The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-27
THE UNIVERSITY.

THE UNIVERSITY.
The educational system consis-
ting of the public school in each
school district in the State and of
the expansion of the district school
into the graded school in the town
and city, has for it's head the State
University located at Chapel Hill.
If it is the duty of the State
to provide free educational opportu-
mites in the common schools, is it not
equally the duty of the State to pro>
vide higher instruction for those of
the public school pupils who desire
to persue more advanced course of
study?-Free Press.
Be 1t emphatically understood
that we are friends to the Univer>
sity, that the DEMOCRAT is not hos
tile to our State institution.
We are friends to every county
student that ever entered the walls
of Chapel Hill. While personally
we are not acquainted with Pres. Bat
tie nor any of the Faculty, still in our
heart there is great respect for all
and we recognize the responsibility
upon the Faculty, upon the Presi.
dent. upon the press of the State and
especially do we think we recognize
the responsibility of the people in re-
gard to our University which we
shall try to make worthy of the name
it claims. The county student law
the free tuition-is what we oppose.
Whether there have been violations
Of that law is nothing to US. The vi
olations, if done, we oppose bitterly
but the law itself, its privileges and
all its attendants we oppose. We
have never said that violations of it
have been, for we have never been In
a position to be posted upon such
matters. Some time since we gave
clipping from the Star and COM
mented on the same. We have not
said and do not say that violations
existed, we do not contend for that.
But we do say that if such violations
have been then they should be calm.
ly examined and dealt with. Presi-
dent Battle denies that the law has
been abused. We may admit that new
er, in any instance,has the law, or any
part thereof, cen violated. But with
all the faithful execution OF it by the
best of men still we contend that
the law in itself is oppressive, and
should be repealed.
The Free Press considers the Uni
versity, on account of the county stu.
dent law, the head Of the Free school
system. Then our contemporary
asks question, it wants to know
why the State should not give free
college tuition to her boys if it should
give them common school educa-
ton.
| If it is the head of the free school
system, then since in the free scho oil,
girls are admitted, and since every girl
and eUery boy. we say nothing of ne
groes though it is worth thinking
about, is entitled to the benefits of
the free school, would our esteemed
contemporary argue that Chapel Hill
the head of the free school system(?),
should admit every girl and every
boy who desires to enjoy the benefits
now granted only to few? We don't
think the Free Press would saw the
University should be open to all, for
then it would have to haye room. and
money enough to accommodate thou>
sands where now it does and can ac>
comrlodate its tens. Then we would
ask why should the State take only
one from county and leave huns
dreds? 1t is wrong to give higher
education to any.
Let us propose an answer to the