The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-12-26
THE POOR WHITE BOY.
Atlanta Con .titutiOn


ern Cotton Spinners' Association, he
makes an urgent appeal for the poor
white boy, the greatest Of all our IA"
products.
In comparative review Mr. Ed
monds disclOses the wonderful re-
sources Of the SOuth-her cotton max
ing white the fields; her mines OF iron,
coal and lime: her wealth in forest
growth and ilimitable water power,
anv one enough to form the backbone
Of great nation. but after all has
been said, the greatest resource OF all
the white bov-has been neglected.
The agricultural field trebles and
quadruples in price under touch OF an
intelligent owner; the skilled metal
lurgist makes iron more valuable
than gold; the man that makes things
is somewhat endowed with the at
tribute Of his Creator. The neglect
OF the poor white boy, developed as
an adjunct to slavery, which develop
ed an alien race at the expense Of its
own. But in all generations there
have been men who recognized the
infinite wealth concealed within these
white boys, and they have argued
strongly for some recognition Of the
| fact. Whatever Of excuse there may
| have been in the past for neglect 81
| the white boy has now passed away,
| and the time has come when we must
| do something for him.
The South has made Il loud cutlery
| against sectiOnalism. 1t has been
! held up that laws Of encouragement
! have been passed for the benefit OF
! people of other sections: that no mat
| ter how meritorlous may have been
| the claims Of an article seeking pro-
lection, its advocacy became At once
sectional, because only the people Of
"a certain section could apply for it.
! Who blamco New England fnT having
| qualified aS the artisan Of the CniOn'
! There was money in such pursuit. and
they were wise enough to see it. We
OF the South simply closed our e Is,
and were content To RELY upon Con-
nccticut for what we needed
! Modern invention has accentuate ed
the difference. The great enterprises
in cotton. electricity and kindred
developments calls for skilled labor.
Even az we write 200 skilled opera
tives are being removed from New
lIampsh hire to a Southern State. We
are glad to welcome lheir coming,
but regret to see the Georgia boy
with noble soul and high ideals, but
ignorant Of the use of his hands
forced 70 idlencss or mental employ
mGnt The cotton mills of Georgia
have been doubled since 1896, which
should mean that one or two hundred
of our boys had graduated into places
OF skill and trust. But what is the
fact? The Georgia boy i the water
carrier, while the young men al the
heads of departments are from New
England.
This is our lesson. Georgians out
of employment and being left in the
races, while places Of trust and re-
sponsibility have been taken by
others. Who is at fault in this mat
ter? There has been scandalOuS
criminal fault. and it will not cure it
to shut our eyes to its existence. Mr..
Edmonds gets on the trail OF it when
he refers to the indifference Of South
ern Legislatures, and again when he
shows that the Legislatures are indif-
ferent because the people themselves
do not hold them to accountability
The fight for An educational bill
through Georgia Legislature has at
all times been a fight for life. There
have been legislators who have re
garded money devoted to education
as thrown away. They have refused
to listen to the voice of progress OF
the cries Of ignorant humanity. Edu
cation has become the first duty o
the State. 1t cannot be shirked with
out destroying the foundation of The
State.
That private energy should be Sc
to work is also true. \ stranger t
Georgia MIR. Aaron Freneh-has dom
much toward placing the teNtil
t school upon its feet. An additions
/ incentive to this work is the fact tina
= Northern interest has placed the chill
!; drcn of our late slaves where they Cal
get educated in any line OF stud,
sought. The hills around Atlant
alone are covered with more high
.. grade opportunities for negroes thai
the State has provided for all of he
children. The cry of retrenchmen
must strike elsewhere, but it wOul,
be suicidal to apply it to our educa
tional system.
Altogether the presentation mad
; by Mr.. EdmOnds is most remarkable
: and should arouse attention to tn
building of some of our creates
. assets. Make the day impossibl
that cotton mill will have to sto'
until an expert employee is shippe'
from the East. The present cotto
convention represents bushes
= capable of being extended to =, 800,
. 600, 900 The bulk OF this money
to be expended in export labor. ShaI
: We qualify our own sons for sucn OF
port unities. or leave them to others
| A NOBLE ADVOCATE AND A GLEN
|