The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-12-20
School Tax.

ton OF principles regarding The ednca'
tional aud political question in copnec.
tion with the negro has bean perused
by noe with interest. and must say
with some disappointment.
lam surprised that one Of your usu-
ally broad views on the social and
political questions generally, and oi
the present situation particularly,
should advocate the cutting off OF any
class of children from the benefits OF q
free education under any circumstance
or condition, You as well rs every one
who has considered this question in a
broad and practical view must know
to condemn portion of our children
to ignorance, entails upon the coming
generation the same unfortunate
and dangerous condition which we are
now contending with. To have half OF
the citizens of state ignorant, un-
a BILE to read or write, is, to say the
least of it, very unfortunate situation
of affairs. That is our present sitna-
ton; and you now propose-by cutting
off from educational advantages all
children whose parents fail to pay
their poll tax, to place thu coming
generation in the same unfortunate
situation. You would not by this
means punish the parent who neglected
to pay his taxes, but would punish the
child and you would not injure us.
who now have to manage the political
aud social affairs of state; but you
would entail the misfortunes of our
situation upon our children, who will
succeed to us in those affairs-with
additional danger OF . class OF igno
rant people who by this kind OF legis-
lation would feel that they had been
cut off from all benefits of government
and would be more troublesome to
manage than the present generation
who have grown up either under slave
laws or have been allowed the privi-
leges Of free schools. Tho very foun-
dation upon which q republican
government rests 10 the intelligence
and integrity Of individual citizens,
and what hope can wo have of demo
cratic or republican government in
this state if one-hslf of its citizens are
condemned to perpetual ignorance and
Look at the situation
now! Here we have the negro in our
midst composing one-half the popu-
lation of tho state, vast majority of
whom are illiterats. they cultivate the
land and produce u of the agriculta.
raj products of the state--yet they
little or nothing. they
spend their surplus earnings in frivi-
lous splusoments. in trashy apd
worthless furniture, in cheap and
snowy dressing, or they allow design
Ing men to sell them poor and broken
down horses and cheap buggies; in fact
instead of becoming substantial and
paying citizens they remain poor and
dependant people who instead OF help
ing to build up our state are causing it
10 be flooded with worthless and
trashy furniture and buggies, thereby
sending all the surplus money out of
tho state; whereas, If they were thrift
and intelligent they would buy our
native bred horses and invest their
money in wagons and good farming
implements and in purchasing land
thus enriching the state and benefting
themselves. And why is this state of
affairs existing? Because of the ne
groes ignorance. Would you perpetu-
ate this condition?
Now as to the question Of whether it
Is good or bad polity to force the col
lection Of poll tax leave the politi-
clans to settle, but the question of |
education is above and beyond the
question Of suffrage, and should not |
BIO considered in connection with it.
A man or woman can be good citizen |
without the right to vote, but an igno-
rant man cannot be good citizen-or
1t least SO good a one as he would be
we're he educated 1t is contended by
soms people that the education which
the Begrn children now receive is of
little benefit. Well that may be true
In . degree-but the fault does not lye
D the principle but in the execution.
There is where you should attack the |
Tree school system and demand that
hose who have the management of
'choOl affairs ahould,see to it that every
:olored school ~ well as every white
'chool should have q teacher who il
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