The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-08-26

rms oxLr Way TO IaPnOvB TN
PuDLlo SCHOOLS.
The recent election on tax1eton Tor
schools vas . success IL is had The ef-
feet only In provoke discassioo and d.
rect the public misd TO the edncasioo-
ii status Of our people. A samciess
number Of tow oships In the state were
carried "ror Schools" 70 test the prscti-
csbilisy OF local taxation. and the
friends OF education should not - dis
eour,xed because the measure did not
receive more general adoption.
The people believe IN low taxes
and are slow to vote any increase for
any purpose without the strongest
reasons for doing 50, and on account
Of the short time for discussion OF the
measure and the disparaging attitude
Of the politicians and partisan press Of
the State, the people were confused
rather than enliS h.~ned upon the bill
and refused to accept what they dio
not u understand, especially as' Heant
more taxes. The fsnlt IL not With the
people, they observe no censnre. Inc
fault lies with fh- d.s'xnin1 pOliti-
ciaps of the State ard inconsistent
newspaper editors who, in order to
pander to public opinion, rather than
trying 10 shape it, reversed their po-
sition on popular education and Ia
bored by indirection and falsehood
to defeat . measure they have pre-
tended to advocate.
Universal education has never been
. political question. It's advocates are
not confined within the limits Of any
one political party. Intelligence 10 .
condition precedent to good citizen
ship, which carries with it proper re-
gard for the sanctity Of the ballot and
the power to use it for the good OF the
people. No political party or set OF
politicians will dare openly to oppose
public education, for to do %
wonld mean their quick and utter
dissolution and undoing. Let al
the political PARTIES, let both Church
and State, til. secular and religion
newspapers, and The friends Of educa.
tion every where, come together in one
strong and united effort for the re.
moval of the shame and humiliation
now upon North Carolina-a reproacf
which will remain 80 long u
those long dark lines At the bottom Of
the table Of illiteracy show that 80 pei
cent. of her population cannot read Of
write.
Education for the masses 10 not {
matter Of sentiment, but question o.
business. Our State is probably more
varied in climate and soil than anJ
other State in the Union. We have
more varieties OF woods and mineral
than any other State. Nature has beer
more than generous to us. We are ricl
in undeveloped raw material, but all
these and thousand fold more of ricf
hidden treasures and undeveloped re-
sources do not make State. TIT
bounties of nature were here wher
our great commonwealth was a wilder
ness. A State, then, is composed no
Of lands and hidden wealth, but Of peo
pie; and State is esteemed according
to the manhood, virtue aud intelli
gence of her people.
North Carolina's chief source o.
power, wealth and greatness lies dor
mant in the young manhood and wo
manhood of the State, and failure OF
our part to provide suitable means o
education for the boys and girls Of ou1
State is not only shameful neglect o
duty but makes US guilty of ,
crime.
| Our people must have better publ,
schools. The only way to have BETTE
public schools is by local taxation. L
must come. The fight has only jus
begun. The politician who woula
condemn the children of the State t,
continued ignorance for party advan
tage is an enemy of the State. He mus
be exposed and his power for harm
broken.