The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-01

to realize that while he would not be
Permitted to govern the state. his
rights should be held the more sacred
by reason Of his weakness. knew
that our own passions had been aroused
and that We ware in darger CT going
too Tar. i realized 20 the fullest the
peril OF a~ntagcnizing the dominant and
prevafing thought In h state. ami
yet, i oeueye that the people who had
chosen me Governor did so In the hope
that l would be brave enough 20 sacri-
nee ny own Popularity, my future II
need be. TO the Speaking of the rightful
word and the doing OF the generous
act have therefore everywhere
maintained the duty of the state 10
EDUCATE the negro. / have Proclaimed
THIS doctrine In many places and in
doing 50 l have frequently met he
condemnation Of friends whose good
opinion / esteem and whose loyaitv In
n past 1 appreciate; but, holding my
views, i could o have ceen worthy
of the confidence Of the great people
OF this state If : had contented myself
TO remain silent Ny position has
brought satisfaction and even happi-
ness TO many humble homes I'm North
Carolina n the negro whose political
control ] have fought with so much
earnestness, has turned to me with
gratitude for my support Of his right
TO public school education.
The amendment drove many OF them
out OF the state. An effort 70 recuce
their public schools would send thous-
ands more Of them away from US. In
this hour when our Industrial develop
ment demands more labor and not
less, II becomes OF the utmost impor.
lance that we shall make no mistake
In dealing with that race which does n
very large part of the work. of actual
hard physical labor in the state. I ap-
peal to the generous high minded North
Carolinians to realize that We are con-
fronted with a condition, which de-
mands craftsmanship and not passion
and prejudice. While holding these
views, ii is needful for me TO say that
l have recognized that heretofore much
injustice has in many instances been
done to the whites in that in the same
county, schools were frequently main
tanned for six or seven months for the
colored in certain districts and for only
two or three months for the whites In
other districts. 1t has been the aim Of
this administration 10 correct his inc
quality. This has been done without
any constitutional amendment, out
under the plain provisions Of the law.
1t may be of interest to you to know
in this connection the facts about the
expenditure of money for the public
Aioii o uo"l ~ 1vvo.
In 1888 there was spent for the schools
for whites S3O6, $685. for colored $780,
955.87. There was spent s1.N per cap-
ita for white children and $3.50 per
capita for colored children,-a differ
ence OF As cents in favor of the negro.
In 1884 the expenditures Per capita
was So cents for each race. In 1885 the
expenditure per capita for white chill
dren was s1.09 and for colored children
$1.15,-a difference in of the ne
gro Of six cents. In 1886 there was ex-
pended for white children s1.l6 per
capita and for colored s1.04,-a differ
ence Of II cents in favor of the white
children. In 1887 there was a differ
ence of nine lei in favor of the white
children. 1888 there was a difference
of twelve cents in favor of white chill
dren. 1889 there was no census Of
children. In 1880 there was a difference
of sixteen cents in favor of white chill
dren. In 1891 there was a difference or
Is cents in favor of white children. In
1882 a. difference of Is cents in favor
of white children. In 1893 a difference
of 81 cents in favor of white children.
In 1894 a difference of Is cents in favor
of white children. In 1895 a difference
of IA cents in favor of white children.
In 1896 a difference of five cents in IA
vor of white children. In 1897 a differ
ence of one cent in favor Of white iii
dren. In 1898 a difference Of q cents
in favor of white children. In 1901 a
dlfference of 43 cents in favor Of white
children. In 1902 there was spent for
the education Of white children 1884,
1916 I, and for the education of the col
ored children s259, 137. 57,-a per capita
expenditure for the whites of $1.72 and
for the colored of s1.13,-difference In
favor of the whites of SO cents per cap
ita. For 1903 there was spent for the
education of white children $685., 7G0,17
and for the education Of colored chi.-
dren s252, S20,54 per capita expenditure
of $1.S9 for whites and $1.14 for the co.
ored; a difference in favor of the whites
of IS cents per capita. These are the
facts and they speak for themselves.
The danger which 1 nave ~apprehend-
ed and which l now apprehend Is not
that we shall do too much for the ne
gro, but that becoming unmindful Of
our duty to him we shall do too little.
Having taken from him the power to
vote. it becomes a strong people to
safeguard with the utmost care every
right which the negro IA w hold
our title to power by tenure of service
to Cod and we can never hope to win
His approval if We do injustice to the
weak Let us cast away all fear OF
rivalry with the negro-all apprehen-
sion that he shall ever overtake us in
the race of life. We are the thor
oughbreds and should have no fear OF
winning the race against a commoner
stock.
The problem of dealing with the
liquor traffic is admittedly the most
difficult one which confronts the gov
eminent. 1t has to deal with the ap-
petites Of men and in a free govern
ment where people rule, any legislation
tending to check the manufacture and
sale of liquor is compelled to run
counter to the great principle of non
Interference with the personal habits
of the individual. A Democratic gov
eminent therefore is always loath 10
deal with this problem and never does
except when pubic opinion has
reached the point at which 1t becomes
necessary to put thar public opinion
into legislation. -
The last legislature, guided by this
rule n fully recognizing its obliga-
ton within limits Of the constitu-
ton to respond to popular demand,
al1-t;o4 of --lat SO knnUn aG the Waits