The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-14


resources, but North Cardinals ignorance
of the advantages to be found at home.
For this condition there was but one
remedy-universal education. Wiley saw
clearly that the only way to save the
State was by the education of all her
CHILDREN There had always been in
North Carolina an educated class. But
this class rested on a foundation Of igno-
rance and illiteracy. AS the strength of
the foundation measures the strength of
the structure, the only way to make
the State strong was by strengthening
her foundation. To this task DR.. Wiley
dedicated his life. Already there had
been In North Carolina an attempt at a
system of public education. But the at
tempted system had fiourished about so
long without a head that the body had
become bruised and diseased, and there
existed a profound feeling among the
people that it ought to be cured or
killed. The majority Of the people per-
-haps favored the latter summary method,
but Wiley with keener vision into the
needs of the time and the demands of
the future saw the folly and danger of
that destructive policy. 1t would seem
as if he alone of all the wise men in the
State had the wisdom to see truly what
the time needed; and certainly ne alone
Of them all had the yalor to lead it on
the right road thither. His wisdom point
ed out the necessity Of a single head to the
dying system; his valor enabled him to be-
come that head and give life and power
to the body"
Here the speaker gave an account of
the almost insurmountable difficulties Dr.
Wiley had to encounter and his method Of
dealing with them. He continued:
And what was the result of it all?
The work was slow, tedious and discour-
aging, but the results were far beyond
DR.. Wiley's most extravagant hopes.
- Early in his career he asserted
that a great moral and industrial reyo-
luton was going on in North Carolina.
The spirit of education was showing it.
self in the industrial progress of the peo-
pie, IN the growing attachment for home,
in the generally awakened confidence in
the resources of the State. There was
more demand for building material than
was ever before known in North Caro-
lima. Under the touch Of Wiley's
strong hand the blight which had fallen
on the State was about to vanish and
North Carolina took her place at the
head Of the Southern Sisterhood of States
in the matter Of education.
Listen to few eloquent figures and
let them attest the truth of these gem
eralities: IT was then shown that from
1855 to 1857 the number of teachers in
the public schools increased from less
than 1900 to more than $500. at the
first there were no women in the public
schools; in 1860 there were nearly 900
Not only had the numbers increased but
through the exactions of annual examina-
tons and the influence of The Teachers
Library Associations, The North Caro-
lima Teachers Conventions, and The
Common School Journal all of which were
established and maintained by Or. Wiley
the efficiency of these teachers increased
at least 100 per cent. IN 1850 t,are were
less than $4,000 children in the schools,
one out of every Z persons in the State;
in 1857 there were 116, 600 in school, CT
one out of every SO persons. In 1855
there were in North Carolina less than
1900 schools taught in 1860 more than
5000 During his term of office all the
schools were open for four months In
each year, and the average salary paid
to teachers was SIS per month, larger
salary than Is now paid in sixty-nine
counties. In 1850 the total receipts for
school purposes were less than $3.50 600;
in 1860 more than $500, Uvu. The disburse-
ments in 1850 were not $4,000; in 1860
more than 100000. In 1858 there was no
special taxation for schools; in 1860 more
than 100000 was collected from a special
tax. From 1850 to 1860 tho population of
the State increased less than IA per cent
the number of children in the schools
more than Sc per cent. In 1850 the per-
oentage of ilhterates over 20 years Of age
was 29.2; in 1860, 23.1. In 1850 the value
of personal property in the State was
1926, 800 ,472; in 1860 it was 1858, 739 ,399, an
increase of $131, 93S, 927, or more than So
per cent. Farms in 1850 were valued at
$89, ,945; in 1860 at $3.50, 305 ,S12, an in
crease of more than 100 per cent. Manu-
featured products increased during the
same time over SO per cent. In 1850 the
number Of native emigrants from the
state was 10,471 less than in 1850, and
the native immigrants into the State in
1o,v more by 2,453 than n 1850. Conun-
uing the speaker gave a shor- account Of
DR.. Wileys heroic work to Keep the
schools open during tne war, and OF how
nc Clung 10 MS WOlh tuOuEn MS scldi3
v as not enough to board his horse. Dur
ing the year 1868 there were more than
900 children in the public schools. But
finally the schools were forced to suspend.
After the war Dr. Wiley was asked to be-
come Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton, but he refused because the office
had become a political one. Upon the APP
parent ruins of his system is founded The
school system of today In conclusion
Mr.. Conner said:
This work is the work of the man
whose name the teachers of North Caro-
lima are permitting to sink into oblivion.
The members of the legal profession are
careful to see that the names OF Iredell,
and Badger and Rufffn are remembered
ana honored. our soldiers see to it that
honor is paid to the memories Of Nash and
Davidson and Hill and Pettigrew. In hon
oring the heroes of their profession, they
honor themselves and exalt their pro
fession in the eyes Of others by showing
that they exalt it in their own. Let us
follow their worthy example and rescue
from the dust Of oblivion this name which
should shine so brightly in the roll Of
North Carolina's famous sons.
Il do not know how mans character
ava ..l.t ~ no measured # il he