The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-01-13

the conventions which nominated you to secure
the adoption of an amendment to the Constitu-
ton by which the taxes paid by the whites shall
go to the education of the white children, and
the taxes paid by the negroes shall go to the
education of the negro children, 1 should make
no mention of any race question" But this ac-
ton on the part of several Democratic Conven-
tions indicates that the Legislature may come
face to face with the issue. The Governor does
not hesitate to meet it squarely and boldly. He
refers again to his language in accepting the
nomination for Governor: owe hold our title to
power by the tenure of service to God, and if
we fail to administer equal and exact justice
to the negro whom we deprive of suffrage, we
shall in the fullness of time lose power ourselves,
for we must know that the God who is love trusts
no people with authority for the purpose of en-
abling them to do injustice to the weak" And
this he declares "was not mere sentiment, but
the expression of a deep conviction" The Demo-
cratic platform on which he ran declared for
"at least a four-months term in each year in
every school district in the State" This, of
course, included negro districts. And both Re
publican and Democratic State platforms last
year declared for a four-months term in every
district.
First, therefore,, it would be bad faith to en-
dorse the proposed measure.
In the next place, it is probably unconstitu-
tional. "The Federal Court in Kentucky ex-
pressly held that a provision dividing the funds
between the races according to the sums paid
by each race for education was prohibited by the
Fourteenth Amendment. 1t seems to me clear
that this opinion is right"
But even if constitutional, the measure would
be inexpedient. "The strength of our present
Amendment lies in the fact that after 1908 it
provides an educational qualification, and the
courts will go far towards sustaining a provision
of this nature when the State is endeavoring to
educate all her children, but if it should be made
to appear to the court that in connection with
our disfranchisemen of the negro we had taken
pains for providing to keep him in ignorance,
then both amendments would fall together"
And even if expedient, it would be unjust. "It
would wrong both races, would bring our State
into the condemnation of a just public opinion
elsewhere, and would mark us as a people who
have turned backwards. The State of North
Carolina has heretofore enjoyed the distinction
of being first in those things which look to a
larger liberty and a consequent higher develop
ment of her people. Let us not seek to be the
first State in the Union to make the weak man
helpless. This would be a leadership which could
bring us no honor, but much shame"
"The salary of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction is inadequate" says the Governor
and rightly, we believe. Education is to-day
the chief concern of our people, and the salary of
the officer having charge of the educational in
terests ought to be made commensurate with
the Importance of his work"
x X
Following the comment on educational affairs,
the work and needs of the various State institu-
tions are exhaustively discussed. Lack of space,