The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-03-12
Wednesday, March IL, 1884:
National Premium on Iiitcracy,


Ordinarily premiums arc offered in our
schools to such scholars rs make som
mendable progress in their studies, but
# seems .ha; our politicians, when they
assemble around the National crib Il.
Washington, propose to change the Old
we'll established order of things, by Gtr-
fng a bounty for Witcracy-a premium
" the biggest Ounce in sch )ol-the propo-
sition being to divide n large sum of mon
ev among the States, on the LASTS ct he
iiliteracy Of the citizens of these States.
If this is not something new under the
sun, it is certainly 4 reversal of former
customs, and its absurtity is only equal
Ell by the spirit Of communism which
would take from the sc~lt.denying, thrifty
and industrious citizens of a community
enough money to educate he children Of
indolcnt and thriftleSs citizens who have
not enough pride and manhood to take
care OF their own households.
This is q free country in which every
.nau has a fair chance ut the beginning,
and no thooriziny has ever convinced MS
Of the equity of taking money from those
who work, to educate the children OF Il
class OF people who arc too lazy to work,
or if they work, choose to spend their
money in other ways than for the hene-
fits Of their families.
The division of this national fun
whereby South Carolina would annually
draw a premium Of 4 million dollars on
the illitcracy OF her citizens, involves po-
liti cal questions of greater import than
the mere financial question, but these
political questions, the politicians III
their wisdom and love for the negro,
may answer in a way which best
suits themselves. VIC do not scri-
ously object to the distribution Of a mill
lion of dollars in tl,S State, and shall be
very willing to pardon amy Congressman
who may vote for the measure, but we
think the highest craftsmanship would
forbid his doing so. Without consider
ing the result of the work Of education
which it is proposed this fund sl' )u'd
further, we would suggest that the white
people Of the State would he benefited by
the distribution Of that large amount
amongst us. Our people would likely
gather up some Of that money, and 1t
may be that this fact will prevent North
prn Congressman from voting for this
extraordinary expenditure.
Among other reasons we object 20 this
appropriation, because Of the statements
of the Southern gentlemen before the
Congressional Committees. Taking the
testimony of these gentlemen as a whole.
St might be inferred that Southcrners re-
gard the education of the negro, rs sec
ond in importance only to the salvation
OF their own souls. Speaking for our
selves, we do not believe the subject of
educating the '~estceInod' negro has ever
COS: any Soutilcrner an hours sleep. It
pi ices the Southern people i'll a false
light to suppose that the chief aim and
cud Of our life is to educate the negro.
Ne nave in fact, come to regard him rs Il
full grown citizen, possessing all the
privileges and rights to earn money
which arc guaranteed TO us, and i'll our
poverty we have enough to 40 IN az
tending to our own business. The negro
can look after his own children. He Is
lully able to do so, and we think it is a
presumptuous in~termeddling with his
~Hffairs when we undertake to educate his
children.
We are glad TO see that Governor
Thompson recognizes the fact that there
arc a few citizens i'll the State who hold
views differing from his OWL. If lie will
come to Abbeviile, and go on horseback
through the county he could not j n a
week find a dozen taxpayers who would
no be delighted to BIZ relieved Of the
school tax already imposed upon them.
The number who think this tax All out
rage on justice We think might be legion.