The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-25

OF the East which present. thc '"h'S
riers to consolidation in many parts OF
the coast region that the mouh.a'''
ranges present in the West.
These four obstacles, but the greates'
OF these has been, is now and must pe'
at least in this generation, inc hesio
He has been the lion in the PAIN ,ne
ever present and often insurmountapie
obstacle to public education. Ihere ars
those who assert that many opponents VI
taxation for public education on otnel
grounds use the expenditure of money lot
negro education as pretext, and that IL
no share OF public money went 10 ecu.
eating the negro they would still oppose
taxes for public education. That may De
true with some. But the naked truth Is
that much OF the money from taxation
q had almost said the bulk OF IT.
that has gone to negro education mas
been given against the Judgment OF south
ern taxpayers. There. where we hre
seeking 10 get ut the real facts so th,t
tho best results may follow, there Is no
need to look at things except just as
they are--to paint the picture as 1t real"
ly is-warts, freckles and all.
OBSTACLE OF POVERTY
The second obstacle to educational pro.
gress In teh South has been poverty For
almost n century most Of the savings OF
the southern people, most OF the South's
surplus WedlIH, llHu lDGou itiNSStS' ~
slaves. In 1890 the reported value OF slaves
was 4,ooOOoO, 900. II, value OF slaves wns
four thousand million dollars. II, without
any devastation OF war, and loss OF earn
ing capacity by the men killed or wound
ed In battle or diseased by exposure IN
cident to camp life this Immense sum
OF money had been taken from the South,
4. twould have been wretchedly poor. Add
to tho loss of the accumulhtions and saw
\, n
property which the van1ushed must al-
ways bear in war, the even greater ca
lamity In tho death and mnrning OF Its
strongest ana best bread winners, and
some faint idea OF the poverty which
the South faced in 1865 may be grasped.
The utter, abject poverty, Involving the
denial OF the common necessities. can
never be known or appreciated. Better
still, in order to get ut the losses sustain
ed by the South, as result OF war, let us
suppose that tomorrow in New England
and the Middle States every dollar Invest
ed In factories and In banks and deposit
ed In savings banks and trust companies,
was completely swept away. And, In ad-
dition to losing all that represented the
savings Of past generations, the present
and future generations should be forced
to pay the interest upon bonds issued
when the banks and factories were pros
DerOuS-ll you COulu buppusc 'SuSi u Su-
lamity 10 those prosperous Common
wealths-you would then have some con-
ception Of the dire distress and almost
hopeless poverty that confronted the South
when Lees soldiers returned from Ap.
pon,attoX. Talk of the heroes OF war!
Those brave men who wore the gray, as
we'll as the brave men who wore the blue,
have added irnperishable glory to Amer
lean valor-they are among the immor-
TO- ,,>t,1o
bronze they live and will forever live,
cnshrlned in the affections Of their coun-
trymen. But-men ana brethren-the race
Of heroes in the South who bore the heat
and burden OF the day from the suren-
der until the black tide Of reconstruction
receded-those men sleep In unforgotten
graves and their deeds of daring have
too often been regarded as the rash nc
lions OF impulslve and reckless men.
Some OF them belonged to the Ku-Klux
Khan In its first days, when that. or
some like organization was rs necessary
for law and order as Cromwelrs dis
mssal Of the Rump Parliament was cs.
sential to England's peace and safety.
These men, many of them reared In az.
nuence, living then In self-denying pow
erty opened the public schools of the
South, gathered together the children,
and laid instehrs and faith the foundation
Of the edificer you are laboring to bring
to turreted perfection. ~ ~ v.44s
The concluding remarks OF the speaker
dealt with conditions and results In North
Carolina.
President Ogden made some important
announcements regarding the trips to be
taken to-day to the University OF Vlr'
GINA and Monday down James River to
Fort Monroe Those whose names are
registered In the pamphlet Of the list Of
members or have the blue badges will
be admitted to the train to-day and the
steamer on Monday. Bishop Penick rose
In his seat and made statement OF the
situation In which he found himself, and
he was confident many others We're in the
same prcdlcament. He was not going
on either trip, and, therefore, could speak
without impropriety. He had tried to get
badge, but was told there were no
more. He was not registered In the pub.
lished list because he was not sent cir
cular. and many others. he thought. had
come because they were interested In
popular cduca ton. Mr.. Ogden said that
was a matter over which tho local COM
mttee alone had control he gave the
announcement as instructed.
Mr. Ogden is n good story teller, and
no man loves Joke more and n spark OF
wit delights him and sets his big frame
shaking vigorously. Speaking OF the
opinion expressed by Mr. Daniels that all
the wisdom was not confined to simple
section, he told of n meeting on one occn-
sion between very learned man and n
mountnneer. The nountaineer said: You
know something down in the fiat country
that we do not, reckon"
Undoubtedly So" was the reply.
An weuns know something up here
which you uns do not know"
Undoubtedly So" again was the re-
ply.
wall" he went on, some farming
would be gotten by milking"
Last Two Speakers.
MIR. w, B, Merritt. State school COM
missioner, of Atlanta, was called upon tc
tell OF the work in Georgia, and gave
most encouraging report of the interest
that had stirred In his State, lie spoke OF
the great campaign being conducted for
a willingness to submit to Increased loca
taxation He expressed gratitude to the
northern people who We're helping the
southern people In tho solution of theil
great problem.
Dr. ]. II. kirkland, chancellor OF the
Vanderbilt University, was the last
sneaker Of the morning. This gentleman