The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-23
THE PARAMOUNT QUESTION.

u
We have heard much in recent years
of 1.-The paramount ISSUE" Mr.. Cleve-
land told us in 1892 it was in tariff
for revenue only; Mr.. Bryan proclaimed
it in 1896 to be the free and unlimited
coinage of silver; in 1900 Mr.. Cleveland,
Mr.. Hill, Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Olney de-
clared it to be the baleful policy of inn
perialism.
Without discussing which was right,
it is certain that so far as the South is
concerned the paramount question be-
fore it is the education of it's children
The passage of the constitutional
amendment will prove powerful stimn-
lus to education in North Carolina. There
is need of every stimulus and incentive,
not only to secure better educational
advantages, but also to interest all the
people in taking advantage of the OPP
portunities provided.
On Sunday we published summary
of the work of the Educational Confer
.enee at Winston Salem. The resolutions
adopted voice the sentiment of the rep
resentative gathering and are as fol-
lows:
THE Conference for Education in the
South, ON occasion of it's fourth annual
meeting, held at Winston Salem April
18th, 18th and 20th 1901, reaffirms its
conviction that the overshadoWing and
supreme public need of our time, as We
pass the threshold of a new century, is
the education of the children of all the
people We declare such education to
be the foremost task of our statesman
ship. and, the most worthy object OF
philanthropy. With the expansion OF
our population and the growth of IN
dustry and economic resources, we
recognize in a fitting and universal ed
ucation and training for the home, for
the farm and the workshop, and for the
exercise of the duties of citizenship, the
only salvation for our American stand
ards of family and social life and the
only hope for the perpetuity Of our in
situations, founded by our forefathers
on the four corner stones of intelligence,
virtue, economic efficiency and capacity
for practical self-control.
I'VE recognize the value of efforts
hitherto made to solve our educational
problems, both as respects the methods
to be used. and also as regards sheer
quantity of the work to be done. But
we also find in the facts as presented
at the sessions of this conference the
imperative need of renewed efforts on a
II al, IN i'm
proved financial outlook of the country
and in the advancing state of public
opinion better hopes than ever before
of a large response to this great need.
AS the first great need of our people
is adequate elementary instruction, and
as this instruction must come to chill
dren so largely through mothers and
women teachers in their homes and pri-
mary schools, we resire to emphasize
our belief in the wisdom of making the
most liberal investments possible in this
education of girls and women.
Whereas therefore, the conditions
existing in the Southern States seem
now fully ripe for the large develop
ment, as we'll as further Improvement
of the schools; and,
Whereas, this conference desires to
associate itself actively with the work
of organizing better schoo! systems AMI
extending their advantages to all the
people,
Resolved That this conference pro-
coed to organize by the appointment of
an executive board Of seven, who shall
be fully authorized and empowered to
conduct:
Il. A campaign of education for free
schools for all the people, by supplying
literature to the newspapers and Pc
riodieal press, by participation in edu~
cational meetings and by general cor
respondence, and
%. To conduct a bureau of informa-
ton and advice on legislation and
school organization.
For these purposes this board is au-
thorized to raise funds and disburse
them, to employ a secretary or agent,
and to do whatever may be necessary
to carry out effectively these measures
and others that may from time to time
be found feasible and desirable