Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1901-01-17

In addition to the State appropriations.
the eountiss and separate school districts
collect annually in taxes an aggregate sum
of about s50oaso, which is used in sup
port Of the public schools
Il Is thus seen that there Is expend-
ed from the public funds more than two
millions of dollars annually in the sup
port OF these various humane, charitable
and educational institutions. But no.
where in these extensive schemes of pub
lie charity and humanity Is there any
provision for the poor orphan children Of
the State
As long as a child has 4 father, or
mother. or guardian. to maintain il, the
State viii give il a common school edu-
cation. covering a period from the age Of
5 to q years The youth of the State
who can maintain themselves. are given
q free eours< at an agricultural and me-
ehanieal college, and finished of by q
course at the State University.
But the moment that a child Is left n
p<nnIle<s orphan there are no more FREE
school facilities. and the only refuge of
the little one Is one of the private orphan
asylums IN the State, supported by pFi-
vate charitable donations. a source of in
come that l. uncertain and prsearious.
When death and poverty come to the
children Of the State they simply drop
out the whole scheme of public education.
30 far a. the State Is concerned they are
eft TO the cold charities Of the world. 70
grow up in ignorance and vice
This brings Us face to face with the
question why the poor orphan children OF
the State, doubly bereft and doublv un-
fortunate in being orphans and in power
", have lost their right to Be educated
BY the State. and brought up A. good men
and women and as intelligent and
worthy citizens II would be difirult in
deed 10 fni an answer TO this question
II it : the duty Of the State to educate
the children OF opulsnt and weII-to-do
parents. the Obligation / far stronger to
educate the penniless orphan children of
the Comnoaxealth II there fs a moral
obligation on the part of the government
to support the adult poor. the duty Is
doubly strong to feed and eiothe the des-
titute orphans
The subject has never been publicly dis
euSsed or considered in the State. Ii has
never received the attention OF the Leg
stature. while every other interest in the
State that appeals to the sentiments of
charity and humanity has been most gen
erously and carefully provided for
Mississippi has the distinction of having
led the way for all the other Southern
States IN the humane work of sbolishing
the system of convict leasing for State
conviets- and in the adoption of plan
for the final and permanent solution of
the State convict question. by establish
ing the ecnviets upon a splendid tract of
fertile land under immediate State con-
troll
The people of Mississippi. under the
auspices OF the leadership OF the late Sen
ator j. T. George. had the courage and
wisdom to place limitations upon the
elective franchise, and thus. by eliminat-
ing ignorance and Incompetence from the
electoral body, secured to the State the
repose and tranquility and all the b'ess-
ings that come from good government
and high standard of official and public
life
II i thus seen how wisely and pEosi-