The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-04

know and do not care-an ugly fact, but
better not seek to hide it. 1t will not
be hidden. Face it. Acknowledge it.
Provide for it. Everybody else has had
it to do. New England, the more pro-
gressive of the middle and western
States, as we'll as all the countries Of
Europe, have beer compelled. after
vainly eXhausting all other means to re-
sort to 'compulsion." Those of us who
have come in direct contact with this
condition" know that we can not avoid
''compulsion'' and reach the goal. cat
traction" of any and all kinds is but
viii o. the Wisp," "a glittering gcner-
atty" "a delusion and a snare
The great mass of the ignorant-honor-
able exceptions-are not at all susceptible
to attractions. The inertia of this
mass is terrible and will yield only to
force. The experience of the ages among
all peoples-I challenge an exception
confirms the declaration. The man who
mist, be restrained by law from putting
his hand into his neighbours crib, the
men who must be compelled by law to
respect the Sabbath, the man who re-
CARDS his child as less worthy OF atten-
ton and care than the OK that grazes in
the unfenced field. the man who COM
pels his child, at a tender age, without
school advantages Though the State
has provided the same without money
and without price'O, to toll in field o.
factory for the support OF the father in
his laziness and his worthlessness often
drinking. gambling and abusing his
family-such men, tens of thousands
there are. must be forced by law. No
OTHER influence has ever reached them
No other will or can. All this talk
about "the Christ-like," ''the power Of
attraction is waste of words and a
loss of time that is scarcely less than
criminal, Who has not seen beautiful
school yards. painted building, pictured
walls, elegant furniture, tender, trained
and loving teachers, doors opened wide
to all. free as water and yet they would
not come! They never will come. In
very many communities, not 60 per cent.
of the children ever darken the door of a
school house. And of those who do at
tend, not so per cent do so regularly
What waste of money and of effort to
provide school houses and teachers and
thus allow the very children for whom
tho public schools have been provided
to be kept away by lazy, worthless,
heartless fathers for fear the great prin-
cipIes, personal liberty of a brute
may suffer. Such a persons personal
liberty suffers when we hang him for
murder. 1t suffers when We penitentiary
him for theft. 1t ought to suffer, when
he murders his childs opportunities and
when he steals away from him the in
estimable gift of free tuition which the
State has SO generously provided.
The doctrine that the demos shall rule
is beautiful one and older than Jeffer-
SON. This doctrine prevails when the
majority speaks on the tariff. 1t prevails
when the majority pronounces for the
gold standard. This doctrine ought TO
prevail when the majority declares that
the poor children shall have the benefit
CT the schools provided by the State at
SO great pains and expense. Such De-
mocracy is good enough for any good
man. He. for whom it is not good
enough is too refined and fastidious for
this practical age
The State of North Carolina has pro
perly and wisely written in her funda-