Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-08-11

but the number of dollars, that
determines your taxes. The
inference to he drawn from that is
that you have paid more taxes
and that we have spent your
money; properly of course, they
would say. In other words, that
we got more money and spent
more money; but they make no
charge against us of having done
anything wrong.
Another charge is that the effort
made by our administration in
attempting to bring in the surplus
and undivided profits of banks
for taxation has driven capital
from the State and ruined the
credit of the State. The inference
from that argument is that we
have been unjust in our treatment
of the banks in that we have not
increased the value of the other
property in the State by bringing
in for taxation that which was
paying no taxes.
This is their whole case. They
state these charges in many forms,
but they amount to the same thing.
Now, let me take up these
charges together, and answer them
at the same time with the same
arguments, 80 far as they apply;
later on 1 will take them up
separately, should I find it ne
cessary and I have the time.
Please do not forget the charges. I
repeat them; Inccmtentency,
extravaganza and oppression of
banks to the escape of other
property from taxation.
EDUcAT1oFAL DEPARTMENT.
1 speak first of my department.
the department of education-and
1 trust, under the circumstances,
what I say will not be thought to
be indelicate or egotistical. When
1 had compiled my annual report
last year I felt that my depart
ment had done reasonably well.
/ was gratifed to be told so by my
friends. The many complimentary
letters were indeed pleasant. The
kind words of the press confirmed
me in thinking 1 had fairly
succeeded. But now we hear from
the stumpthat you need business
men at the head of the State govern
ment; that we are not suited or
qualified to manage the depart
ments. Let us look and see how
this tallies with the records.
By an inspection it will be seen
that the total enrolment of pupils,
for the year was 93,024 whites,
and 116,525 colored, making a
total Of 200, $50, an increase over
the year previous of 6,419 pupils,
with an average session of 3.51
months. The schools funds were
carefully managed and not dollar
has been stolen or misapplied.
The interest in the public schools
seemed to be on the increase and
hopes for their future seemed to
brighten. But now we are told
that these figures mean nothing;
that the management is wrong
which secures an increased
attendance of 6,419 pupils in one
year: that that is an evidence of
incompetency, unftness and ex-
travagance. We are told that with
an increased enrolment of 6,419
pupils to run the schools 3.51
months shows extravaganza, and
that, therefore, we ought not to
be reelected.
Let me stop right here and ask
what the other side means when it
proposes in it's platform "to foster
public educatlon'? What do you
mean by that expression? How
do you propose to do it? have
looked and waited in vain for you
to give the people your plan. l
cannot sitstill or wait longer for
it. What doyou propose to do ITO
foster public education? You
cannot lengthen the term without
more money. Do you propose to
allow them to 60 on as now, and
call that fostering? You know,
and this people know, that the
schools are not what they should
be. You cannot satisfy them by
putting these resolutions in your
platform. Before you can make
the schools better you must in
crease the school fund. Ilwant
how a declaration of your policy.
Tell us how you are going to do it.
l ask the question of Ex-Governor
Sheppard, and expect his answer.
There we're 10000 colored and
only $4,000 white children in
attendance on the schools last
year-23,000 more colored than
white-one-fourth more colored
than white. Who pays the bulk OF
the taxes? Have you ever stopped
to make he calculation? The
colored people do not own much
property, and they pay about 81
out Of every $16 that is collected
for this purpose by the two mil
tax. In other words, they pay
about s25, 900 out of every $50O,OO(
collected on the two mill tax. TAX.
ing the State over, it is estimated
that the colored people pay about
one-half the amount collected or
the poll tax. Yet there are 23,OO(
more of their children in the