The leader., 1900-01-24

tion. as under our present system, call
iustly upon the law-makers Of the
State TO give the people primary elec-
tions to be held in all the counties on
the same day in the State or the dis
trict where elections are 10 be held. thus
affording to the voter an opportunity
70 cast his vote freely. without let or
hindrance, from the party leader, for
the man or men of his choice.
SCHOOLS.
There is no danger so great 10 the
affairs of any republic as an ignorant,
factious citizenship. whose tendencies
have always been to overturn social
order. political system. liberty, justice
and right. Mississippi's greatest re-
lief from this source Of evil has been
for many years found in the efficiency
of her free schools and her colleges.
The liberality therefore, of the legisla-
lures in the past in providing funds
for their proper maintenance has been
both wise and patriotic. and | heartily
commend the continuation of the
same liberal spirit toward all the
States educational interests aud in
stitutions. The free school fund is now
distributed among the counties per
capita of the educable children in
each. The relative attendance upon
the free schools in the white is much
greater than in the black counties. and,
hence, by reason of the fewer schools
required for the accommodation of the
attending pupils in the black counties,
affords these counties the use of the
funds set apart to the non attending
children therein : hence. those coun-
ties are enabled from said funds to
extend longer the terms of their
schools taught and to pay teachers
better salaries than can the white
counties. where the larger proportion
of the children attend the schools.
Since the manifest purpose of the law
is to favor equal educational facilities
to all of the children of the State
alike. | would commend to the legisla-
ture the submission of an amendment
to section 206 of the constitution. so
as to require the State free school
fund to be distributed among the
counties according to the actual atten.
dance upon the schools, rather than
per capita There has been some
urgent insistence for the submission
by this legislature of an amendment
to the constitution, to provide for
the distribution of the free school
funds between the white and negro
schools of the State. so as to give
the benefits thereof to each race in
proportion to the school taxes which
it pays. Though it may seem little
outside of the Governors expected
prerogative to oppose the matter in
advance of legislative action on the
subject, shall nevertheless, at the
risk of being considered meddlesome,
venture to express the hope that no
such amendment will find approval at
the hands of the legislature. With
out stopping here to discuss the con-
stitutional conflicts which would be
brought about between the State and
Federal constitution, or if it be admit
ted that there would be no constitu-
tional vice in such amendment because
of it's class or race distinction, its ef
feet, which would be to take school
IonaGfz 10 tha chill
dren, would be contrary to that broad
and deep philanthropic spirit that has
always moved the great common heart
of Christian man and womanhood in
Mississippi to a love of justice and
fair play toward the weak and needy,
whoever or wherever they are. 1t must
be borne in mind that the negro is our
neighbor and is here to stay; that he
is the dependence largely of the white
people for labor; that it is also in
great measure due to that labor that
in the past the South's cotton, sugar
and rice industries have brought the
sections greatest wealth and given it
a commercial Importance in every land
and country where the nations flag
protects the American shipping. Be-
sides, he is of our citizenship, and, be-
ing of weaker race, becomes a ward
of the white people of the State, and
they should not violate the trust by
taking from him the benign influences
of education, which. help to make him
a better man, better citizen and
better Christian.
CONCLUSION.
And now, with gratitude to the peo-
pie of the State for their kindness to
me, and with cordial good will for all,
| am ready to take the oath of office.