The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-12

PARTlSANSHlP KILLED, THE LOCAL TAX.

The defeat Of the local school tax al
most everywhere is the most significant
Debuke OF the gang now in control Of
che government of the State that could
Aaye been administered. 1t shows that
the people are so Disguised with the
prostitution of public service and public
education by petty partisan bosses that
they almost solidly voted down a prop
osition that, as an independent measure,
commended itself to their judgment.
1t viii be said that the result of this
election shows that the people Of North
Carolina are not in favor of taxation for
public education. 1t has no such mean
ing. 1t means that the people Of North
Carolina were unwilling to tax them
selves to put money in the hands OF
gang of men who are wanting in COM
potency and in character. One OF the
ablest and wisest advocates of public
education in the Eastern part Of the
State, when asked by his neighbors what
to do with reference to the election,
said: "Do not vote a dollar for any pur-
pose that has to go in the hands OF the
men who now miscarriage our affairs"
The strongest friends of local taxation,
after it was seen that wherever the pie
eating Fusionists had the power they
were electing incompetent politicians to
manage the schools, advised the people
TO vote down the proposition in all such
communities.
The election of incompetent and venal
men on school boards; the fragrant con-
tempt for the advice of all educators ex-
cept those who could be used to further
political ends; the giving to negro COM
mitteemen a voice in the management
Of white schools; and the conversion OF
the public educational system into poll
teal machine in most Of the counties
these things outraged and Disguised the
people 80 that they had no liberation for
the local tax, however, well it would
have worked when controlled by good
men.
There was a large element that OPP
posed the tax because at this time they
did not feel able to pay more taxes Tor
any purpose, but the overwhelming ma
iority against the proposition was due
TO the fact that the people have become
40 disguised with the work of the last
Legislature that they only want chance
to repudiate everything emanating from
II. 1t was impossible to secure the in
terest of people who had good officials
because they said the school law had
been so badly altered that they did not
know how it would work, and they want
ed nothing to do with any product Of the
last Legislature.
The result teaches that there is nc
nope for improvement in our educational
system until the people drive out thu
crowd that now profane the temple, and
commit the schools and the other affairs
of the State to the hands of the intelli
gence, virtue and patriotism of thu
State. 1t ought to be apparent to the
good men who were persuaded to leav
the party of the white man that thei
duty is to make an end Of cooperation
with men who have not scrupled evel
to sacrifice the highest interest OF tn
little children to base partisan ends. Me-
who will do this-and the party in powe
has been guilty of it-are the worst enc
mics Of the Commonwealth, and the
ought to be driven out at all hazards.
The duty Of the men who have a
heart the education of the people is plair
They must labor with all other goo
people to put in power the honest an
intelligent white citizenship Of th
State. No reform, no progress, no elevs
ton is possible from the gang that no
disgraces the State by its mismanag'
ment of every department of government
When the people have driven them OF
with whip-cords, then an appeal Il
better educational methods will be hear
and needed.