The commonwealth., 1901-01-24

liberal policy towards thea education
the masses; notably the democratic
platform says, eve heartily commend
tho action of the general assembly o
1899 for approprlatlng one hundred
thousand dollars for the benefit. of tn
| public schools of the State, and pledge
ourselves to increase the school funt
SO as to make at least four month
term eachyear.in every school district il
the State, and in the campaign which
was conducted throughout the Stats
with so mnch energy and earnestnes
that platform pledge was made the
basis of the promises which we al
made to the people. Poor aud un
Iettered men anxious about th,
privileges Of their children and hesi
tating to vote for the amendment were
finally persuaded to accept our prom
iss and place their children in posi-
lion in which they can never vote un.
less the pledges which We made are re-
deemed to the fullest extent. For my
part declare to you that it shall be m,
constant aim and effort during the
tour years thatI shall endeavor to
serve the reople ct this State to re-
deem this most solemn OF al! ou,
pledges. II the taxes are required to
carry out this promise to the people,
more taxes must be levied. If prop
erty has escaped tax alton Heretofore
which ought to have bsen taxed,
means must be devised by which that
property can be reached and put upon
the tax list. I rejoice in prosperity
and take delight in the material prog
ress OF the State. I would cripple no in
dustries but would by just and equal
laws req quira from every owner OF prop
erty his just contribution, to the end
that all the children may secure the
right to select their servants. There
are many important matters which
Will claim your attention. The prob
iems batore us are Of the grayest ma
ture, bat among them all there is
none that approach in importance the
necessity for making ample provision
for the education Of the whole people.
UNIVERSAL EDUCATION.
Appropriations alone cannot remove
ii!i,eracy from our State. With the
appropriations must come also All In
creased interest in this cause which
shall not cease until every child can
read and write. The preachers, the
newspapers and the mothers Of North
Carolina must be unceaslng in their
efforts to arouse the Indifferent and
compel by the foroe of public opinion
the attendance Of every child upon the
schools. It is easier to accom- pllsh
this since the amendment to ouc con.
stltutlon raises its solemn voice and de-
clares that the child who arrives at age
after 1908 cannot share in the glorious
privilege OF governing his State nor
participating IL the policies OF the ma
ton unless he can read and write. This
is, therefore, the opportune moment
for revival OF educationa! interest
throughout the length and breaith OF
the State. We shall not accomplish
this work in day nor can it be done
by many speeches. 1t IS work of
years, to be done day by day with full
realization OF its Importance and with
that anxious interest on our part which
will stimulate the careless and will
make all our people eager to attain the
have always favored the education of
the masses, but heretofore interes. in
the matter has not approached univer-
salty henceforsh in every home there
will bs the kno wledgo that no child
can attain the true dignity of citizen
ship without learning at least to read
and write. This simple tact alone
justiies the adoption OF the amend
ment tor it was its passage that first
brought home to all our people the ne
cessity for universal education. We
enter an era of industrial development.
Growth in that direction is dependent
upon lntellIgence--not the intelligence
OF the few, but OF ali. Massachusetts
realized this TACT from the day when
thu Pilgrim Fathers ialdsd on Ply
mouth Rock and by that clear percsp-
ton she has won wealth ou5 0t bleak
coasts and sterile lands Our fore
fathers acknowledged the same fact
in their first CONSTITUTE - AID ii.2::.
that time to the present o:r c2nsi;;u-
tions and legislative acts haze III lock
ed towards this end; but tie who:F'
peop'o have never before bee.i awaken
ed to Its advcctcy. From this time
forth opposition to education will
mark a man as opposed to the theory
of our government witch is founded
upon the con sent OF the COVER led, and
our constitution proyides that this con-