The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-12-17
STATE AID TO HIGHER EDucaTIOS

little trouble some in this State. Its
meaning is the appropriation now
made by the State for educatIoDsl in
stitutiOnp, other than the common
public schools. a seemingly very
live opposition 10 a continuance OF
state aid has been developed chiefly by
the Baptists and Methodists Of the
State, both Of which denominations
have colleges in North Carolina, and
which colleges are more or less in
competition with the State University.
The Baptist State convention re-
Gently declared its objection TO state |
aid, and the Methodist conference has
lust gone on record as Directing to the
same. At present this state aid con-
sists Of IN appropriation OF twenty
thousand dollars a year to the state
University twenty five thousand dol
lars a year to the Agricultural and
Mechanical College (wbite); seven
thousand five hundred year to the
Agricultural and Mechanical College
(col), and seventeen thousand five
hundred dollars a year to the state
Female Normal and Industrial school.
The Methodist conference in making
its objection to State aid, did not IN
clude the appropriations for the a.
and NJ. Colleges and for the Normal
and Industrial school on the ground
that these were technical and train
ing schools, and could not be objected
to as institutions of higher education.
This leaves only the university appro-
priation to which the Methodists OBJ
ject. The Baptists are not quite so
explicit in the expression of their OBJ
lection, but it is safe to assume that
they would not object to the appropri-
ations for the technical and training
schools, and il this assumption be
true, then the only State aid they OBJ
ject to is the University appropria-
ton.
III we understand the status OF the
controversy, the basis of the objection
to the University appropriation is
that the State should not attempt, by
making an appropriation TO a college
or university, to aid inthe matter OF
higher education for few and at the
same time fail to provide better sys-
TEN Of public schools for the benefit
OF six hundred thousand school chill
dren In the State. Such course, it is
urged, is wrong in principle and sa-
v0rs more of class than mass legisla-
tion. Parties to the other side of the
controversy say that the objection OF
the denominations to the University
Is inspired by jealousy Of their own
colleges, and that go long as the
student roll of the University was
about equal to that of the denomna-
tional colleges no objection was raised
tosState aid; but when the University
roll began to exceed the denomina-
tional college rolls, objection was
raised and the argument was advanced
that the State should not aid any one
institution that came I'D competition
with any other institution of similar
scope ard character.
The CAUCASIAN is not now taking
up this matter as a party to the con-
tr0versy on either side. It is ques
ton, however, which is up for settle
ment and suggestions may be in order
As to the principle involved, we think
the denominations have quite strong
case; but principle is worthless un-
less it can be made effectuslly opera.
tive. 1t is manlfestly unjust for 8
State to provide high educational IA
cilities that can be taken advantage
OF by only few of its people, and fai
to provide facilities for, at least TIE
rudiments Of education, which may bs
taken advantage of by many. But
while this would be unjust, it woult
be simple folly to take way what the
fen have and Mt the same time provide
nothing for the many.
The twenty THOUSAND dollars now
annually given to the University does
aid perhaps as many rs two hundred
or say one hundred-young men tc
procure higher education who would
not otherwise get it. Certainly there.
fore SOME GOOD Is DONE. Now take
the twenty Thousand dollars from the
University and give it to the public
school fund, and what is the resalti
Let's see.
There are 1907 school districts in
North Carolina. If the twenty thou.
sand dollars now given the University
should be divided among these dis.
tricts, each one would receive 50 90
This amount alone would not result in
any increase Of practical benefit il
each district, and the general result
would be this: The opportunity now
given one or two hundred young mer
for securing high her education woult
be taken away. and no practical good
would accrue to the 100000 children
OF school age in the various schoo
districts.
We most heartily join the denomi
nstions in every demand they max,
for better public school system an,
longer public school terms. The re
cord of this State in this matter /,
nothing to be proud Of and we wish t,
- sec that record changed. But let u
80 about 10 right; and let us under
stand that it cannot be right to tea,
away anything we may nov tina
has any good in it, without replscips
II withsomething better.