Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-03-30
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
3 TENNESSEE HISTORY 8
9 Valuable Contribution by Hon. &
x J. M. Dickinson 9

A Valuable Contribution by Hon
j. M. Dickinson.


insufficient conditions a pretext for IL
They will be foes to society and enemies
of Christian civilization.
Education.
The school, no less than the church,
marked from the beginning the prog
ress of civilization westward from the
mountains.
The church and the school went pdrl
pdSsu. The ministers of the one were
the votares of the other.
AS said by Caldwell, the scholarly
commentator upon our constitution:
"We trace the line of their southwark
and westward progress by Gordon of
Doak, Carrick, Balch and Craighead
survive to us mainly because they were
pioneers of education"
To Samuel DoalS, native Of Virginia,
student of Princeton, tutor at Hampden
Sydney, soldier of the Revolution,
Presbyterian minister, builder of the
first church in Tennessee, is due the
distinction of establishing in Washing
ton county, in 1888, the first literary in
stitution in the Mississippi Valley.
The Houston constitution, proposed
in 1884 for the State of Franklin, while
not adopted on account of some iIn-
practicable features, is, nevertheless, a
reflex of the sentiment of the times. II
put high premium on education by
providing that no one should be eligible
to Office mot a scholar to do the bust
ness, nor unless acquainted with the
laws of the country in some measure,
but particularly with every article OF
the constitution" 1t provided for the
encouragement of all kinds of useful
learning, the creation of university
near the center OF the State, and looked
to the Establishment of grammar schools
in every county under masters of ap'
proved morals and abilities
The only thing that discredits the
sagacity of the time was provision
that excluded all lawyers from the
legislature. The offense in the dis
elimination is somewhat a,oned for by
the fact that in this respect thsy were
put in the respectable company OF min
listers of the gospel and doctors OF
physic.
The State of Franklin signalized its
earliest legislation by an act for the
promotion of learning in Washington
county" which re-chartered Martin
Academy, and was the first Legislative
act west of the Alleghanies for the en-
couragement of learning.
In 1885 was established Davidson
Academy, which in 1903 became David
son College, with Thomas b, CraigheaC
as its president and Andrew jackson
and James Robertson on its board o
trustees.
In 1894 Blount College was estab
lished under the presidency of Samue
Carrick.
The early legislation and messages o
the governors all bear testimony to tn,
profound interest manifested in tn,
cause of education.
That our achievements in genera
education are not today commensurate,
with those early efforts, we are bount
to admit.
This should be an occasion for homes
introspection and pledges for tn
future, as well as for clarifying tn
past
We cannot obliterate accusing fact
by empty boastfulness. We have NJ
monopoly of the knowledge of on
status on the subject of education and
if we would, we cannot shut out from
the world what the published censu
of the United States discloses.
The population of Tennessee, 10 year
of age and over, in 1890 was 1,276,63l
OF this number 24O, 40 were illterates
being 26.6 per cent. OF the colore
population, $40 per cent. were illit
crates.
The scholastic population for 1s9
was 72O, 693, and the average daily al
tendance at school was but 33S. $3.50, an
those enrolled were only 47s, 1875.
This is not pleasing subject to con
template. If it were irremediable,
would pass it by in silence and sorrow
We know, and the world must know, tina
it is largely the result of the civil wal
which raised to citizenship an unedu
Gated mass, and preripitated this burde
of ignorance upon people reduced !
penury, by the whitening simeon tina
had swept over them Let the historic
search out and explain the causes,
he will. We are confronted with cor
dition which no delving into the pas
can ameliorate.
An awakened interest and more pre-
gressive methods have marked recen
years. The per cent. of illiterate,
from 1880 to 1890, was reduced fror
1871 to 26.6 per cent. A greater in
provement will doubtless be shown b
the next census. Tennessee will arous
herself and dissipate the dark cloud {
ignorance which is so threatening
Upon this will largely depend our ran
in the march of civilization.
1t will be glory enough for this Ger
tennial year, and will consecrate it t
all posterity, If we shall sgnalize it
kindling anew the torch of educatio
at the affairs erected by those earl
pioneers, and by bringing to the wor
, the same zeal manifested by then
inaugurate system which will rapid
carry light, strength, life and hop'
and the knowledge OF the institution
which we would perpetuate, into ever
} humble home from the crest of til
; Great Smokes to the banks of the Ores
} River, the one fgurative of the strengt
and majesty of u people, with secur
and broad fou ndation looking up to tn