The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 1899.
editor Bailey in Biblical Recorder,
March 10, 1892


March 10, 1892
The men who came to the capital
and took their seats at the first of the
new year had come through one OF
the most remarkable revelations our
State has known, one that will prove
memorable beyond any in our history
as the beginning Of the end Or The end
itself of the era of political bate and
passion and violence and fear and hor'
rors in North Carolina, and the inau-
guration of the era of principles AMI
reason in their stead as 'the ground
of political differences. North Caro-
lnians have determined to break the
bonds that have enslaved them to fear,
and they will march ON until their cit
izenship has been so improved and purg-
ed that no man can be shamed out OF
his principles-the subversioD of the very
essence of self-gOyernment. This will
be good for all political parties, for all
principles, for all patriots, for North
Carolina.
Between those who really desired
protection against oyer-powerful CAPT
tai and those who have got themselves
into the habit of prosecuting the rail-
roads and the corporations the General
Assembly pursued a steady and COM
mendable course. The passage of the
bin to render foreign corporations sub
ject to the State courts, and that to
provide separate cars for the races clear
ly indicated the Assembly's independence.
The quick response TO appeal for more
equitable adjustment of the merchants
purchase tax showed a fine disposition TO
treat capital justly. The failure of the
effort to inflict upon the railroads a gross
income tax at the same time providing
for such taxation if it shall come TO be
expedient, indicated the desire of an in
dependent Assembly not to go to eX-
tremes in obedience to any clamor. The
passage of an antitrust law may indi-
cate either the opposition of the members
of the trusts or it may indicate the
Indifference of trusts to laws; for it is
not to be hoped that the law passed,
or any other State law. viii make an end
of trusts.
Every recent Legislature has adj
dressed itself to three laws that apply
to all the State-the school law. the
revenue law, the election law. 1t is tes-
timOny to the fair-mindedness of the
recent Assembly, as well as a rare
monument to the wisdom in this matter
of that which it succeeded, that the
school law of 1897 was not materially
changed-the most important changes
being the provision for optional local
taxation elections instead of a general
and compulsory election, and the pro-
vision for local school committeeman,
and for the division of funds with the
view to running white and colored
schools the same length of time instead
of race per capita. The revenue act is
considered just, apportioning the burden
of taxation equitably and much after
the manner heretofore obtaining 1t
does not reduce taxation, but it does not
increase it. The election law is one
sided-of course. the advantages being
in the hands Of the dominant party. We
earnestly hope they win not be abused.
And this brings us to the constitu-
tional amendment, which we fondly
hope viii so reconstruct the suffrage
that election laws will never be made
one-sidcd again. Since we have print
cd fills amendment in full we will not
discuss it at length. We believe it will
bring us into a freedom in which much
can be done for the common good that
has long been out of reach. The amend.
ment was offered to the people at their
bidding-not ON the campaign, but after
it had stirred their souls with bitter
ness that set them determined to avoid
another like it. About it a great cam.
paign and passionate one win be
waged. 1t must be seriously prepared
for.
In the matter of appropriating public
money there was linked scrupulous
regard for economy and a glorious liber-
ality. Every eleemosynary institution
was provided for, but mercy did not carry
away the senses of the Assembly. The
educational institutions received no i'm
crease for maintenance, but their neces-
sites were not disregarded. The peni-
Tertiary was found greatly in debt, and
for it 100000 in bonds and $4,000 an
nually had to be given. Above ALL epoch
making, hope-uplifting is the act giving
the free schools 100000 sending that
much of the peoples money back to
their children putting the State on record
MS making direct appropriations to popu-
lar education, thrilling the hearts OF
those who have labored in darkness for
these schools, eloquently declaring that
interest is awakening. We foresee the
day when men win look back to this
act as marking the greatest and nobIest
change in the States educational policy.
If any lack hope for the public schools
and her 100000 children it is no fault of
the General Assembly.