Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-09-17
EDUCATION THE NEED OF THE
GOVJTH

EDUCATION THE NEED OF THE
SOUTH.
The thoughtful, wise and patriotic letter
written by Mr.. Fortune, the colored editor
of the New York Globe, and published in
the APPEAL on Wednesday last, has elected
much discussion during the week. 1t has
been generally read by the colored people,
and the impression it has made upon their
minds is most favorable, indicating as it
does that the blacks are learning to care
less for politics and more for their material
interests. Mr.-Rortune takes philosophic
view OF the situation, and in discussing the
race issue exhibits much of the sagacity OF
the statesman. The machine politicians
the coIored tools who have learned nothing
besides the horrid oaths that were admins
tered them in the loyal leagues-denounce
every new departure proposed by the
thoughtful men of their race as a con-
spiracy to disfranchiss and to reinslave them.
But it is evident that the colored people
are tired of running in the old grooves and
ruts, and as the Democrats took new de-
parture, by acquiescing in the reconstruction
acts and the constitutional amendments, 90
will the blacks take new departure by
ceasing TO array themselves in solid opposi-
ton to the whites whose prosperity is
that of the blacks, for the interests of
both races are identical. After a careful
survey of the field aud a conciliatory dis
eussion of the race problem, Mr.. Fortune
wisely concludes that education is the need
of the South. In his letter to the APPEAL
he says:
Education in the South will do more than any
one other thing to better the condition OF All
classes, and since the south Is manneslIy unable
of public schools 1t appears to me that the south
ConeresS to national Sppropristion for public
school purposes for term Of years. know the OPP
Constitutional grounds but If it is constitutional
TO vote monster appropriations for the defense ana
mon defense, and to facilitate commerce" how |
much more constitutional is 1t to make approprfa-
n3ns ior me 9, me v .ioh i,tezscTs
Rivers and harbors are certainly bulwark against
foes from without. but more insidlous and deadly
by the destruction of the Grecian and Roman re-
system of nstionai educstisn. but great emsr
geneies call for great and unprecedented &C.
sponsisie for slavery 50 the whole American peo-
pie were responsible for Its abolition II Is mani
people to assume the burden of taxation for edu-
cational purposes, the necessity OF which they by
ong wears Of Iegisiatfon. COMMENCING with the
ldopiion OF the original Federal constitution. 1t
Congress t. support this system
Of national education for tenn OF years.
One of the highest duties imposed upon the
government by the constitution is,
ITO promote the general welfare and secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
pesterity." Congress cannot do this more
economically and safely than by
appropriating the proceeds of the public
lands to lifting the nation out Of the dangers
caused by having as a constituent part of our
national body nearly 100000 of illiterate
adult citizens. This is load no free gov l.
eminent can carry. 1t is a disease SO wide
spread that unless cured will endanger
liberty, and its only cure ia education. We
5aye not the census bulletin for 1880 al
hand, but the census returns for 1870 show
that there are in the Southern States above
he age of twenty-one who cannot read or
write 317,2S whites and S20O22 blacks,
making total of ! ,137 ,303; in the North
ern States 411,339 whites and 34,463
blacks, making a total of 445,802.
According to these figures there are 100000
more iiliterate whites in the Mort hern
han in the Southern States. So all sec
ions would be benefited by general sys-
EN- of national education. Congress appro-
PIRATES money to q National Board Of
Health, for objects of internal improvement,
md no question is of more vital interest or
worthy of the fostering care of a free gov
as education. The States north
Ind west of the Ohio have received princely
'chool funds from the general government,
namely, the proceeds of one section of land
IN each township, and since IS48 the pro-
leeds OF two sections. A large part of this
and east OF the Mississippi came as a free ]
yiit TO the national government in 1850 from | !
he State OF Virgins, and happily with |
clause inserted in the gift, by a member of .
congress from Massachusetts,, requiring
! devotion OF part of it to the {
reation of school fund for the States.
The people from all parts of the cour- |
" should indorse the views taken in c
he above extract, by uniting in urging upon t
congress the duty of protecting, preserving
nd perpetuating our free institutions by
nacting such organic laws as will secure Z
il children, white and black, native and | D
'reign born, the benefits of good element Il
~ education. The national government n
'ceives from the sale of public lands from a
100000 to 100000 year. Let us sp- I
ropriate this money for free common CT
hools, and, say for ten years, distribute it d.
the respective States according to their st
'Pulation of illiterates, and require them u,
use 1t, under the supervision of the Ma CT
'nal Commissioner of Edacation, for free of
mmen schools, and to train teachers for ca
csc schools, both white and colored, accord co
to the ratio of the two classes of lliteratee or
lis would be putting the money en- te
atically where it would do the most good, fel
1 it would be paying back to the colord ra
'ple some small part of the money that CO.
North and South have drawn ont ne,
them. 1t would do more to restore the NJ
lth to enduring peace and prosperity gel
a hundreds of millions spent in levees bet
railroads, and other mere material me
movements, and more to protect and cor
IRE the rights of all classes of citizens S u"'
! the presence Of the whole regular tee