Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1902-05-15

0ON P01AAS PSIOO1o ah-i
der any conditions. I think perhaps my
happiest experience in life was on the
day that l threw off the ShackleS of
cowardice and boldly proclaimed that it
was the highest duty and the most pre-
oiious privilege of the citizen to foster
public schools and to contribute his pro-
in taxation for that purpose.
When a serious problem confronts the
individual and perplexities surround him
and a condition presses for solution, he
feels that he has half succeeded when he
to know the truth and confess
1t. | have no desire to pose as a critic
and yet / would not shun conditions
though unpleasant. It would be super
f1uous to speak in this presence Of the
necessity of an educated citizenship. 1
mean the education not of a part but of
the whole, not of the children of one
class but every class, Of universal edu-
cation. The student of economic and
social conditions in the Southern States
is bound to conclude that it is the SUI
premest question of the hour. In it is
involved the material progress and the
industrial independence of our people.
Out of it will come the solution of the
race problem. Through it we shall be-
come more tolerant. By its light, situa-
lions which are now dark and difficult
of solution will be illumined and made
D1ciIh. 10y AZ Liz SAlSIGhCS VI liz ueIud-
gogue and the self-seeker who thrives
upon untruth and ignorance will be more
difficult.
1t has been said that IAN ignorant
people can be governed, but only an
educated people can govern themselves
In truth I am bound to say that the
people of the South have not discharged
their full duty in the education of it's
children in the past. What are the
causes that have contributed to this
failure? Many have sale with reference
to the period since the Civil War that
the arbitrary conversion of the slaves
into full fedged citizens and the poverty
of our people consequent upon that
struggle have operated to prevent the
discharge of this duty. I would not min
imize the force of these statements. Yet,
1 must remind you that prior to 1861,
when these conditions did not exist,
the people of the South at that time were
recreant in the discharge of this i'm
portant duty.
! Speaking with due regard to limita-
lions, individuals usually accomplish
those purposes which are formulated by
a sense of conviction and of duty and
which are promoted by ~unfagging resolu-
ton and persistence. So it is with com
munities and with States. With a desire
10 be conservative, with no other pur-'
Jose than to speak the truth, I make the
statement that the people of the South
ern States have not made provision for
the free education of all of the children,
because they did not properly appreciate
their duty in this regard and, therefore,
made no persistent effort to discharge
their duty. I tender this proposition to
the educated, wise and broad citizenship
of the South and ask them to answer if
it is not true.
What is the remedy? It is not beauti-
full p~anegyrics upon education and its
manifold advantages. We have heard
these ~eulogiums until we were surfeitcd.
l know one of these fine men who was
frequently in demand to deliver literary
addresses at college commencement and
he would wax eloquent upon this subject
and when a few brave men and women
of his community were endeavoring to
induce the citizens to vote for a special
tax to support public schools, stood upon
the streets corners urging with the same
%eloquence that it was not his duty tc
educate the children of his neighborS
The remedy lies in the creation of {
healthful public sentiment. We must
tell the people that it is unsafe to live
in a community where the children arc
suffered to grow up in ignorance. w
must tell them that while it is theil
duty to pay taxes for the protection o.
life and of property and of the mainte-
nance of police powers of government
tina it is a still higher duty to ta2
themselves for the education of all the
children. We must declare that it is no
a charity which they are beStOWing bu1
that it is the right of every child to de-
mand and to receive the benefits of a
least an elementary education, and thar
mental and moral nurture and menta
training are more important than al
other demands of youth. We must poin
out to them that the most profitable in
vestment of the body polite measured il
dollars and cents, is the tax funds which
is invested in the brains and the capa-
bilities of the children. We must poin
out to them that recognition of duty an
conception of truth are not alone essen
tial, but that works must Justify thu
faith that is in them, that taxes must b.
levied and collected and that wise AM
intelligent supervision of these publ
agencies of education must be observed
/ congratulate these men of the Nortl
who nave voluntarily formed this asso
citation and who come down annual.
among us to discuss this pressing ques
ton. With a cordial heart we welcom
the contributions which they are makini
to this cause. We need their help, w
Eeed the inspiration OF their presence
we, give them The glad hand of a peop1
who are citizens of the same countr
and love the same flag, but in my judg
[ ment not one penny should be con
tributed. to the maintenance of the pub
lie schools in any community until tn
> people there have exhibited q disposition
!, TO recognize their duty and have levie
taxes for the support OF schools in pro
portion to their means.
Mr.. President, much work is to b
dcne if the people of the South are to b
: brought to Il realizing sense of thei
: obligations and all the children arc t
be educated. Time servers and mora
L towards will not meet the exigencl
Brave and Independent men who kno'