The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-16
Wednesday, Dec. is, 1885.
Taxation for SclsOOl Purposes Is en'
fair.

/ BECAUSE, every citizen Of the STATE IS re-
c,;re,l 10 nav to tie schools one dollar on his
head, whether he receives any benefit from 1t
or not.
. Because, in consequence Of the location
of the school houses, only a portion of the
children Of the state can, by any possibility,
reccivc any benefit Of the school fund.
2 Pccausc, it is wrong in principle to tax
all alike when the benefits are CncQually dis
tributed.
1. Because, it is especially Ubiquitous to
levy this ton in the name Of the poor, when II
is certain that the children of every wel'-oll
citizen will receive benefits from the fund at
u time when 1t is morally certain that large
per cent, OF the poor children 10 not i've III
reach OF the school house.
). Because, it is Ubiquitous to the last &c
gree to cxtort a dollar from the imrecunlouS
citizen to increase the fund for the cducatlon
of his neighbors' children at Il time when he
is actually unable to buy the necessary books
for his own children to 60 to school, even II
the school house was at his very door.
r. because, from the very nature Of things
the schools cannot be: Of equal benefit. The
remote corners are taxed to support the
schools which are always located in the towns
and other centres, which are inaccessible to
the people living q long way OF.
:. Because, the children of the poor, who do
not belong to the favored class, may from the
inSutlicicncy of room or from a lack OF teach
crs, be crowded out of the public schools even
though they live near to the school house.
s. Because, it is q we'll known fact that the
rich and influential citizen may always locate
the school to suit his own children, while the
children of the less fortunate are disreSarded,
except in cases where numbers may be need
ed. Who ever heard OF a school being located
near q poor mans house.
9. Because, the citizen, whether rich or poor.
has property rights which should be respected
by even the school zcalot who would be a
rhilanthropist at other peoples expense.
10. Because, poor people, as a rule, are COM
pelled to live in the less desirable and more
remote corners, which fact, If nothing else,
dcprivcs them Of the benefits of the school TO
which the law compcls them to contribute.
1t will be noticed that all the shrieking about
the benefits of public schools comes from peo
pie about town who are enjoying the proceeds
of taxes levied on distant farms.
IL. Because, poor people arc comrellcd TO
hire a private teacher at high prices. or must
let their children go uneducatcd. Practically,
they pay to keep up the rich mans school,
and then must hire a private teacher OH their
own account.
IL. Because, the present public school sys-
tenn is lessening the pride of our people on the
subject of educating their children.
IL. Because, under the present plan Of taxing
Door people on the remote farms to keep up
schools for wcll-to-do towns people, the ratio
Of i~ll!tcrate white people has more than
doubled in less than twenty ycars-ai the false
assertions of fanatics on the subject Of public
education to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Il. Because, this heavy tax to educate our
political enemies, while our own old needy
Confederate soldiers are neglected is a dis
grace to orr people.
Is. Because. the hypocricy and politicalc cant
of parry leaders as to our extreme anxiety
about negro education fools nobody. AS q
means Of throwing sand into Northern eyes
il is an absolute failure. No man with sense
enough TO enjoy good health believes, that
there Is q man in South Carolina who earn
estly and sincerely desires to confiscate the
Confederate soldiers home, in order to raise
money with which to educate little negroes,
or white boys either.
16. Because, every sense OF manhood, justice
and honor must revolt at the idea of eXtort-
ing from widows and orphans money with
which to educate our natural born political
enemies, who never fail to swear against us
in Court, and who so often bcdraggled their
holy robes to SANDER, Willy and traduce the
white people in their pulpit at home and
abroad.
II. Because, it is more in accord with our
conceptions of humanity and christian be-
ncvolcnce for US to feed and cloth our W
needy soldiers and their widows, than it is for
lis to sell the little remaining property Of
these needy soldiers to raise money with
which to educate negroes to swear falsely
against US, aud to enable them to SANDER us
from their rulpits.
Is. Because, the public school system has de-
stroycd nearly all the good schools.
10. Because, much of the public school fund
is consumed in paying a high salary to an Of
ficer who does not in our opinion earn his
salary. For instance, a school teacher Is given
the place Of State Superintendent of Educa-
ton, and he draws sl75 90 a month out Of the
school fund when pursuing his ordinary avo-
cation, and in addition to the large sum
which he receives he is allowed sS09.00 a
year with which to hire a clerk to do his
work. Although the superintendent is a
most excellent citizen, who served his coun-
try NEST honorably and most calamity, IN
times Of war, yet we do not see the justice of
levying this tax on his old comrades in arms.
90. Because, every citizen who once gets en-
cited on the subject Of public schools seems to
forget the weight of the burden which the
tax payer is already carrying, and none of
them have ever been satisfied with even the
present enormous tax which is forced from
the people. All their speeches is in favor of
taxation, grinding taxation, damning taxa
ton. Where is the man that ever saw an en-.
1husiast on public education that was salts
fled With the rate Of taxation? AS an i'll
stance OF this sort. reference is had especially
toAny speeches which have been recently de-
livered in the Cour House. Tho Governors
message furnishes additional proof, when he
wanted the school tax and poll tax doubled
at q time when the farmer was selling his cot
ton at eight cents a pound. Instead Of SYM
pathizing with the people and seeking relief
for them in the present financial depression
by closing the schools for a year, the Govern
or wants to pile the taxes mountain high.
We have indeed heard SO much about the
need of money for public schools that we do
not believe there is a limit beyond which ar
enthusiast on the subject Of negro education
would not go. The tax payer therefore need
never expect mercy from the advocates of
public schools, If the recommendations Gov
ernor Thompson and the State Supcrinten-
dent of Education are fair samples Of the
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