The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-05-01

the happiness of mankind, schools
and the means>Of education shall for
ever be encouraged" Where have
they done it? And Article TX, Sec
ton 3, Tvs each county in the
State shall be divided into a cOnven-
lent number of school districts in
which one or more schools shall be
maintained at least four months in
every year, and if the commissioners
of any county shall fail to comply
with the aforesaid requirements OF
this section, they shall be liable to
Indictment" Have you had four
months schooling in your district
any year in the last twenty-five, my
fellow cOuntrymen? If so, where?
when? and how often? Have you
ever heard of a board of county COM
missioners having been indicted for
neglect of this plain, constitutional
Injunction? Whoever knows an in
stance let him speak out.
Upon whom has and does the hard
ship of this fragrant and criminal re-
fusal and neglect to execute this, one
of the plainest and most important
mandates of our constitution fallen?
He is so plainly marked and dwarfed
by its whitening, blighting, stunning
influence that his detection is not
difficult. Then let us make a search
for him: Is he in the city? No, not
there. The conditions are such that
he could not remain there. COndi-
tons? What are the conditions
which make it impossible for him to
reside in the city? Why, we see in
each city and town in the State the
very best of public schools open nine
months in each year, and every child
in the city from the day he is six till
the day he is 21-fOr a period of ff-
teen years-has free access to these
schools absolutely free of cost. There
you will find the most approved and
up-tO-date appliances and teachers
thoroughly prepared, whose services
cannot be secured for less than from
$50 to $3.50, per month. Examine the
children and you will find that every
child with a sound mind in a sound
body which has reached the age of
Il years, be he rich or poor, white or
black, male or female, has a netter
book education than fOur-fftIs of
the white farmers and farm luJOrers
in the rural districts.
This is why 1 say you will Mt find
the effects of this blighting curse in
the cities and towns of the State.
You ask Does this apply to the ne
grOe~::" answer, Most ~assuredly it
does, in every particular, as it does
to the white race. Their schools are
as good their per capita cost is the
same. and their terms as long as the
white schools. Negroes knowing
this, have rushed into the cities and
towns. where they viii work for as
nearly no wages as it is possible, OF
llICN Will w OllICI IIllIISS, ilL>lI (1lCII
children may get the benefit Of their
schools. Then you think the negroes
of the cities and towns are prepared
also to stand the test of the educa-
tiOnal restrictions of the proposed
amendment? Most certainly so, sir.
Then if this be true that the amend
7,oD+ will not IiCfronc6iC +I0 o;+-
wife man nor the city negroes, where
will it find the $50, 900 white men and
the 10000 negroes to deprive of their
liberties? The only answer to this
question is, From the rural district.
do not desire to deceive any man.
l have used plain figures. You may
test them. l have no desire to
brighten by Overdrawing the picture,
or by e~Xaggeration. Your liberties
are in danger-that I DO KNOW. You
cannot be deprived of them now
without you will it and vote for it.
You see and you know the danger.
I'm vain is the net set in the sight
of any bird" If the bird sees the
net set for him he has too much sense
to go into it. Will you act with less
Judgment than birds? Methinks I
hear the answer, Never, never
more" Well, then, will you sound
the warning? Will you be ready?
Will you defend your liberty? Then,
my friend and brother, your duty is
plain. Vote your liberty and that of
your neighbor away and down lower
and lower and lower in the scale of
degradation and disgrace will your