Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-03-16
NATIONAL PERIL AND REMEDY.

We have received q pamphlet copy
Of the addresses on the subject iDdicat.
ed in the caption, by the Hon. J. L. NJ.
CURRY, l.. l.. D., at Louisville, KY, and
before the House Committee on Edu-
cation in Washington. AS is generally
known, the author is general agent of
the Peabody Education Fund, and for
this position probably no man in the
United States Is better suited. A gen.
tleman of the ripest culture, with OPP
portunities greatly improved by extern
sive travel, close observation and deep
reseach, he Is eminently qualified to
discuss the great questions involved in
the theme, National Peril and Rem
edy."
We have strong desire to publish
the contents of the pamphlet entire, but
this is impossible, unless we exclude
from our columns the usual variety
which has ever characterized them.
The discussion shows that DR.. CURRY
has given to the subject of education
the closest attention; and he has sscer-
tanned as a result, aided by the report
Of the Bureau and Education, that
there are in the United States, 579, "a
white, and 552,7Tl colored minors from
10 to II years Of age inclusive, who
can neither read nor write; and 962, 6l7
whites and i,O72, 97S colored from Is to
70 years OF age, who are altogether il
literate.
In this illittracy lies the nations
ptIl. and the Doctor adds very justly
that what the South has done for free
educ alton is marvellous. The reyolu-
tion in law aud in pubic opinion is al
most Incredible, when we consider how
hard it is to overcome habits and
prejudles of the past; to change institu-
tlOns under the pressure Of defeat and
humiliation"
A system of public schools, modelled
largely on the systems of the North,
has been established in every State, and
the school money is distributed per
capita betwixt the races. In 1880 the
Southern States expended Sl2,5OO, 900
FOR public schools. From 1871 to 1888
inclusive, Virginia has paid out, in con-
nection with her public schools, Sl2,-
T9S, SPILLS.
Mr.. MAYO, one of the editors Of the
New England Journal of Education who
has travelled much in the South, aud is
a thoughtful observer, says, mo SINH
lar class of people in the old Old or New
World has accomplished so much, in q
time 80 short, against obstacles so
formidable"
DIR. CURRY asserts that the South is
unable to meet the heavy burden of
educating all the children within her
limits. Few persons comprehend her
financial condition. Slavery parsitied
population, preventing the diffusion OF
wealth and concentrated labor and cap
ital on one or two kinds of agricultural
interest. "a small superior class vir-
tually monopolIzed property" Then
came the war, emancipation and bank
ruptcy. The bank Of illiteracy is found
among the negroes, and justice to them
demands extraordinary measures for
their elevation.
The argument closes: 81 implore
you, gentlemen ofthe committee, as an
act Of justice to them, for the purity of
the ballot. box, for the safety of our
free institutions, to come to the rescue
Of over burdened States, which have
done nobly, bu! cIun)t without coni5
cation Of the property of their citizens,
Turn III even rudimentary education to
the illiterate and helpless masses"