The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-07-10
SUMTER. S. c.. WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1895

which the well-to-do received lnstruc-
ton and the poor were left to take care
of themselves. If any good reason has
been given why the provisions of the
present constitution should nor be ln-
corporated ipto the new. have failed
to note it. The most plausible argu-
ment uasd by those opposed to con,
stitutioral provision for education, the
one which sounds the most reasonable,
aud is most frequently advanced. is
''rhat it is unjust to tax AS property to
educate the children of B.. with as
much Justice" they say. you could
require A to feed and clothe B's chill
dren." " It will be seen that this argu-
meut pertains not so much to the ques-
ton in hand. as to that larger question,
the duty of the State to educate her
citizens and yet its danger lies in che
fact that it is being used in this issue.
and that many are being led away by its
apparent reasonableness forgetful of
the fact that the safety, the security.
the very value of the property they
seek to exempt from these taxes, de-
peuds upon the purity, honesty and
efficiency Of the government, which
in our country at least, must depend
upon the general Intelligence of the
people, who are the rulers and the
ruled
1T is for the good Of all. ;" says a
recent writer, 10 support the free
schools rather than allow children to
grow up in ignorance precisely
as is for the general good to have
police aud courts. although some
are rich enough to have private watch
men, aud others may not need police
man at all. 1t is believed that, upon
the whole, the community is better off
providing free schools. aud requiring for
attendance upou them
Much that passes for argument in
this issue, aud is most effective upon the
stump. is, Of piece, with that which
has aroused an apparent desire for a
new constitution (and have used some
of it myself on the stump)-tbe appeal
to prejudice-tbe argument um ad
hon,niuns of the politician. This con-
stitutiou," says the politician, was
framed and put upon US by bad men /.
men who we're our natural eDnemics,
seeking our hurt; therefore it is bad
constitution, let US away with it aud
make one of our own.
appreheod that those who have
given to our present constitution calm
and dispassionate study have found
much in it to commend, nothing per
haps, more far reaching 10 it's conse-
quences for good to the white people of
the State. than its specific provisions for
the maintenance Of education.
The time has come, in the history OF
this State. when We should cease uD-
doing. unless those, who propose to
undo, come with something better in
their hands Tearing down is an easy
process, aud any cobbcr eau perform
this work building up is a slow,
tedious. laborious task, requiring the
trained mechanic skill
The greas body of tax paying people,
country people. whose children must be
educated in the public schools or &c
untaught, are not only not complaining
of this constitutional school tax. bus
have grown accustomed to its coming g
year after year into their schools, re-
gardless of the faction in power or the
temper Of auy particular Legislature,
To say that the Legislature will make
ample provision is only to say so; to
make it certain, is to incorporate it into
the constitution The one is positive,
the other contingent; the one is scre,
the other uncertain the one will cou
,inue the progress already begun, aud
lead to more aud more liberal and
uniform system the other, by the very
fact, that it is uncertain and contingent,
will lead to confusion, dislntegration
distraction. In discussing this very
matter some months ago with one Of the
school trustees Of my own county, (wbo
by the way is strong Reformer. n,cs'
competent trustee, paying fairly good
salaries to efficient teachers, and run
ming all the schols 10 his district. a
country district at that, for 9 mouths 10
the year, he said, II DO sincerely trust
that the convention will incorporate into
the new constitution at least the provi-
sions Of the present. constitution :or the
maintenance of the public schools, in-
crease it if desirable, but at least give
US the present ? mill tax and poll tax,
and fix it in the constitution TO do less
would inevitably cripple the public
schools, aud turn back the tide Of pro-
gress which for the last ten years has
been steadily going forward. If we