The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-04
Southern Educational Conditions.


number.
| Southern Educational Conditions.
"The Proceedings of the Conference
for Education in the South" at its 9th
| session. have recently been publish
ed in a single volume of 269 pages.
1t will be remembered that the ses-
sion was held, first from April 22nd
TO April oath in VirSinia'S political
capital and closed on April 18th III
her educational capital. The volume
which lies before me is one of the
most interesting books that it has been
my good fortune to read in a long
time. 1t is made up of the produc-
tons of some of Americas ablest
thinkers and most eloquent speakers
md deals with a range of topics which
cannot fail to interest any reader.
This conference was one of the most
striking and significant bodies of men
hat have met in America during this
convention year. Here on the James
river, representatives from Texas
shook hands with representatives
from Maine-and yet not single per-
son among them was there for any
selfish purpose or personal gain. In
this particular at least the gathering
was striking. What motive, then, III
spired this gathering? One does nos
a banker from Texas to New York
10 attend the National Bankers AS
ISOLATION; or that carries Il politician
from North Carolina to st. Louis or
| Chicago to attend a political conyen
| ton. But why should the banker or
the politician go from Texas or Maine
| to attend a conference for Educa-
| ton in Richmond? This is a ques-
| ton that has been asked often abous
| ihs conference and VariousIy answer
| ed. Some have said patriotism"
| others have limited at more sinister
motives. AS for myself, | know of no
| way of judging OF mans motives
| except by, his words and actions. 1t
will be interesting therefore to let
| these men themselves answer this Oft
| repeated query.
Turning first to the elquent "Ad-
| dress of Welcome" by Virginia's dis
tinguished Governor we find that in
one and the same breath he tells Us
what the motive of this Conference rs
not, and what it is. This Conference
said he, comes to this commonwealth,
OH the borderland of the Southern
States, not as strangers, as I have
just observed, but to see with our
eyes, to feel with our hearts and to
help with our hands. You do not
come to dogmatiZe, but to cooperate.
You have no hostile views to impose
upon us. but you come simply to help
us and to give us the inspiration
that springs from common fellowship
in "a good and great thought. There
fore one must have a poor and selfish
heart not to extend to you a cordial
and abiding welcome. DR. ii. Is.
Frssell claims the Conference as Vir-
ginians by birth and finds underlying
ii the principles of 'Virginia'S most
distinguished educator, Thomas JEFF
ferson." DR.. Alderman says: 1T
should be clearly understood that our
great purpose is to arouse an irresiSti-
bic public opinion for the establish
ment and maintenance of a system
of schools adequate for the needs of Il
free people, President Ogden the
enthusiastic leader of the Conference,
gives Il more elaborate statement of
the theory on which it rests. The
only qualifications for membership, he
says, consist in personal presence and
sympathetic accord" Yet the Confer
ence is far from being "a junketing
affair, or sort of fad which the inn
aginations of certain very good peo-
pie have translated into a supposed
vitality and force, Il solemn fancy that
affords "a sober excuse for an affair
primarily social, incidentally educa-
tional. Suggestions of this nature
originate quite beyond the circle that
have personal knowledge of the facts.
To the question, What is the theory
of this Conference?" he answers di-
rectly: "The Conference exists for the
advancement and promotion of the
education of all the people. In
the atmosphere of a common human
sympathy the Conference for Educa-
ton in the South lives and moves and
has its being
Mr.. Ogden related an anecdote
NJ pl-nC dnp1t
which aptly illustrates the central idea
of the Conference. DR.. Wilson was
travelling in the mountains of North
Carolina. One day he met noun
taineer who said to him: wal, |
suppose some of you fellers down IN
the fiat part of the State tibet hez been
tc the great institutions of farming
know some things thet we don't
know" Yes" replied DR.. Wilson,
that is undoubtedly true Then, too,
we uns up hyar,' said the other,
knows lots of things you uns don't
know" Yes answered the Doctor,
that is true, too Then came the
reply which fits the Conference SO
Won. wal, then, mixin' larns both"
Certainly in this great meeting, and
others like it, between men from ali
parts of our common country, ''mixin'
heZ larned ALL Such meetings are
rapidly moulding the people of these
United States into one people in a
sense never before known. From the
| diversified elements of our forty-seyen
States is growing one nation. AS /
read the speeches and reports made
| at this Richmond meeting. it seemed
| to me that one great feeling ran.
through them all like a thread con-.
Meeting the diverse parts into one
whole-the spirit of nationalism-the
| feeling of the oneness of the American
people. You are no strangers to us >
said Governor Montague Save that
| perhaps all of US do not know your
names. We are all American citizens
/ interested in those things that make