The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-03

DINA cannot read or write Just to think
Of this is enough to shame one who loves
his State. Ninety-fve OF every hundred
people, more than six years old and less
than twenty-one, in North Carolina are
this day wholly dependent upon the poor
" provided for public schools to learn to
read or write. These are no new condi-
tons. The percentage probably shows
better than ever before And yet for
twenty-seven years we have been living
under a Constitution which expressly com
mands that the public schools shall be
kept and maintained four months in ev-
cry year. The General Assemblies have
uniformly disobeyed the Constitutions
and they have done so without adequate
reason, notwithstanding each member is
oath-bound to support it. The reason
assigned is that the limit Of taxation
(66 % cents on the hundred dollars
worth Of property and 81 on the polD is
reached before the schools are provided
for as the Constitution requires. Now
it seems to us that the General Assem-
bly, might first provide for taxation for
the schools to the necessary amount. and
then begin making appropriations to 9th
or interests OF the State for which the
Constitution does not demand support
Does it not seem plain that the mandatory
articles OF the Constitution ought to have
precedence over the merely permissive
ones, and also over laws providing for
support OF various enterprises, depart
ments and institutions? The Constitu-
tion must be upheld by all means.
THE REMEDY.
Let the General Assembly fix the taxes
sufficient at once to provide for four
months public schools, and thus carry
out the Constitution. The school-tax
levy is now only eighteen cents on the
hundred dollars and fifty-four cents on
every poll in addition to the taxes in the
revenue law, Then if there is not suf-
ficient funds left for other objects let
the Bureau Of Labor Statistics. the Rail-
road Commission, the State Penitentiary,
the Agricultural Societies, the State Nor
NAL and Industrial School, the State Col
lege OF Agriculture and Mechanic Arts,
the State University, the Oxford Orphtn
State Agricultural Department. and
others like them, either go without the
States taxes or DO with less than they
now do. Let the General Assembly prac-
tice economy in it's own management,
and In the public printing, clerkships,
etc, all to the end that the children OF
North Carolina may not come to man
hood in ignorance. Is it worth the eff
fort? Which will the people prefer,
State-aid to a University for a few young
men, or better schools for thousands of
her children; State-aid to a Normal and
Industrial School for a few young wo-
men, or schools in which thousands of
her children may learn to read and write;
taxes for Orphan Asylum, Geological
Surveys, Agricultural Departments,
Railroad Commission, Bureau of Labor
Statistics or more schools, better schools,
better teachers and longer terms? What
is the State for, to benefit a few or to
serve the whole people? What are these
institutions compared with the public
schools? What are a few young men
and women with education complete com
pared to 100000 who cannot begin in a
decent elementary school? We said last
week that it was an honor to North Car
DINA that she provides so we'll for her
helpless insane and blind or deaf and
dumb. 1t is a shame to North Carolina
that she does not provide decent schools
for her helpless ignorant.