The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-07-03
THE COLLEGE APPROPRIATION
QUESTION:"

IL Gue gentleman from henderson
these few lines are most affectionately
dedicated.
Mr.. EDITOR:-The platform of the
Nc btional Peoples party has ouly three
planks, Finance, Land and Transpor-
tatlon." The platform of the National
Convention was adopted by the State
Convention at its first session held in
Raleigh, August 16, 1892. 1t also
adopted a platform suited to State poll
tics, and among other things it says:
That we favor the fullest development
OF our education system in all of its de-
partments." Not another word in re-
gard to education. This leaves us to
suppose that the Peoples party gives
Its assent to the system of higher edu
cation by taxation. "Our educational
system" of course refers to the public
schools, and the State Colleges must
then come under this head. If it is a
public school, has the University the
right to charge tuition fee and collect
it from some while others are admitted
free7 Wealth cannot disqnalify a
young man; he has the same right to
the benefits offered by the State that
his poorer neighbor has. He is not
compelled by any law of right and JUS
tlce to pay one cent for his tuition,
while his brother is placed upon the
free list. The State cannot properly
discriminate; it cannot open ite doors
to the poor boy and shut them in the
face of the rich, neither can it pursue
the opposite course. The University
discriminates among it's own students.
The State discriminates in favor of a
class of young men who can get an
education by their own efforts upon
educational institution in opposition to
all institutions supported by free will
offering of her people. The State does
not foster, as it claims, the colleges
within her borders, but lends her infu-
ence and contribute her thousands of
| dollars every year to the University
! and Female Normal to crush the very
life out of the other colleges. Can we
ever hope to fully develop under exist
ing circumstances To fully develop
means that the old system must be
|. remodeled, or new system inaugu.
rated. If the paragraph quoted above
means that we are to fully develop
under the present system, the great.
grandchild of the youngest child living
to-day will never see us fully devel-
oped.
The article from Henderson is full of
fallacies. He assumes that 1 am a
leader of the Baptist church and a
Baptist preacher, and then proceeds to
give me an airing to the best of his
ability. am not a preacher and never
shall be. No one doubts the wisdom of
the Lord in this decree. l have never
put myself up as a leader in church
affairs. always prefer walking in the
paths that others have marked out.
What other matter is more important
than the education of your child7 You
may be blessed with an abundance OF
this worlds goods, but there are one
million people in North Carolina to day
who have not the clothes they actually
need. Thousands of poor children will
attend the public school next winter
half clothed, with a potato for dinner.
Wait, ''let us get these enacted into
law first" l have never accomplished
any good, or even made the attempt,
but that the old man from the Internal
regions suggested delay, wait till after
full investigation and it will be settled
right. If you inject this into the cam
paign now you will commit a great sin,
the mass of the people will think very
strange of you, your friends and neigh
bors will lose confidence in you, etc,
are reasons suggested by his satanic
majesty for delay. Get thee behind
me, satan"
The preachers are able to take care
of themselves, but inasmuch as an
article that 1 wrote called forth this
proclamation of ostracisln from his ex
cellency, the gentleman from Hender
son, felt that would commit no very
great sin by attempting to show hin
the middle of the road. AS rule the
preachers are, of all people on earth
free from political bias; they are moi
controlled by any political party, and
if they were forcing this educationa
question into politics for the sole pur
pose of dividing the party, they would
of all men, be most miserable. They
are standing upon the solid rock Of
principle, and they propose to fight il
out upon that line and regardless ot