOzING IN THIS.
MOre COIOred Pupils than White Re-
ported In Attendance.

NN'NHAHAN We Ns| AASNbNAs
Many who give no credence TO the
blood curdling tales Of horror so in-I
dustriously circulated on the eve of
important elections. are nevertheless
inclined to believe that while the
Southern Democrats yield obedience
to the reconstruction acts and respect
the politics and civil rights of the
negro, they studiously refrain from
taking any steps to ameliorate his condi-
tion or elevate his intellectual status.
An examination of these educa.
tional statistics proves conclusiyely
that the great Democratic party
of the South heartily lends helping
hand to the newly-enfranchised citi.
zen. BY the report in question it
appears that the total school attend
ance for the year l878-79 was 122, ,463,
of which 59,36S were white pupils and
64,095 colored, an excess of 5,727 col
ored pupils. During the period of
reconstruction, between the years 1868
and 1876, the average cOlOred attend
ance in the State was IL 591. The
average colored attendance during the
three years Of Democratic rule has
been 60,723, an increase of 40 per
cent. Every school district in the
State contains separate schools for
white and colored children. Th sse
run for an equal period of time and
are alike paid from the treasury.
The correspondent here goes over
the school statistics ofthe state by ooun.
ties, and shows the excess of negro
attendance over the whites in many
counties. Editor Post.
Ifin the much slandered counties
the colored people, instead of fleeing
terror stricken to the woods, are qui-
etlypursuing theirpeaceful avocations;
and raising cotton to sell for eleven
cents pound, while their children
freely attend school supported by
a tax of which seven -eights is paid
by Democratic property holders, it is
convincing proof that these tales of
terror are tabricatiOns out Of the
whole cloth.
Again, in the whole state there are
2090 white and 1,076 colored teachers.
This is a most favorable showing for
the colored race, and also for the Dem
ocratic officials who employ colored
teachers for colored schools wherever
they are found competent.
The only institution Of higher learn
ing in the state receiving state aid is
the Clafin University and Agricuf-
tural College, devoted solely to the
education of the colored race. Its
president, the Rev. DR.. Edward Cooke,
is a Northern man, an eminent minis
ter of the Gospel, and teacher of
large experience. The Rev. p. r.
Stevens, formerly superintendent Of
the State Military Academy, a Confed-
crate Colonel during the late war,
and now Bishop of the Reform
ed Episcopal Church, is the
School Commissioner of Charleston
county, and devotes himself with zeal
GUS ardor to the intellectual and spir-
itual elevation of the colored people OF
the seacoast. The principal of the
Morris street school is distinguished
graduate of the State military acad-
emy, and most Of his assistants are
graduates Of the Christian normal
school. This school building is the
handsomest in the city, and was
erected at q cost Of $4,000.
The distribution of the Peabody
| fund may also be taken as an evidence
of the educational facilities of the
blacks. 1t is given only to a thorough
| ly graded school, containing at least
| 100 pupils, continuing in session ter
months, and deriving q support from
other sources of at least twice the
amount contributed by the Pea
body fund. During the year
1878-79 five white schools re
ceived $3.50, and five coloreC
schools $3.50, the difference beinl
due to the larger attendance in tht
schools of the latter class. To secur,
r this fund a liberal support from til,
State was required by the terms OF thl
Peabody trustees. In addition to tn
) schools maintained by the State, ther
= are several excellent colored school
, supported by missionary funds iron
Che North.
When statistics show that tn
South raises 100000 bales of cottoI
? yearly, chiefly by colored labor, Will
!. colored children secure equal benefit
from school fund contributed princi
pally by Democratic property holder
it is easily seen why Liberia exodu
! associations and Kansas immigratio
Z, societies fall alike still l-born.