The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-24
PARTITION OF SCHOOL FUNDS.

In this county, and perhaps every other
county in this state, the question Of the
/ adyisa bilitv of partitioning the
often discussed. There are many
who believe that the white peo-
pie ought not TO be required to bear the
burden Of supporting the schools for the
colored people, but that the taxes for
school purposes, derived from the colored
! people should be used for the support of
che colored schools. and the taxes derived
from the white people should go to the
support of white schools.
This is not the sentiment of a majority
OF the white people however. If the ques-
ton of partitioning the school fund on
racial lines were submitted to a vote
OF the white people the decision would be
in favor OF using the school money for
the support of all the schools without re-
gard to race, just as it is used at present,
This matter is receiving a great deal of
attention IN Virginia just now. That
state is soon to have a constitutional con-
vention, and there is a strong sentiment
in favor OF letting the colored people take
care of themselves in educational mat
tiers. Senator Daniel of that state was
appealed to few days ago for an opinion
on the subject. In reply he took strong
ground against the proposition to give to
the coiored schools only as much of the
school fund as the colored people pay into
that fund. He said:
Apart from all questions of constitu-
tional and legal import it seems TO me
that the proposition is lacking in just
regard for the natural relations of the
state to its citizens. 1t would contain a
restriction upon legislative power unpre-
cedented in the United States. II would
create a running sore ia the common
wealth that would be fruitful of constant
and irrepressibie agitations. 1t would
put US out of sympathy with the great
body of our fellow citizens elsewhere, as
well as a large mass of them Doth white
and baek) in our own commonwealth.
1t would destroy the hope of stable,
judicious and satisfactory constitution
which is now kindled in the breasts Of
our people.
Primary education ought to be free to
all. With the three RS open to everybody
they have the keys that unlock the book
of knowledge and il is their own fault
or peculiar misfortune if they do not then
work out their own salvation. You viii
observe that / speak of primary educa-
ton. / do so because l think much or
education has been wasted, and there is
ample room for Improvement and reform
without disturbing the foundations of ed
ucation and denying to any one primary
opportunities.
THE spirit Of the epoch into which We
are happily moving Is a liberal one; and
as the shadows which old issues have left
upon us the more and more recede 1t will
become more and more liberal. Our own
people are liberal by nature and history
and there was never a time when they
could better aboard 90 be liberal by in
terest.
Every Southern state and every border
state has had a constitutional convention
and some of them two constitutional con-
| ventions since Virginia S. last one, in 1867.
| All of these states have had racial ques-
: tions to deal with, and some of them were
| stirred to the highest pitch of Indignation
| by the atrocities of carpet-bag govern
/ ment Yet in no one Of them has any
such radical move as the partition of
| school funds by severe racial lines ever
/ found favor. This is a most significant
| fact It shows the concurrent opinion of
all commemorative similarly situated to
| ours that no such step is advisable. We
| would isolate ourselves by taking II and
| chill the temper of reform
This is no doubt the majority sentiment
throughout the South. As great as the
burden upon the white people is of support
ing the colored schools, they will continue
to bear it, not only for the reasons
stated by Senator Daniel, but also because
Of the feeling thar, after AN, the colored
people help TO make the wealth from
| which the school fund comes. AS to
whether the kind of education that colored
| children get contributes anything to their
happiness and the material prosperity OF
their race is a question concerning which
there is great difference of opinion. 1t is
certain that the present generation of col
ored men and women do not compare IA
vorably with those trained in slavery In
the qualities which make good citizens
| Whether or not there will be an improve
mept is a question which no one can an
swer.