The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-26
Jhr Messengw.
A CONTRAST BETWEEN TWO PAR
TIEs as TO EDUCATION.

TIES As TO EDUCATION
The republican party was disgrace
fully derelict in duty as to education
when in power. Remember that.
thanks to the late Rev. DIR. Calvin H
Wiley. North Carolina had a good sys-
tenn of education before the war. The
radicals got in power after the war n
they did their very utmost to promote
ignorance in North Carolina The dem
ocrats. in opposition. always did their
best to promote education. IL hat is
not true then We admit ignorance The
school fund before 1861, amounted 70
SO. 900. 900. we believe. There was really
no southern state hat had as efficient
a system. n there were not many
northern states that had as good a
system. When the war came it was
destruction and upheayal. The radi-
Gals got control n they greatly abused
their opportunities and privilege, and
grossly neglected the wards OF the ma
tion." the recently liberated and en-
franchised negroes. They used them,
deceived them, abused them. but failed
to benefit them. They simply expended
al of their care, providence and ener-
gies in voting them. That lone they
were supremely indifferent and salts
fed.
The records of North Carolina show
that this is strictly true. While IN
power they actually expended less than
$4,000 (thirty-nine thousand dollarsl for
teaching. Think of that and love them
if you can or admire their course. They
built no school houses. they erected no
asylums for the negro blind and insane,
they left no monument of wisdom or
~benefcence to attest that once they
had borne sway in this old and great
commonwealth.
In contrast how did the democrats
bear themselves when they came into
power? Let US appeal to the records.
First, the university of the state was
resuscitated. 1t was apparently dead,
but the democrats lifted it UP and
breathed into it a new life. Since then
it has steadily grown in favor and in
fuence and usefulness. 1t has today
more than 500 matriculates. 1t has a
strong. progressive faculty. In all the
state there has been development and
steady improvement in education since
the great Vance campaign in 1876, and
the glad triumph of the white folks.
The common schools revived and i'm
proved have been doing a good work,
if not the best and all its friends de-
sire. The democrats have done much
where the radicals did scarcely any
thing. They began in 1877, with an ap-
preparation of $3.50, 1882. In 1878. it
was 1924, 2S7.1 10. In 1880, it was $685.
SO2.65. In foul years they expended for
both races 81, 292, 1925 1t was the day
of small things, but remember the pow
erty of the state and the vast robberies
of the radicals.
The democrats have promoted normal
schools. asylums. hospitals. and made
more provision than ever before, during
the present legislature. The whites
and blacks share alike. The next two
wears will see still greater things done
for popular education. Colleges nave
increased in attendance, nigh scnoois
have increased in numbers, the state
lave
has several colleges and there has been
no creation of debts, issuing OF oonoS
or m~alfeasance in office. 1t is a blessed
thing for the state for both races tha'
progressive, broad-gauged wise demo-
Gratis have been in power latterly, Tor
great things are ahead for the state
and education will take on new lie
and power and influence for good such
as it was never heard before in this no
BILE. dear old state. And all this mas
peer done through the last quarter OF d
century without depressing the poor
or making heavy the burdens
of the people generally.
While the legislature very wisely re-
fused to lend itself to the clamor for
arbitrary, ~paternalistic. compulsory ed
education and would not pass such an
unwtise law. they made an excellent ed
ucational law hat is highly satisfac-
tory to teachers, n all intelligent
friends of education. who understand
it. They gave 100000 additional to all
funds for education raised in the usual
way. All of which is deserving of high
commentator.