Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-05-03

ize Democracy on these two pivotal
questions.
Our press and Senators are divi-
ded in Tennessee; division of the |
Democratic party means death in
1884 - united we will reach the
helm of State. The irrepressible
conflict party having accomplished
the purpose for which it was crea-
ted, will become non est fdctatna, as
most devoutly wished by all good
Green hackers, Sky Blue Democrats,
etc. In union there is strength, in
division weakness.
Compromise and .expediency
should be the watchwords of every
loyal friend of social moral and
civil reform. IF we could agree
with Beck, Harris. and likely
Vance, that Blair's educational bill
encroached upon State rights, ex-
pediency, policy and the general
welfare ought to waive that objec-
ton. God compromised with sin
and gave his only begotten son
Jesus to die on the cross for mans
redemption. Paul, for expediency
circumcised Titus, Jew, to obtain
access to the Jewish synagogues.
Why not waive a finitismal idea of
State sovereignty? Why stick to
a punctilio principle when expedi-
ency demands that this bill shall
pass. 1t is said that nothing good
can come out of Nazareth, but the
Hoar-BIair Educational bill will
redeem the South from the slough of
illiteracy.
Mind development is the greatest
need of the South. Skilled laborers
are needed every where. Tennessee
has forty per cent. of illiteracy, $780,
100000 of private corporation debt,
bankrupt and without credit. With
a hundred Merimacs for water pow
er, inexhaustible coal fields, the
richest iron ore in the Union, vast
forests of timber, virgin soil, 1000
miles of railway, a salubrious eli
mate and every natural gift to in
spire social prosperity.
But fettered by illiteracy, vice
and crime, over l, 400 convicts in
our State prison, so crowded in our
State Asylum with lunatics that we
were, in the good county of Mont
gomery, forced at the last quarterly
term of our County Court to vote
an appropriation Of $1,000 to make
room for felOns and lunatics in our
County Jail. What dark picture I!
Ponder, We Athenians, and answer
why you cannot vote onecent addi-
tional tax to blot out illiteracy in
Montgomery county. The cause
that creates more felons, lunatics
and vice than all other causes COM
bined. Illiteracy is the nightmare
that clogs the wheels of progress
and advancement. The vampire
that fans while it sucks the vital
blood from all social prosperity.
When 1 signed in the Committee
room recommendation of rate of
taxation same as last year, with 7
cent reduction of road tax, 1 felt
like was signing death warrant
to progress and advancement in the
historic old county of my adoption.
One more thought, and / will
close. What is Blair's Educational
bill? A simple proposition to di-
vide among the several 80 States a
certain amout of money, paid out
of the National treasury, for edu-
cational purposes, prOrated by the
census of 1880 according to iIlitera-
cy. This amount will be added to
the common school fund of each
State and prorated to each school
district according to scholastic pop
ulation in our State. If our general
assembly at its next session, should
the bill become a law, carry out
Gov. w. B. Bates recommendation
and appoint a cOlored superintend-
ent for the State, and the County
Courts elect in counties requiring it,
and authorize where needed two
boards of directors, elected or APP
pointed by the county superintend-
ents, there will be no need of "bom-
harding mountains of Caste. The
colored citizens can then manage
their own schools as they now do
their churches. The constitution
guarantees to every citizen his CIV
il rights. Social rights are awarded
to virtue, intelligence, moral and
material wealth. A little learning
with less moral training, makes
fool: A classic mind freighted with
virtuous moral worth is full of love
and charity, and inspired by ODDLY
grace will do unto others as they
would have others do unto them.
Let us exercise love and charity and
accept aud give to educate the
wards of our county and State lib
orally. r. S. PAYNE, j. p.
AnriI o. 1894