The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-07-31
For THE HERALD.
FREE EDUCATION.

The subject of free education,
seems, at this particular time, to
occupy and absorb to a considera
BILE extent, public attention.
This election year seems to call
forth, in an eminent degree, the
philanthropy of all classes, more
especially that Of politicians man
ifesting itself in the eager desire
of those persons to elevate their
fellow men Of all classes, colors
and conditions, in the scale Of in
telligence and consequent pros
perity.
There are some views of this free
education which appear encourag-
ing and others which assume a
questionable character. All laws
enacted are supposed, by the enac.
tors, to conduce to the public veal
Of the country for which they are
made. At this point the question
presents itself, what is the good
which is to be derived from free ed
ucation ? There would doubtless
be different answers to this ques-
ton, from different individuals,
some sincere and others biased by
circumstances.
There are, in every well-goyerned
country, three great principal in
terests lying at the foundation of
It's prosperity. viz: the commercial,
political and agricultural. Any
thing done to advance these in
terests, will assurely advance the
interests of the whole country. and
ANYTHING done to the detriment of
these interests will assurely result
in injury to the whole country TO
look at this question intelligently,
it is necessary to take into conside-
ration, the peculiar condition of the
country which it is intended to ben
eft. Otherwise there would be no
question about it, for it is not an
experiment, but an established fact,
tried and proved over and over
again, that general education, has
conferred untold benefit wherever it
has been tried. But such an alb
normal state of affairs has not pre-
sented itself where benefit has ac-
crued from this system, as now
presents itself in this country. The
i'll feeling which was engendered
by the late unhappy strife between
the two great sections of our coun-
Try, has nearly or entirely been
swallowed up by better and more
ennobling sentiment, but the rubl
con now to be crossed is the color
line. What does this mean, taken
IN all its bearings ? Does it mean
in the indefinite future, the indis-
criminate commingling of the races,
following Fred Douglass the pio-
neer? Does it mean ultimately the
political ascendency Of an inferior
race over a superior one? Or is
the history of the aborigines OF
this country to be repeated in the
history of the negro?
The political relations of tue
races are antagonistic. This is the
troublesome barrier in the way Of
political purity at the south. How is
this difficulty to be eliminated from
our political horizon satisfactorily
to both parties? When this is
done we are ready for free ednca-
ton. 1t is claimed by the advo-
Gates of this system, that it will
give us an intelligent suffrage. Is
there no doubt, as to the direction
this intelligent suffrage will take ?
These considerations give point to
the question, will the system bene-
fit US politically! 1t is also
claimed that it will give us intelli
gent labor. The trouble is that the
two mills tax alone has proved
sufficient to make some of our col
ored friends too Intelligent to Ia
Dor at all. It is o fact that those OF
the negroes who think themselves
educated, are, as a rule, worthless
rs laborers. There may be isolated
exceptions. l have seen none. SO
this is the way that the agricultural
interests of the country are to be
advanced. If we are to be di
vorced politically, it would be we'll
for us to do so in all other r>spects.
Let the freedman have the benefit
of his own tax, and the white peo-
pie of theirs. Or give him you
please, the national donation, if
there is to be any, and let us have
the entire benefit of our two mills
tax. The white people of the
south are able to educate their own
people, if they wish to do so, with
out calling on the general govern
ment for help. This disposition of
the matter may not be practicable,
but it is certainly desirable.
PROSPERITY.