The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-11-12
FREE SCHOOLS AND ANARCHY.

correspondence Of The Progressive Farmer.
Several weeks ago I noted in one
Of "Harry Farmers" excellent ar
ticles a suggestion concerning free
schools in North Carolina that
pleased me, because it vas a good
idea, and also because it advocated
some departure from the present in
efficient system.
1 use the term inefficient advisedly
because there are over twenty per
cent. of the white people of the State
who are grossly ignorant in the
branches of common school educa-
ton, and it Is high time that the peo-
pie depart from the old way.
It is a shame that the people of the
sovereign State of North Carolina,
the first of all the colonies to issue a
declaration of independence, should
now, after twelve decades of mate
rial prosperity, be so far behind
every one of the original thirteen
States and most of the later mes in
the matter of common school edu,
GATED people.
The condition will not admit of ar
gument in it's defence.
To think of it ia enough when in
our daily avoostions we must see
thousands of our people turning their
faces aside, blushing with shame
while they humbly say, 81 oan neither
read nor write, for we children had
no chance to go to school,"
So let me suggest a way out Of
this situation.
Let our next Legislature enact that
the State issue enough two per cent,
gold payment bonds payable after 25
years and within so years to provide
a fund sufficient TO build a new mod
ern school house for each race in
every school precinct in the State
where one is needed and provide
school therein nine months every
year continuously.
Also provide that all persons under
81 years who are physically able
shall attend such school at least six
months each year until from exam
ination they shall show to have mas
tered all of the common graded
school branches.
Also provide free books for all by
a carefully pro 'eoted plan
The money now spent by the PEG
pie for books and free schools would
amply pay for the books and provide
a sinking fund to pay the interest on
the bonds and much of the principal,
and the next generation would pay
the debt and not feel it half so much
as we do the "school tax of to dav
Such a system in operation for 25
years would leave little room for
anarchy. 1t i in ignorance that the
hideOus monster known as anarchy
is deeply rooted and fOstered. An
archy claims to be educated, but it
is a mistake to name that educ alton,
which is without God or liberty,
pc yer, wisdom, justice, truth and
love-exoeDt for self.
Last week the poor misguided
creature, scarcely worthy the name
of human, suffered the death penalty
f + taking the life of a great, good
and kind President of the most
charitable and progressive people on
earth. The assassin ignorance was
sohOoled, trained and hardened up
to the awful crime by the destruc-
tive schemes that revel in the
chaotic visions of Ignorant minds.
For this one act a whole nation
must suffer and weep. 1t had been
better had the nation schooled all it's
children and morally trained all of
its ignorant people for an age, than
now TO suffer tie results of this one
vicious ao5.
But "'tis done" The warming of
the future confronts us.
If this coming Congress with it's
Executive does not enact an amend
ment to the Constitution and submit
it to the people for adoption, that
will make the talking, teaching,
printing, publishing or in any way
advocating or acting the principles
or doctrines of anarchy any where.
within the domain of the United
States, by male or female, a crime
and high treason against the govern
ment, and punishable by labor in a
p~enitentiary for life, they will not