The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-27

milton. or the $~D.Wn.vp paid out fof
public schools eyerr year by the whole
.sun'ry. the South evpends about <i6.po.'
o0o or onc-ltih. while the taxable prppert,
dos not come near that nroportion Of tue
aggregate taxable property. \. u. Mayo,
of Massachusetts. ~ famiiiar n any man
Ia The ] Mon with ihs school work N The
South. has often Written of the giaiide'fr
and patriotism ~ the sacrifices Of the south
Ia that dirpciion' i.Nc SIMILAR class Of
people in the old or New v old i's- ac;
compli,hed 80 much in a time 80 short.
against obstacles ~ formidable | nder
her peculiar conditions. with rural. agri-
cultural aild spat-e population. without
/ returc'a'icr frOW 'rp iuprYprisl,nient
and exhaustion Of tine war. with a
non-tax.paying. unskilled, immigration-
forbidding, lately seryile race Of co
equal citizens as joint occupants of her ter
rtOry. II H. financially impossible for the
south ~ sustain Il system Of ncc schools.
| continuing III zearion eight month. and
afording educational facilities FOR the pop
rlation Of school age. The schooi dcmdad
cannot possibly b. met by her resources.
and II j. an alarming fact that the states
! having the smallest resources have tne
heaviest school burdens. Throughout the
Northein sta.cs aach cliild receives on an
| average for his yearly education about SO.
| In the south the per cGpifo expenditure
| is about $50. a rate of taxation accom-
plishing what j. desirable and necessary
III The south would be nothing -hor' Of ruin
Ou- cOniiscaiiOn
The only remedy for this dcplorahle con-
diiiOn of affairs j. national aid. ffe bill
which passed the senate AZ the last session.
proposes ~ act through state school -ys-
ieni-. in -iihOrdinaiion and auxiliary 10
State authorities. and stcered ~ iaf - posi-
| hc from bureaucracy aud centrdlildtioh.
! The distribution was not based on popua-
ti0n in the aggregate. but on tie illiteracy
Of the school population. nsccf'aincd ur a.
ccrfainable from the sworn returns ~ me
ccnsuss II rightly recognized Hitter
acy. not a. local or sectional. but
~ "A national question OF paramount
importance. impealling our representa-
tive institutions, The North may De
geographically and PRACTICAL, severed
/ from contact with the negroes. hn'
she.cannot hope tO be- S'mpi from the indus
trial. social, moral and political cOn-s .
ulienceS Of their lliteracy. The North
cmancipatcd cifi/cniled and enfranchised
the negroes: and from these three distinct,
substantive act, there j. a resulting obi
cation t0 quality them for citizenship ana
suffrage that cannot be honestly ignored or
eyadcd. II will no longer satisfy conscience
or reason 10 say that the south enlONcd the
fruit, Of slave labor and must now pay for
the education of the freedom. tn since
AppomaftoN quarter Of century ha,
elapsed. and a majority Of the negroes now
living were never in legal bondage 10 any
man.
Inc aid proposed. if given in bulk. j. not
~ much a. j. given every lcat io soldiers
and claim agents in the va, ~ pensions.
and would be- about One.fourlh of llir an
nnal expenditure of the governments bat
the bill apprOpriatc- only sI.Ool.ow the first
year. and An average ot only slown,oh for
the period of eight subsequent years. This
trifing and temporary sum. 10 be paid over
Ia state officers. il tO l'c expended in the
common schools on'thc right and healthfnl
condition that no greater part shall be- paid
out fo any state in one year than the slim
expended by that state ont Of IT, 0"n rcse-
nue-. ia Use au illustration ot senator
Blair. if Florida. fOi in-tace. could receive
by the PRO, i-ionS OF the bill >l.2j for each
child. in order 10 oct that the state would
have to raise within Itself an equal amount.
thus securing for each child'- education
$3.50.
cur liberties and the perpctuity of repre-
sentative institutions afr sn-eparahlN ~
ferwOyen with free schools. Recently
there have been strong and persistent
efforts in behalf oi ''paroclial schools, and
the advocates Of them. ~ Substitutes tor
state schools. have manife,tly increased
their actiqity. If common schools fail AZ
the south. Of lingor i'm fe"hlencss and in
-uliiciency. the parochlal schools VIII
acquire increased strength, II not pre-
dominance. If plrOchlal schools be-
come influential and powerful. oud
take. in any degree. the place Of the state
schools. the denominations controlling ana
supporting them will clamor for their share Of
scnOol revenues. When religonists become
compact body and act politically ~ unit,
they can often control municipal or state or
Federal elections. and parties aiid candi-
daic>. from policy Of cOwaidice. VIII ,n0h
be- Welding Ia the demands for partition
Of funds. What has been done in some 81
ties will be- repeated di~a-trOu-ly through
out the land,
The south. ia her past history. FROM tlIe
administration Of Washington tO that ~
Harrison. inclusive. has been conservative.
often have her statesmen and her public
opinion nterpO>ed 10 preserve ihe ancient
landmarks and prevent departures from The
Constitution and tile pfecedent- OF the
fathers. She has been a. much mallgned a,
misunderstood. If frue to the free schools
she can save representative government
and our civil and religion, liberties. Her
freedom. present and prospective. from hetc-
rogeneou- and foreign elements. and her
CONSCIOUSNESS Of the peril, from the race
question. should make her again. ~ often
~ heretofore. the great conservative,
controlling, saving section of the country.
For the present and for few years -
come. national aid il our only hope. The
south has favored the measure. Both
political parties in Virginia have incorpo-
rated il in their platforms. There could mol
be- stronger need for the aid than now. The
next session of congress oilers encouraging
opportunity for accomplishing What We
have longcd and labored for. The children.
the country. our freedom. the yearnings OF
the oppressed Of the old World. unite 10
make ls put forth strong and united clort
to remove and pre-, illiteract and save
our free. schools. j. l.. VI. CURRY.
RfchHOHd. Ia.
respectfully and earnestly ak the news
papers Of the south. political. religious ana
s,,,..tt,puI ia tulli-l fhi. auUe1l