The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-05
Our Free School system.

greatly effect the future OF our country.
The training Of sentiment in our COM
mon schools will have more effect in
shaping sentiment, in its future politi-
cal bearing than ali other agencies com
bined That is why l select this sub
ject in our associations Of teachers in
absence Of something better.
These questions are as follows: lst.
The schools for whites 2nd, schools for
blacks: Sd, schools OF 4 secular nature; :;
4th, religious or sectarian schools.
The object Of Ill these varieties are
the same. The elevation and de-
velopmcIt Of the human mind, and
their different bearings upon our edu-
cational and political condition, will be
noticed. The negro is evidently in our
way, politically, agriculturally, and
educationally. There cannot be two
currents in the same stream without
conflict, whirlpools, and rapids. They
will either coalesce and miX-one swal-
low the other, or both sleep III All ocean
of eternal rest. For our preservation,
one or the other must go to the wall.
Which shall it be" Wherever the An
glo-Saxon has planted his foot it re-
mains there to stay, and if we do not
triumph it will be the only general ex-
ception in the general history of our
race. We teachers are 10 give bias to
this training in the common schools.
This training will teach the rising gen
GRAFTON that this government belongs
to Us. They will either subordinate
the negro OF send him off, which will
end these two questions.
Ofall the Affections imposed upon us
by the government of the United
States this elevation Of the negro to
full civil rights, was the greatest wrong.
The overtur,4ing of our State govern
ment, the burning Of our towns, the
slaughter of the flower Of our popula-
ton, We're small in comparison to the
evils of this elevation by law. We are
outgrowing these wrongs. We are
covering our country with beautiful
homes and smiling farms, and the
children of our slaughtered heroes are
taking their places; bat what can set
tie the supremacy Of these two cur
rents without the destruction Of one or
the other: Humanity may be pleaded
but in vain. Self-preservation is the
first law of nature. The inferior must
give way TO the superior. But what
shall we do in the present for the inn
provement of our languishing school
system? Shall We wait for the culmi-
nation of these angry currents? or grap-
pie with them at tie present hour, or
let our children grow up in ignorance
There are not enough funds to run
al independent free school system sue
cessfully, and there is a growing in
creased dependence upon the two or
three months term of the free school.
What is to be done? I demand legis-
lation to separate the funds secured
from the two mill tax and the poll tax.
The white tax to white schools, and
the black tax to black schools. In other
words, if possible, make two channels
for these two currents that they may
flow il separate channels. The white
tax payers will never consent to in
crease taxation for the education of the
negro. We must have money to in
crease the efficiency Of our schools, and
this must be done by taxation or sub
scription.
The school district OF Johnston, in
Edgetield County, secured the passage
OF an act by the Legislature setting
apart q special school district two miles
square to enable them to increase their
funds by taxation but when presented
to the people they were startled as by
an alarm Of 4 fire bell at midnight,
when this negro question rose up be-
fore them. The matter remained quiet
for year or two, when an idea crept
into the minds of the property holders
of the town. That idea was this:
They proceeded to get up funds by a
voluntary subscription. Well, that was
an experiment. They raised the money
and published notice that the John
ston High School was open to all white
children within the district by paying
matriculation fee of two dollars and
half. The children all tiOckcd in. Then
the agent of the Peabody fund sent
them three hundred dollars. This,
with the county school funds-while
we have not the exact ti@ure>-we think
covered nearly ali expenses and i'll
measure relieved the subscribers. This
school has become the only efficient
school in Edgcticld County.
Under the present law the only way
for the town Of Newberry to have Il
graded school upon a free basis is by
subscription. Benevolent friends and
persons of benevolent dispositions will
help those who help themselves. But
il the fees, Peabody funds aud the
county school funds will not pay you
back, Your children will be educated
and the prosperity otyOurtown doubly
increased. What will suit Newherry
or any other town will not suit the
country. The country cannot we'll go
into the subscription plan OIL account
of scattered population but remember
the prosperity Of the town depends in
great measure OF the prosperity Of the
country, ana if the country be ignorant
1t will react upon the towns and its
baleful influence will retard this pros
perity. I.et Us work upon a broad,
comprehensive basis. and let Us have
the honor. COR il is our duty, 20 lift