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

language be stronger than that 10 the
present constitution, which says: "The
General Assembly shall as sooo as
practicable after the adoption of this
constitution provide for a liberal and
uniform system of free schools through
out the State, and shall also make pro-
vision for the division of the State into
suitable school districts. There shall
be kept open at least six months in each
year one or more schools in each school
district -
take it that these commands, in
addition to fixing the constitutional
taxes, were laid upon the Legislature,
in order thatif Decessary, special appro.
priatious should be made to supplement
these taxes. that the system might
develope into more and more liberal
and uniform one.
It will not dc to say there was 90
necessity, for while the constitutional
tax was the foundation upon which the
structure was erected, and made posi-
BILE its erection !; still but for the aid Of
private funds, and money arising from
special taxes under the local option law,
the public school system would be as
worthless and inefficient to-day, as it
was 20 years ago.
IF then 10 all these years. notwitb-
standing the fact that the constitutional
tax had to be collected, the Legisla-
ture did nothing for the support of the
public schools; is it reasonable to sup
pose that, if there was 10 constitutional
tax fixed. the Legislature would make
liberal provision for the support Of the
public schools 10 the future
1t is. to say the least. risking much
upon an uncertainty. In the language
Of the darkey WHO saw his neighbol
about to mount refractory mule
you trus um e trow you "
Look al it from another point of view
gee how year by year the approprla-
tions, for even the higher State insti'
tutions of learning. have to be fought
for upon the Aoor Of the Legislature by
friends and alumni Does it not stand
to reason. that the common schools
without any special champion would
feel the pruning knife of the polltica
economist 90 every side!
The institutions for higher education
would probably hold their own.
in the unequal contest at the ex.
peose of the public schools, until the
whole educational system of the State.
already top.heavy would totter and fall
Perhaps the strongest reason for
constitutional provision for education
remains to be stated
White supremacy has again become
the political slogan Of The hour. and vii
continue to liftit hydra head, threaten
Jog the prosperity of our State, SO Ions
as it is sought to be maintained by sub
terfuge-political intrigue and trickery
Such policy. iustillipg toto the youth
of our State the pernicious fallacy tha
1.-The end justi6es the means, has be
come deadly upas tree casting aoou
us its baleful. burtful shadow
Better face the real issue. recognize
and appreciate the truth, that the only
white supremacy worth the having
which VII. bring peace, power ant
prosperity, must rest at last upon intel
iieence, must result from. and depeni
upon a uniform system Of free publi
schools literally maintained. At least
until this vital truth finds permanen
Judgement in the minds and hearts o
the people at large. twas wise to pro
vide such system and fix its revenue
in the organic Law.
Martin Luther drought the schoo
master into the cottage, " and laid tn
foundation of the system which is th'
chief honor and strength of moderr
Germany, a system By which the chll(
of the humblest peasant, by slow bu
certain gradatlons, receives the bes
education which the country can afford
Let South Cardinals new constltu
ton become her Martin Luther, foster
ing with tenderest care her common
schools, bringing the school master int
the cottage. that she may lay the foun
dation, broad and deep, Of system
which shall be her chief honor ano
strength, that her boys and girls, he'
future men and women may be taugh
to perform justly, wisely and maguanl
mously all the duties Of citizens. boil
public and private
Oae more cousideratiou-South Caro-
ina percentage Of illiteracy, even
among her white citizens. is out o1
proportion to her population. There l'
no time to lotier by the way-no tune
to lose in experimenting with her
school system Dole in his "Amerl-
can Citizeus," page l56, discussing
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