The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-11

pecially is this true Of the section from
which i come.
If 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.
Il would require double the rate Of
taxation to give educational advant-
ages to her children equal to those
provided by other sections for theirs,
because the South Is confronted with
the necessity of maintaining q dual
system OF schools. To provide equal
advantages under existing conditions
would require a rate Of taxation many
times larger than that levied else
| where. Such a rate would be oppres-
sive. impoverishing. conhscatory. and
practically the whole of the burden
would have to be borne by about one
| haf Of the population.
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 ex-
pended by the State through the chan
nels already established. Such appor-
tiopment would place most OF the ap-
preparation where It Is most needed
and would accomplish most good.
The educational problem peculiar to
the South was created by the national
government. and that government 10 In
duty bound to assume it's share OF the
work Of solving that problem. To Gre
ate a burden and then neglect or ra-
fuse to assist In bearing that burden.
is inexcusabie; and, II deliberately
done, is not only inexcusable. but alb
solutely wrong ana criminal. This 10
true of individuals--it is equally true
OF governments. How long-oh, how
long-wiil 1t require for the nation to
awake to a sense Of its duty to that
section and that people?
II the continued inaction OF the ma
tional government renders II necessary
for one or both OF the races there to
receive meagre educational advantages,
Il is best for all concerned that, for
season, the advantages should go to
the dominant race. Why? Because
tho best way to secure universal ed
ucation for the negro IS to give uni
versal education 20 the white man.
The more you educate people in the
right way. the more willing and eager
DO they become to give education to
others. Educate the white man prop
erly ana the white man will educate
the negro. OF course, II is desirable
and necessary. where possible, that
the education or the races sE1ulu pfo-
iced under conditions equally advan-
taReous.
As a means, then. of raising the
standard 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,
I would have individuals and States 20
exert themselves TO the utmost To
that end, also, would have the ma
ton TO perform it's long neglected duty.
In conclusion, I would not have you
believe me to be a confirmed pessl.
mist in my views as TO the oountry's
future, for I am not. Beyond the storm
clouds see sunshine. The American
spirit has never yielded to complete
and continued rstroKation. Great crises
are necessary for the development OF
that which Is best In the people.
Adequate leadership has never fail
ed to materialize when the country's
safety has been imperiiled. Such lead
ership is now In preparation. Already
a general awak ening OF the public
conscience Is noticeable. We will meet
and solve every perplexng problem, and
in that great work the teacher will
perform not the least important part.