The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-06-12

The place tnat does my BOOKS contain
The best companions, is
To ME glorious court where hourly,
msy converse withsages and philosophers
And sometimes for variety with
Kings and Queens, and with the beautiful
And brave of every time and place.
EDUCATIoN-ITs POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
A great writer on the political institu-
tions of England and America has said:
"The great value of Learning in a po-
litical view consists in its incapacitatlng
the people for any other than Free 1nsti
tutions. 1t trains them to a due sense OF
their weight in society, gives them new
habits, new modes of thinking, aud diff
ferent style OF manners. Being unedu-
Gated, the great body of the people be
come not only the bone and sinew OF the
community, but they become it's soul and
vivifying principle. The diffusion OF edu-
cation not only elevates the people, but
it tames the ambition of public men.
Educated people cannot be enslaved-un-
educated people cannot be free. Educa-
ton of the masses increases the power OF
the patriot"
Many problems of the utmost possible
moment are agitating this nation. The
only remedy, the only solution, is the-Ed-
ucation of the masses. Educate the
people so that they may Understand their
true position and the reasons for the ex-
istence of existing antagonistic condi-
tions, educate them SO they may be able
to devise statesmanlike measures to frus-
trate their enemies. The masses have
not received justice-they are not receiv-
ing justice now-they are groaning under
burdens they hardly know by whom i'm
posed, and are seeking in various ways
70 cI 10 off tr11n 10 ONLY
lasting relief, must come from that men
tai culture which will enable them to de-
posit ballots that are not deaf, dumb
and blind, but ballots imbued with the
highest principles of American citizenship
and fully alive to the best interests and
power of those who cast them. Let the
masses be once educated, and we will see
a realization of the lines:
"When sIattS the oppressed can't find their
When unsupportable they deem their bur-
thens
They boldly deposit their ballots
And from that bulwark of American Lib
erty, the ballot box, wrest them,
Eternal, inalienable, imperishable as the
stars themselves"
ILLITERACY IN NORTH CAROLINA.
North Carolina is not doing her part
in the cause CT Education. She imposes
a smaller tax for the support of her pub
lie schools, with the exception of South
Carolina, than any State in the Union.
Out of voting population of 292 200
145, 900 can neither read nor write. My
| friends, take map of the States OF the
Union, and see there depicted the extent
| and location of the natural resources Of
the States and you will find with pride
hot nf tho GRAND ('nmmnn-
wealths of the Republic surpasses the
cold North State'
There you will see her sparkling rivers
| with untold water power; her flashing
gems and her glittering ores; her yellow
tobacco and her golden grain; her i'm
mense forests and her unequalled fish
cries; and high above all these, if you
know her history, you will see the light o
| her glory. But take up one of those
| maps that show the degree OF illiteracy
in the various States by the presence OF a
black spot or mark. You will find it difficult
| to distinguish her wonderful wealth and
her glories, through the dark cloud of il
| literacy that rests upon her brow.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
We have in North Carolina some splen
did institutions OF learning, but the rem
edy for the lamentable illteracy that
prevails must come chiefly through our
Public School system and in order to do
so, that system must be fOstered and en-
couraged, increased and sustained. And
the thinking, philanthropic, patriotic
men and women of North Carolina must
see that our Legislators take a new step
in the direction of the perfection and
support of our public schools.
HENDERsON's PUBLIC SCHOOL.
Hendersonis one of the principal towns
in North Carolina. She is throbbing with
energy and wealth and thrilled with the
spirit of Progress. Her mammoth ware
houses, her gigantic stemmeries, her cleo
| trio system and waterwOrks, and her rail
roads present and projected, all speak to
| the world of her Prosperity and of her
Determination to Advance.
But, my friends, there is one institution
she must throw her arms loving v around
and sustain before she can be truly and
| entirely Great, Progressive, and above
all, True to Herself, and that is her Pub
| lie School. That school is now suffering
| from financial paralysis, and has hardly
"local habitation and a name,' not
| withstanding the heroic efforts of Mrs
DR.. Garden, the thoroughly equipped and
| most excellent lady principal, and OF her
estimable and able assistant, Miss Mag,
gle Estes, who by their Jealous efforts
have increased in a few months the at
tendance OF pupils from to 81.
Oh! that we could realize in Henderson
we must realize in Henderson-the pic
ture so graphically drawn by the great
| Prentiss:
''Behold yon simple building;it is small
| and of rude construction, but stands in q
pleasant and quiet spot. A magnificent
old elm spreads its broad arms above
and seems to lean towards it, as strong
man bends to shelter and protect child
| "From within it's walls comes busy
hum such as you might hear in dis
turbed bee hive. Now peep through yon
der window, and you will see a hundred
| children with rosy cheeks, misclievOus
eyes. and demure faces, all engaged ol
pretending to be SO, in their little lessons
| 1t is the public school-the free-the com
mon school-provided by ltw-open tt
| all-claim"d from the community as {
right-no accepted as bounty.
"Here the children of rich and poor
high and low, meet upon perfect equallt,
and commence under the same auspices
the mind is served up to all alike as tn
|
lie table.
"From among these laughing childrel
will go forth the men who are to contro
the destinies of their age and country
the statesman whose wisdom is to guild
the Senate, the poet who will take cap
tive the hearts of the people and bint
them together with immortal song; tn
phlosopher-the physician-the preache
the iurist.
| 'The Public School, the brightest iewe
that can adorn the brow of the State.
Let US improve and support our publ
school until it shall crown the town c
Henderson like a wreath of roses-rose
plucked from the cheeks of innocent chi
dren, bound together with their brigh
smiles and refreshed with their tears c
Joy.
| have nothing but words OF praise an
admiration for the splendid privat
schools in Henderson presided over b.
4 T..