The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-03
Oh 4ezal1 and 1lFr5
sNDMPULSOKY nUCArlON.

South Carolina needs a compulsory
education law, and for many good and
sufficient reasons it should come just as
soon as possible.
No one who loves his State, and has
her welfare at heart, will dispute the
fact that every white child within the
bounds of the State should receive a
common school education. 1t was with
this end in view that our free common
school system was established. No n
can dispute the fact that there are
white children growing up in all parts
of the State who can neither read nor
write, who have never attended school
for a single day. Only the other day
q case was brought to light in n oil
our upper counties. In a preliminary
trial a white girl nine years of age was
put upon the witness stand. Upon ex-
animation she made the statement that
she could neither read nor write, nor
had she ever heard of the existence OF
q God. Three school houses and num-
Der of churches were within easy walk
ing distance from her home.
The greatest objection that has
hitherto been urged against the passage
Of a compulsory education law in this
State is that the negroes will be forced
to school, and from school they will GO
to the ballot box, and when they go to
the ballot box negro supremacy will be
the inevitable result. The fallacy OF
this argument is patent to every
thoughtful man who is in touch with
the true conditions. 1t is a fact that
can be proved by statistics that the ne
groes are at present being educated
faster than the whites, that during the
decade from 1890 to 1900 the decrease
in the percentage of their illiteracy II
this State was nearly three times as
great as the decrease in the ~illiteracy
of the whites. The negroes are taking
advantage of every opportunity to gel
an education. They prefer it to fooe
and raiment, and they are making re
markable strides.
IF these facts are true, and they are
true, what would be the result of com
pulsory education? The negroes a
present are taking all the education
they can get. They would receive NJ
more. The white people who see the
intellectually great advantages of al
education, and who are already sending
their children to school would not b.
affected in the least. Only, those per
sons would be reached, who by depriv'
ing their children of an education, art
daily committing a crime against theil
State and against society.
Let it be supposed, however, that the
negroes would receive additional ad
vantages. Shall we let the white chill
dren remain in ignorance for fear the
negroes will receive an education? The
fact can not be too strongly impressed
upon our people that it were better thai
a thousand negroes should be educated
with negro supremacy staring us in the
face, than that one white child should
remain in ignorance.
We plead for the education Of the
masses, let the consequences be whar
they may. No one doubts that it il
right. From the white mans stand
point, we believe that it is ~expedient.
In connection with the question o:
compulsory education comes that Q:
child labor. There is little doubt there
Is going to be child labor legislation il
this State, and that it is coming at thu
next session of the legislature. Thu
children will be kept out of the mills
When this is done, they must be re
quired to attend school. Compulsory
education will result.
The best solution of the whole matte!
is a wise and just compulsory education
law. Give us this, and we will need NJ
child labor legislation. The children o.
the mills, and all the children of the
State between certain ages, will be re
quired to attend school. Then, anc
then only, will South Carolina have
taken the position she should occupy
among the galaxy of States.