The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-06
HAS AROUSED THE PEOPLE
PREJUDICE SHOULD NOT FIGURE
IN THE VOTE ON SCHOOLS.
BITING OFF NOSE TO SPITE THE FACE
The CoIored Man Here to Stay and Should be
. ..s: Educated--At Least the PoorsWhite
EEChild Should Not be Denied
on His Account.

why dld the Legislature MAKE cOnul-
tional appropriation to the public schools?
Why was not the fifty thousand dollars
not given directly without any condition
or restriction? Did not it belong to the
people? Had not it come from their
pockets? Yes, most assuredly it had.
Then why did the Legislature turn to the
people and ask them to do for themselves
what the State should have done for
them? Perhaps the greatest condition
was the actual condition of the public
schools. For while we pay comparative
ly little for public school purposes, the
cost is greatly in advance of the CORES
ponding interest as showed by the enroll
ment and average attendance. Fifty
thousand dollars would have run the
schools little less than FIVE days. The
average attendance is only little above
one-third of school population. So that
fifty thousand dollars would have been
spent to send about one-third of the
school population to school less than five
| days. This would have been an increase
in the length of the term about one-siXth
now, when the money had been spent
that would have been the end of it. 1t
| would have been spent as the regular
apportionment and in addition to that
this would have ended practically moth
| ing to the schools. With an additional
| appropriation of fifty thousand dollars
| the efficiency of the schools would have
been practically the same. Simply with
such an appropriation there would have
| been nothing said about the schools. No
| investigation, no discussion would have
been called for. no campaign 'for
| schools" No agitation of the school
question. No speeches would have been
| made. No articles would have been writ
ten in the newspapers on country schools.
| But with the conditional appropriation
such is not the case. The direct attention
of the people has been directed to the
| real condition, cost and success of our
schools. Thousands of public speeches
have been made. Thousands of articles
on the subject have appeared. And most
| of all, thousands of private discussions
between neighbors had about the schools.
Some for schools. Some against schools.
BY this means the question has been agi-
tated. The people see the schools in a
different light.
They see their relations to the schools
differently. So if local taxation is voted
down in every township in the State,
doubtless even then more good will be
| accomplished than could have possibly
been accomplished with fifty thousand
dollars or five days additional term. The
people are being educated on the needs
Of better schools. This is only prepara-
| tory to a revision Of the whole system.
| 1t is very likely that immediate results
will be seen from all the discussion call
ed out. 1t is probable that the enroll
| anyf - IL, L.
largely increased during the next year.
Not because there is any more money N
| the schools, but because the people are
being aroused. Think of it. Only about
one-third Of the school population in
school. What need to tax the people to
raise more money for the schools when
the people refuse to allow the children to
avail themselves of the advantage of the
schools You say "the people have a
right to demand a four months school,"
because the Constitution says they shall
have it. The children are entitled to a
four months schools by Constitutional
provision.
On next Tuesday the people are to say
whether they really want four months
school for their children or not. Every
voter in the State can go to the polls
and deliberately put himself ON record
either "for schools or against schools.
Article TX, section 2, of the Constitu-
ton provides: THAT the children of the
white race, and the children of the color
ed race shall be taught in separate public
schools, but there shall be no discrimina.
ton in favor of, or to the prejudice OF
either race.
There shall be no discrimination il
favor of either race. If opposition
should exist to local taxation on account
Of the colored peoples sharing the bene
fits therefrom, there are one or two ques
tons it would be well for such oppo
nents to consider.
In the first place should local taxation
be killed it is only question of LITTLE
time when the law-making power Of the
State must increase school taxes by direc
legislation. What will be the result
By Constitutional provision the coloret
people will receive equal advantages from
such increase along with the whites
just as they now do. Such tax may be
levied and collected. So to vote against
local taxation through prejudice to the
colored man is simply to keep the white
children ignorant and illiterate rather
than to uplift and better prepare for life
and citizenship the poor unfortunate col
ored man.
An old game Of cutting off the nose t.
spite the face. An ignorant white child
suffers the same disadvantages as an ig
norant colored child must. There is ar
inexorable law Of necessity and demand
that makes no discrimination between
races or colors. There is congeniality il
ignorance. Her children play, plan and
execute together. Corresponding with
the prize worthily bestowed upon in
telligence has been attached tt
ignorance and illiteracy an I'M
failing and unavoidable penalty. The
rule is that ignorance, poverty and mis-
fortune are partners for life. The disso-
luton of the partnership is an exception
to the rule very rare indeed.
To vote against local taxation on this
ground is refusing to do voluntarily what
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