The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-11-21

ity America nay reap a rich harvest.
To attempt, when the rudiments of
knowledge are present in the mind, to
sircumscribe in arbitrary limits the
possibilities of their development is
manifestly absurd. But equality of
privileges does not imply identity of
privileges" either in society or govern
ment.
Who can venture to predict but that
the Africo-A American race, now in it's
infancy, stimulated by the example
and contact of the greatest civilization
in history, and linked to the chariot
wheels of progress shall in the course
of centuries come to the dignity of
mans estate among the nations, mot
least but honored of them ALL"
The educational problem of the South
Is not the result of a fortuitous con-
course Of events. Il is but the natural
.outgrOwth Of faulty social and political
institu tons, the abiding heritage Of q
slave holding a~ristoracy, whose preju-
dices and conservatism is aptly re,
vealed in the expression made by Gov.
Berkely in 1857. II thank God there
are no public schools in Virginia and
hope there shall be none these hundred
years."
Previous to the establishment in 1878
of a public school system in the recon.
strucUed States the legislative powers
of II commOnwealths remained mac
tive in regard to this, the field of its
greatest responsibility. Meanwhile
both public and private munificence
has favored the wealthy elias, by open
ing academies, colleges and universe
tics of high character to the aspiring
young %aristocrat, while the masses
were excluded by the iron boss of
perjury.
To day, under the new regime af a
South of liberty and progress these
narrow educational ideas are yielding
to a spirit of philanthropy and broad
minded craftsmanship.
Since 1876 the seventeen Southern
States expended more than $3.50, 600, 900
for public school purposes.
With industries scarcely yet recov
cred from the paralyzing shock of civil
war, FRUSTRATED by a period of financial
depression during the decade preceding
1880 when the total wealth of ten ex-
Confederate States diminished to the
value of not more than $500, coo, 900, the
South now annually expends as large
a per cent. Of her per capita tax for
popular education as does the average
State in the wealth enrobed North.
In her towns and cities the modern
graded school system followed by the
higRJ school is being widely adopted,
with excellent and far reaching results
From these educational centers the
spirit of inspiration and jealous activ-
ity will go out to the most remote rural
districts. Yet the problem remains
unsolvey, "can the South, with less
than half the resources of 1850, educate
double the number of children then
knocking at the door2"
Viewed in the light of her immense
industrial possibilities, the educational
problem of the South assumes a ma
tIonal aspect. AS people we have be-
come so united by the golden bonds of
political and commercial independence
that the progress of each State or Sec
ton is a subject for universal concern.
Onepolicy, fa~r-reaching and effective,
presents itself as a plausible solution
for the problem Of Southern i~lliteracy.
A policy honored in our country's an
nails as a distinctive principle of de-
mOcracy, a legitimate sphere of ma
tional governmental activity; in the
early colonies advanced by legislative
enactments; under the constitutional
government promoted by public land
grants for the financial basis of a sys
tim of popular education; a principle
grounded in the religious belief of the
Plymouth ~colonists and subscribed to
by the fathers of this republic. 1t is
the policy which recognizing illiteracy
and freedom as incompatible elements
in a commonwealth demands that
manhood suffrage, the divine right,
and universal education, the nations
debt, go hand in hand forever. That
the central government in its protec-
ton of the one provide for the support
of it's coordinate.
Apply this prin ;iple in the present
crisis. Let the burden of establishing
better educational facilities, too severe
tax on Southern resources in the
present stage of their development, be
partially transferred to the Atlantean