The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-07-27
lcdne this author further says:

strictel to those who are able to read
and write and that provision should be
| made il every neighborhood for the
education Of all children under GER
tain age This was sound political
doctrine in 1897 when DR.. Wavland
wrote it aud has gained additional
strength since By the failures that have
been made where its teachings have
been ignored The application Of this
doctrine in my humble Judgment would
be blessing to South Carolina to- day.
It would, however, be manjfestly un-
fair to fix an educational qualification
for suffrage and not to provide the
citizen an opportunity to quality.
The crying need Of the hour, accord
ing to my apprehension ofourpolltlcal
surroundings, is more and bttter com
mon schools; not schools alone for the
classes but schools also for the masses;
not schools in the thickly settled well
to do country communities alone: but
in the poorer and sparsely settled
sections also; not schools for land own
ers children alone. but for their ten
ants as we'll; in word public schools.
Prv ND the masses with the leverage
of universal education aud thus re
lease them from the bondage of litter
acr.
II may be suggested that this sounds
well in theory. but that it cannot be
carried jGto practice on account OF
C) the SlNte's poverty, ~ the negro IN
our midst. Z" ti:" ;itst suggestion 1t
is replied (l) stop these extravaSant
approximations for higher education
until Tie masses have at least the three
Rs Of al education and give moro
| money to the common schools. Bet
te:. tear down these massive buildings
and sell the debris for tirewood than
have Ill ignorant and consequently
depraved citizenship. (2) Make the
attendanc, upon the common schools
compulsory.
To the second suggestion it IS re-
Piled that the negro and his trends
are taking care of his education. DR..
Curric, agent of the Peabody fund,
startled the Georgia Legislature few
years ago telling it that the negroes
were making more rapid strides IN the
attainment Of an education than the
sane class of whit -, anu other thought
full Observers confirm the opinion eX~
pressed by this eminent authority.
Besides Northern money has been and
is being poured into the South to ed
ucate the negroes. DIR. Mayo is
authority for the statement that at
least $50, O0O. 600 has been spent IN the
South since the war to educate the
negro. 1t is we'll known that there is
not city of any considerable size IN
the South but has one or more IN
stitutions for the education OF the
negro supported wholly or in part by
Northern money, and many
of them, such as Claflln
in this State, are doing fine work. So
it is needless to halt longer in extend
inc aid to common school education
because it will aid the negro, evenlt 1T
were conceded, and it is not, that the
negro should not be educated. The
policy have indicated would not only
improve their citizenship but give
fresh impetus to every institution for
higher education in the State. Argu-
ment is not needed to enforce the state
ment. Every boy or girl who has the
desire for an education once awakened,
though born in Il log hut, will shake
off his or her surroundings as the lion
shakes the dew drops from his name
Brethren of Wottord, you have my
message. You will doubtless acqult
me of Intending by its delivery to WIN
political favor or applause, because
YOU will recognize that the positions
here taken run counter to much that
is in favor with the public just now
The issue, however, which these~fe-
marks suggest is one that has IN the
past enlisted the sympathy and sup
port of the best talent OF the best men
of our nations history, and we can
make NO mistake in following where
they have led. It means the upbulid-
ing and maintenance of our common
country. It battles in behalf OF the
weak, the poor, the unfortunate 1t
seeks to provide that which gives to the
State better citizenship, to the lnd1-
vidual q friend that never forsakes.
Riches may take wings and fly away,
the fountains Of love may dry up, but
an education, III its true sense, once
obtained flows on with the gentleness
of the Gulf Stream and with the con-
stancy Of Gods own sunllght-