The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-03-02
Gov. LOWRY INTERVIEWED.
PROSPEROUS AND PROGREs srvE.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARrY'S REroRl1s.

| q
THE DEMOCRATIC PARFY'S REPoRlaS,
4sgsas5ass SAM.
state Bonds beyond Par and mot
to be Obtained:
WEALTH IN TIMBER AND MINERALS
The Insane, Blind, Deaf and Dumb
Asylums. "a H3u
THE STATE PENITENrIARY.
A representative of the New Or
leans Times-Democrat recently in
terviewed Gov. Lowry at length on
the affairs of Mississippi, and makes
the following report:
...... EDUCATION.
What is the condition of your
public schools? a, t.-,r..
In very good condition, and we
are doing all we can to improve
them. The Legislature, now in ses-
sion, will give special attention to
them, and will do what it can to
perfect them. -a.. ... ss-
What is being done to promote
public education? ..
We are inducing prominent edu-
Gators of this and other States to
address the people on the impor-
lance of education, and we are TAX
ing great care in the selection OF
our teachers. We are increasing
our school fund, and building new
and better school houses.
What are the sources and amount
of your public school revenue?
l cannot state exactly the amount,
but it is not far from $25O,OOO. We
have small sum from the Peabody
fund, but the chief source. is the
tax provided by the constitution.
How long are your schools open
during the year?
In some counties, four months,
and in others five. The average
length of time is, perhaps, four and
half months.
How many educable youth, of
each race, have you?
Last year there were 10000
white children and 239,455 colored,
making a total of 4O9,955.
What proportion attended the
public schools?
There is an average attendance
of Ill, 635 white children and 1885,
633 colored.
What Is the sentiment of your
people with reference to maintain
ing the public schools?
There is a strong and growing
sentiment in favor of the public
schools. Our people are rapidly
coming to believe that the surest
way to advance the prosperity of
our State is to educate our children.
l am sometimes surprised, and yet
gratified, at the evidences of the
changing sentiment with respect to
this matter of public education.
Have you any normal schools?
Yes, we have two. They are
both for colored youth. One is at
Tugaloo and the other is at Holly
Springs.
How many colleges have you?
We have three. They are the
University of Mississippi, at Ok
ford; the Agricultural aud Mechan-
zeal College. at Starkville, and the
Alcorn Agricultural College, at
Rodney. The Oxford and Stark
vile institutions are for white
youth and the Rodney institu,
ton for colored youth. At Oxford
there are 2O3 students, at Starkville
267 and at Rodney 100.
: Has the administration Of the
Peabody fund been satisfactory te
your people?
Yes, in every respect.
Do the people of your State APP
prove the proposition to aid the
public school systems of the respec
tive States by national appropria'
tions to be distributed in proper
ton to illiteracy?
Yes; most emphatically. In my
inaugural address l said that not
outstanding the successful opera
tion of our free school system and
the large sum Of money devoted by
us annually for the last ten years t6
educational purposes, the extent Of
illiteracy among us is appalling
1t is manifest that the State has not
been able, and is not now able, te
deal ettectually and satisfactorily
with this great evil; but this does
not relieve us from responsibility
The late President Garfield said
"The dangers and obligations con
nected with this subject are nation
al as we'll as local. The nation it
self is responsible for the extension
Of suffrage and is under special OBJ
: legations to aid in removing the il
/. literacy, which it has added to the
voting population. For the North
and South alike there is but one
remedy. All the constitutions
power of the nation, and of the
States, and all the volunteer forces
of the people should be summoned
to meet this danger by the saving
influence Of education. In this be
neficent work sections and races
should be forgotten and partisan.
ship should be unknown" With
these utterances OF Garfield l fully
agree, and I am confident that oul
people agree with them. We owe il
to ourselves and to our children tt
do all we can by appealing to the
general government, and by all 9th
err means, to ward off the danger
which threatens us from illiteracy
POLITICAL. il
Into what political parties arc
your people divided, and what is
the voting strength of the respective
parties?
At the last election the Democrats
cast 76,S57 votes. The Republicans
Independents and Greenbackers
formed fusion party and cast 81,
O04 votes. q !
What important reforms have
IL, A. = =