The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-10
FLIRTING.

ern people cannot appreciate the real nature of 1t. So far as it bore upon the public school question it was solved by the South by establishing two school systems, one of the whites, one for the blacks, and let me say right here that when people talk about the South's hatred for the negro, they might do well to visit the South and see just how much ground there is for such talk,
 'The South has done and is doing great things for the colored people. They are giving them splendid school advantages and are really as generous In their disbursement of funds for the education of the negro as for the edu- cation of the whites. The so-called class hatred that have heard so much about failed to be in evidence. On the other hand saw splendid evidence of generosity to the negro and much practical philanthrophy. This solution of the race problem, so far as it bears on the schools, has necessitated really two public school systems, involving a duplication of the educational plant and a material increase in the teaching force so that the financial burden which the South has had to carry in building up her school system has been very heavy.
 "Furthermore, in most of the cities which I visited they do not believe in CO., education in the high schools. They have a boys and a girls high school. This means another duplication and, of course, an additional financial bur den. Notwithstanding all this the South has a great school organization and in many quarters very efficient in- strrction. All of this is a splendid tes- timonial to the indomitable spirit of the South and to its sublime moral courage.
 Every lover of humanity ought to be thankful for this great achievement. One of the South's greatest educational problems is the education of the white illiterates.' The percentage of this el- ement is exceptionally large. The prob lem is very difficult, especially so be- cause so many of these illiterates do not live in the cities and the rural school problem in the South is a much more serious one than in the North and here it Is certainly difficult enough. This excessive difficulty is due to the fact that the enormous stretches of country are but thinly populated, so that it becomes very difficult to main tain schools which make it convenient and practicable to educate these peo- pie. I heard the question of rural schools discussed at a State conference and was greatly impressed by the earn est thought given it.
 "The South, however, is vigorously dealing with the illiteracy of the whites and the last two decades have witness ed a reduction of more than 10 per cent.
 "A difficulty that goes with the rural school problem is now to secure efi- cient instruction because of the made quate financial support of the teacher. Here again the South Is putting forth splendid effort. I also heard a discus sion at a State copference of superin- tendents, at which it was resolved to enter upon a crusade against inefi- ciency and in favor of better school teachers.
 "The spirit of loyalty to high ideals was positively inspiring. The difficulty Is being met also by the people In diff ferent quarters with a spirit of self sacrifice manifest taxation for school purposes.
 'T think that this work of educating the white illiterates affords a splendid field for philanthropic effort on the part of the North. We ought to lend a help ing hand in the noble work. wish that fund similar to the State fund could be established in every State in the South by wealthy philan- thropists of the North to aid in the educational salvation of these inlterate whites. The South does not ask any help from us, but it would be an ex- ceedingly generous thing for the North tO dO