The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-08-01
PROF. ALDERMAN ON JUDGE
MURPHEY AND STATE
EDUCATION.
Cor. STATE CHRONICLE J

Cor. STATE CHRoNICLE.)
Seek ye first the education of all the
people, and all other blessings will be ad-
ded unto YOU"
cat time when one heard much of
caste and class and blood and privilege,
this man saw face to face the great moral
and political truth, that education must
be of the State, and by the State, and for
the State, and must include all"
These sentences occur in Mr.. E. 4.
Alderman's article on Judge Murphey,
published in the DAILY CHRONICLE of the
Goth inst. would rot, if could, will
lingly detract from the service rendered
to the State by any of her honored dead,
or make less fragrant the memory of
their name. 1t is no part of my pur-
pose in this brief article to make such
an attempt, but to express my dissent
from the teaching of the text on which
it is affirmed the judge promulgated his
views of popular education, and of Mr..
Alderman himself in the second quota
ton at the head of this article.
The text is but little better than ira
vesty of our Lords words, in the sermon
on the mount, Seek ye first the king
dom of God and his righteousness, and
all these things shall be added to YOU"
The things to be ''added" were temporal
| blessings-food, raiment, clothing-all
| that was needful to happy continuance
of the lives God had given them.
Christ lays down religious principle
must be builded, if we build wisely, and
| 70 i,n ipta
favor of that kindly providence which is
to supply our temp l'oral needs. The text
at the head of this article bids men to
look not to religious principle, but. to
intellectual culture for all political bles
| sing. / prefer Christ's basis.
| What State, ancient or modern, has
ever secured "all political blessings" for
its citizens by general education? Despite
the millions Of money paid by our impov-
ershed country for the education Of the
negroes among us, what uplifting have
they received? AS race they are in my
Judgment (and [ am sorry to say it, as
devoid of conscience in morals to-day,
as much the dupes of superstition, and
as plant tools of partizan demagogues
as when first emancipated. Notwith-
standing all that has been done for them
by public taxation and private philan
thropy in the matter Of education, the
negro problem grows more difficult with
each succeeding year, and will continue
to do SO till the State shall be brought
to realize that not intellectual force, OF
culture, but moral principal is the basis
} Of all good citizenship. An ignorant man
possessed Of sound moral principle, vii
make better citizen than cultured
one who is devoid of such principle
: # it be true that moral principle, ant
, | not intellectual culture, is the basis o
good citizenship; and "that education
must be of the State and by the Stat
I and for the State, and must include all,
then the State must give a religious edu
cation to all. But can the State do that
, The State declares its functions to b
, one, and that of the church another
! The bold affirmation of some is that th
! State has nothing to do with religion
A majority of those who compose tn
!; State are irreligious. Some are Jew:
! some are infdels, and there is sent
$ ment, sedulously cultivated by many
l. against the use of the Bible in the Stat
schools. To what are we tending? Th
Il experience of the past declares with en-
i phasis that it would be a no more hopele'
u task to undertake a personal inspectio
!, of the planets by means of a balloon tina
Il to make a perfect political State by tt
/ education of all the people.
u MORAL, not CULTURE, IS the tir
Il requisite.
V W. II. MOORE.