Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-12-06
Prom the Portland Advertiser
EDUCATION II THE SOUTH.

EDj CAllON IN lhE SUI 4 II.
Mavor Courtensy of Charleston. in his
annual review of the city's affairs. devotes
considerable space TO an able and interest
ing discussion OF the disabilities OF the
South I'm public school facilities, as eXem-
plIfed in Charleston. He shows that by
The addition of the cOlOred children the
school population in the city last year was
double what 10 was in 1850, but that the
actual school attendance remains nearly
the Same-abOut 1000. In other words,
one half the white and COlOred children
are to-day without the means OF public
instruction. To attempt 20 meet this
emergency and sustain the present school
system. he says Charleston is doing more
than she ever did, and more in comparison
than any city In the niOu. The assessed
values of taxable property have ShrunS
from o. millions in 1850 10 ~ millions In
l>>O. and the number Orchildren 20 be edu-
Gated has doubled in the same time. The
taxation in lSS0 for public schools was
three and one-hslfmills; in Boston II WAS
two aud ouc-hslf mills. The total city
and State tax OF Charleston i two and
One-qRater per cent, while that OF Boston
i only one aud oue-quarter.
In view % these facts Mayor Courtc-
nay concludes that the burden i too heavy
90 bear that Charleston cannot educate
her children. What i true Of Charleston
: true On 4 great measure " other South
trn cities and COMMITTEES War, anar-
Chy and miSglvernmCnt have impOvcr'
iShcd the tax PAYERS, and al the same time
the additional task OF the education and
enlightenment OF newly eufranChiSed
race has been thrust upon them. Mayor
4.
We need. ia common with our sister cities
aud the South, the help OF the national
government 20 educate this generation, 10
solve = question . national a. slavery
was, AMI affecting the whole country.
He maintains that help eau be cOnstitu-
tioua..y given, and suggests grants from
the public domain as the means.
The correctness OF Mayor CoUrtenay :
position and the force OF his arguments
cannot Dee -aiuSaid. According 20 the
heS, estimates the south lost in the war
two billions OF slave property, and eN-
pended two billions ia the support OF her
armies, while the loss by destruction OF
property was iucalculable. Then four
millions OF ignorant people, immediate
descendants OF hay5ar.anS, were vested
with citizenship aud turned loose among
their former masters. IL : too late 20 Re
fleet upon the wisdom Of this abrupt e.
tension OF Suffrage. The position must Dec
accepted and tac best made Of 10. ~
President Garfield said IN his message
last March. The nation itself j. reSpOn-
>id.e FOR the extension of the suffrage, AMI
- under special obi cations - aid In remov
iug the ..'cracy which il has added 10 the
voting population" The South shows q
l.. a. 80 ..
DAY 10 ji>ceru> the evil and the remedy,
aut instead of Su.lcu or deSparing mac
tiou Is disposed 90 grapple with the task
while 10 asks help towards achieving what
10 cannot accomplish alone. In answer 20
Is Macedonian cry a move was made In
Congress last winter 20 establish Sn educA- |
t.oual fund. The late Senator Burnside
Introduced a b,ll which proposed 70 set
aside tAe proceeds Of the sales OF public |
lands and the patent office fees, amounting /
from million 20 a million AMI a half
annually. IS fund the interest OF which |
MAS to bee distributed among the States 10 |
proportion 90 the number Of Inhabitants |
WHO could no, read or write. In this form |
the Dbl. passed the senate. but uufOrtu- |
ua,c,y wss not reached in the House. |
While 3, would be better perhaps, 20 dis |
lt.|lse lLc PIutttt> QlFtClE among llc /
States instead OF doing out 4 little in |
tere>t which would scarcely 20 around, /
Vet The bin was a step a. the right direc- |
ton. I, should Dc revived and passed in 4
some form by the coming Congress. \ 1
suggestion has also been made that the !
money due the government from the /
PScidc railroads. amounting 10 upwards OF /
a hundred millions, might be devoted 70 /
his purpose. II the government ever gets /
10. The government has already disposed !
o. vast area Of the public domain in the /
way Oi Land grants % encourage railroad |
building and the settlement OF the Terrific
lies. As the supply Is not inexhau>:i5le,
% will he wei, % sop this FOR while, sell /
the land instead OF giving 10 away. and put
the proceeds where they viii 10 the most
sood-uame.y, 20 help build up public
school system in the South. lfthiS should
not suffice, % would De igSt.hab.e 20 make
appropriations from some other source for
this OBJ ect In the words Of the lamented
Garfield. An the constitutional power of
the nation and % the States and sill the
volunteer forces Of the people should be
summoned 90 meet this danger i,literacy
'y thc strong Influence OF universal educa-
ton