The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-01-06
PThe Negro And
Education

Courier: have waited for several
days to see IL some one of the nu-
merous candidates for governor
would reply to the statement on the
subjejct OF compulsory education
which Mr.. Charles Carol Simms
makes In The News and Courier Of
last Friday. His argument Is too
erroneous and misleading to pass un-
answered.
1 reSr"at that Nr. SimmS who IN
1S9O, was prominent supporter of
Judge A. G. Haskell and member of
the straightout Democratic partv
which took strong and unassailable
ground ior law order and public ed
ucalioh should now announce such a
fallacious reactionary policy.
HIS first fundamental fallacy an
pears In the following quotation: "If
the state>!can take charge of the child
lor the enid good IT can also assume
charge OF the child for the child's evil
ana IL the state is, TO supervene be-
the child might be educated as the
State mighttdetermine, then some req
ulation would be compelled to be had
for the support of the child whilst nm
der the control of the State"
Who support the child now? Chill
oren from six to. IL years old cannot
support themselves. If their Darents
are helpless the State takes care of
her children. They are not allowed to
perish. What difference would keen
ing the little children i'm school make9
The schools are free. Again. how
can an enlightened state Assume
charge OF child to the child's evil
anyway?
Notice this statement: "The respon
sibiltty between the parent and the
child is one cast upon the parent bv
the Lord, and no parent should be
permitted to cast off\this responsible
ty and place the sand upon the State
Putting the whole matter upon the
LORD and the Negligent parent is easy
put not effective. Placing the entire
Ouruen on the Lord is very good
thlng too but scorce the whole OF
statesmanshjp. A\compulsory educa-
children's shoolingt Parents and en-
ployers fho violctei the law are pros
ecuted In the Magistrates Court. No
pooy Is relieved OF responsibility.
The only responsibility In this regard
which rests upon parents now is q
moral one and thts too, many OF them
brutally disregard.
Herer Is another ancient fallccy-
so old as to be in is second childhood
If the compulsory education law
should prevail then under present ed
ucational conditi ms the negroes
would come undor the same proyis-
ions as the whites. with The result
or exceedingly high cduc2ti n but an
aggraV2:ion OF tho labor problC m
or the labor problem and an end of
agricultural pursuits. II 1t is true that
the negro Is being educated in larger
numbers than the whites under the
present law 1T is hard to conceive how
the compulsory education would re-
neve the situation. II IL be admitted
that both races would be equally edu-
Gated, condition would arise in
South Carolina OF two races, abso-
ultely different In kind and utterly
incapable OF aGsSimilatio nmorc or
less equally educated struggling for
supremacy. 1t would aggravate the
servant problem and increase 1t in all
OF its prepleXities and worry and
cause a continual warfare between
the races which God intended and
Jenerson announced could only live
together as master and servant. 1t
might result in establishing the theo-
ry OF Prof Jordan, of the University
q. or Virginia that the future of the neg
TO is TO be solved in the mulatto a re-
suit too horrible for Southerners to
contemplate. / am earnestly In favor
OF every white child having the oppor
tunity to obtain an education within
the reach OF its capacity and to this
end / especially favor the establish
ment OF more common schools with
better equipment and better paid
teachers and longer terms to furnish
substantial foundation OF educat-
tional struture. At the same timeI am
satisfied that the schools OF hihger
standards, as we'll as the colleges.
should be generously dealt with and
enlarged when necessary to meet the
increasing demands upon them as
rapidly as the States finances will
permit without increasing the tax
levy"
Mr.. Simms would, 1t seems cut of
all support from the negro schools.
The proposition that the taxes paid
by white people should be devoted ex-
clusively to the white schools and the
colored schools get onIy so much as
the negroes pay is often proclaimed
from the stump by the politicians of
the Blease faction to catch the vote
OF the more ignorant citizens. The
sentiment is popular among those
who pay very little taxes OF any sort
II the man who advocates II Is not
ignorant OF the laws OF the State, he
is insincere. Because he must know at
this late day that the division OF pub
lie funds upon such basis would be
unconstitutional, even If 1t were de-
sirable.If he has any OF the qualifica-
tions OF a public officer-if he under
stands the essential principals OF dem
Oaratic ba