The Forrest City times., 1900-01-19

Il
said, with which we have to deal IL
Arkansas is ever to attain the rank
she is entitled to hold in educational
work we must increase our revenues.
There is no way under heaven by
which we can get the increased reve-
nues except by taxation. Instead of
waiting like Micawber for "some,
thing to turn up;" instead OF talking
forever of our poverty, hard times
and high taxes, let us resolutely face
the condition that is upon us and
impose the taxation necessary to inn
prove our schools. Do we need an in-
crease in the state tax for schools,
an increase of at least two millsf
Let us say so and make it clear to
the people, as we can, that the de-
mand is reasonable and just. Ought
we not to have the privilege of in
creasing the local tax two and half
mills? Every consideration of today
and every hope of the future demands
it. Give the people the means to ed,
ucate their children, or the privilege
of taxing themselves to secure the
means, and they will not be slow to-
avail themselves of it. They will use
the taxing power for schools in di-,
rect proportion to the benefits which
come from it. They will vote seven
and half mills or eight mills local
tax, 4 mills instead of two mills gen.
eral tax if they can be convinced that
the increase means a school term of
seven or eight months in the year in
stead of four-months' term. The
people will not be slow to grasp the
fact that both directly and indirectly
they are to be benefited by increas-
ing the efficiency of their schools.
They know that in addition to the
advantages that will come directly to
them, there is no factor more potent
in the general building up of the
country, in securing the right kind
of immigration and thus adding to
the wealth and power of the state, as
a good free school system. The days
of the pioneers in Arkansas are gone
forever. The people who come to
our state in these days must be at
tracted by the advantages which al
most all other states afford, chief
among which is an efficient system
of free schools. If they cannot find
them in Arkansas they will go else
where. l want you to go into this
contest for better schools in Arkan-
sas as the invincible Greeks went in
to battle, in solid phalanx, with lock-
ed shields and measured tread. There
are 6,996 teachers-public school
teachers-in Arkansas, probably $500
teachers all told. United, steadfast
and enthusiastic in any just demand
upon the public. they form an ire
sistible and invincible army that will
sweep away every obstacle it may en-
counter. United and determined,
this army of teachers can so lead and
dominate public opinion that the re-
forms of which / have spoken, the
means for better and more general
common school education in Arkan-
sas, will be an easy accomplishment.
Let organization and concerted ac-
tion to this end be your watchword.
Let us go before the people with an
appeal for the education of their
children. Let us sound it forever
and ever in their ears in the lam
guage of the constitution that Sin
telligence and virtue. are the safe
guards of liberty and the bulwarks
of free and good government"
that these bulwarks and safeguards
can come only through the common
schools. Let us show them that the
hope of the country is in it's citizen
ship; that this intelligent and vir-
tuous citizenship is a priceless pos
session, without which all other pos
sessions and acquisitions are as the
small dust of the balance. Let us
show them that taxation for schools
is the best investment they can make
for themselves as individuals and for
the upbuilding Of the country. Let
us call on the legislative branch of
the government for such changes in
the constitution as will, in the first
place, assert the principle of local
self-government. and in the second
will secure the necessary revenues
for an efficient system of free COM
mon schools. Never fear that this
demand will not be granted if it is
pressed with vigor, earnestness an1
persistence.