The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1898-08-24
FREE EDUCATION.
Editor Hale Expresses Some Terse
Views on the Subject.

views OH bliC CHUJCCbs
Editor Hale, of the Conyers Banner
Weekly, has decided views on the sub
iect of free education, and thinks the
money appropriated for this object is
literally flung away, so to speak. He is
likewise opposed to additional appropri-
ations for the purpose of frightening the
public school term; and, however unpop-
ular his views may be, it must be admit
ted that his English is not lacking in
those qualities of picturesqueness and
vigor necessary to impress his meaning
on the casual reader. Hear him:
"An effort is on foot to have an appro-
priation made by the state sufic' g at to
run nine months free school.
We hope that instead of giving a nine
months school it will be reduced to
three mouths Any child that has sense
enough to learn anything at ALL can,
by going to school three months year
for twelve years-from to 18-secure as
much book learning as the over-taxed
people of this state are able to give.
Thousands of men are educating their
children free in six months schools who
are able to educate them without state
aid. We had three candidates for govern
or, all harping about cutting down
expenses, all knowing that the school
term is twice as long as it should be, and
yet neither had grit enough to advocate
cutting it down.
1.-THE state, ike the individual, should
be just before generous, and we would
prefer to see the whole system go than
that the people should be crushed by
taxation. 1t is getting to be alarming.
In the little town of Dorglasville they
require a State and county tax of LAO
on the hundred-70 cents general tax
and 10 cents school tax. And yet little
pot-bellied political / demagogues are
yelling from the stump for nine mouths
free schoOls-our governor is riding
over the country mortsaging the state to
New York bankers for m )ney to pay big
salaries to lot of puddingheads to
teach imposters and free niggers about
thirty hours, and calling it a weeks
work. We say imposters, because nine
teDths of the white ichildren of Georgia
have parents or guardians who are able
to pay for their schooling. Nine tenths
of the niggers would be better off with
out an education; besides, we can Eslap
more knowledge into the average coon in
five minutes with good board than you
can cram into his cocOanut in school
room in a century. Learn him to read
and he goes to preaching; learn him to
write,and he goes to forging-a curse to
the country in either capacity. There |
are many honest old farmers and |
mechanics who work night and day to
furnish store clothes to send big, |
double ointed galoots to free schools |
who haven't got enough energy to play |
push-pin nor brains enough TO make a
councilman"
We are convinced that the increased |
Appropriation of half a million dollars,
made by the last legislature for public !
school purposes, was in the nature of a
hardship on the tax payers of Georgia.
Ho Seyer much this addition to the
school fund may have been needed, the
depleted state of the treasury and the
exorbitant rate of taxation required to
raise it should have been strong argu-
ments against further appropriation at
this time.