The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-07

republic. knowledge is power, and an
educated conscience is Its only safe
guide.
To the end that the teachers work
may be most effective, every child
should be required by law to attend
school an adequate length of time in
every year If 1t is the duty of the
state to provide schools equally is 1t
the states duty to require Its children
to attend them. Shall the state sacrI-
fee the citizen and endanger It's own
stability and efficiency by permitting
children, through the neglect or cupidi-
ty of unnatural parents, or through the
avarice and inhumanity of grasping
corporations, to grow into manhood and
womanhood dwarfed In body. mind and
soul? Such a policy is nothing less
than social and governmental suicide.
Need Of National Aid.
While each of the states recognizes
the necessity for universal education at
public expense, while each Is striving
to meet its obligations in that respect.
and while each Is making commendable
progress under existing conditions, the
task is only begun. Indeed. students
of education and economics are coming
to realize that the task of providing
educational facilities for all of the peo-
pie Is beyond the power of some of the
states; especially Is this true of the
section from which I am
II the south were as wealthy and
productive as other sections of equal
area and density of population, which
Is not true by reason of the ravages Of
war and the presence of the negro, 1t
would require double the rate of taxa
tion to give educational advantages to
her children equal to those provided by
other sections for theirs, because the
south Is confronted with the necessity
of maintaining dual system OF
schools. To provide equal advantages
under existing conditions would re-
quire a rate of taxation many times
larger than that levied elsewhere. Such
a rate would be oppressive, impover-
ishing, conflscatory and practically the
whole of the burden would have to be
borne by about one-half of the popula-
tion.
Then what is to be done? This, and
nothing less than this: The national
government must come to the rescue.
Congress must make an adequate an
nual appropriation for purposes of gen.
eral education, to be apportioned
among the states of the Union upon the
basis of illiteracy, and to be expended
by the states through the channels al
ready established. Such apportion-
ment would place most of the appro-
prfatiOn where 1t lS most needcQ ana
would accomplish most good.
The educa tional problem peculiar to the
south was created by the national gov
eminent and that government is in duty
bound to assume its share of the work Of
solving that problem. To create burden
and then neglect or refuse to assist In
bearing that burden, IL inexcusable and, II
deliberately done, is not only inexcusable,
but absolutely wrong and criminal. This
10 FRI IF nd 10
of governments. How long-oh, how long
will it require for the nation to awake
to a sense of Its duty to that section and
that people!
II the continued inaction of the national
government renders 1t necessary for one
or both of the races there to receive
meagre educational advantages 1t Is best
for all concerned that for a searson, the
advantage should go to the dominant
race. Why? Because the best way to
secure universal education for the negro
is to give universal education to the
white man. The more you educate. peo-
pie In the right way the more willing and
eager do they become to give education to
others. Educate the white man properly
and the white man Will educate the ne
gro. OF course, 1t is desirable and neces-
sary where possible. that the education OF
the races should proceed under conditions
equally advantageous.
Conclusion.
As means then of raising the stand
ard of ethics In civic life, would urge
for everybody education of the right kind
education of body, mind and conscience,
with special emphasis upon the last
mentioned. To that end, l would have
individuals and states to exert themselves
to the utmost. To that end. also. would
have the nation to perform Its long neg
lected duty
In conclusion, / would not have you be-
live me to be confirmed pessimist in
my views as to the country's future, for
I am not Beyond the storm clouds see
sunshine. The American spirit has never
yielded to complete and continued retro
gression. Great crises are necessary for
the development of that which. is best
in people.
Adequate leadership has never failed
to materialize when the country's safety
has been imperiled. Such leadership Is
now In preparation. Already general
awakening of the public conscience is
noticeable We will meet and solve every
perplexing problem, and in that great