The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-11-09
Seen From the Road

in North Carolina, the people are or
the same kind In that may be some
thing but not much-there are wide
differences between east and west in
North Carolina as between upper and
lower country in this state. And why
is North Carolina so far ahead OF
Georgia? Georgia has never been
overburdened with 'aristocracy.
Over South Carolina the old north
state has advantages in population.
By the census of 1920 it had $685.
1913 inhabitants, of whom less than
third were negroes. We had 1884,
600 of whom a majority (rapidly de-
creasig) were negroes. The two
party political system is natural in
North Carolina, easy and good in its
results-though experience has prov
ed the peril of departure from Demo-
cratic administration.
East to west North Carolina is
more than 500 miles and cross Sec
ton would reveal hundred varle-
ties of agricultural and mechanical
industry. In the west are many
Republican counties in which are
found practically no negro popula-
tions. in which negroes are scarcely
allowed to live Poor and ignorant
communities have been, until lately,
more common in North than in South
Carolina. The important fact is that
in North Carolina they are vanishing.
In 1920 two North Carolinians paid
taxes on incomes of more than ST.
100000. In no other southern state
was a taxpayer of that class.
One big political fact got into the
heads of the North Carolinians some
score years ago-how it got lodge
ment we do not know, but the point
is got into their heads and stays. 1t
is that progress depends on state &C
ton. These neighbors Of ours do not
squabble about building road in
Montgomery county lest Mecklen-
burg will contribute to the cost. They
have recovered from the deadly dis
ease of extreme localism that aff1icts
South Carolina, if they ever had it..
One might discover in prosperous
Anderson or York objection to taxa
tion for the erection of school
house or building in Dorchester. The
cost of the noble cement bridge that
spans the Great Pee Dee as it rolls
between Stanly and Montgomery
could hardly have been met by those
counties alone-but how would one
90 from Charlotte to Raleigh without
it?
In South Carolina every inch gain
ed for state improvement of roads
and schools the last Is years has
been after hard fighting in the legis-
lature against this deadening attach
ment to localism. The policy of state
education, far from complete, had to
be wedged in, slowly and painfully
and even now it meets with stub
born and stupid resistance. So, the
owners of motorcars in this state are
not allowed to contribute their Ii
cense fees in manner that would
most accelerate highway extension.
The wonder is that South Carolina is
not forced to carry on a war of Sc
cession against every one of the 46
counties, so infatuated are the tax
payers of each that it should take
care of itself and let the others
founder in their own mud or tester
in their own ignorance.
No southern state is keeping step
with North Carolina. Virginia is far
behind her and Georgia, the EN-
pire state of the SOUTH" is living in
the Sth century in contrast with her.
Virginia and South Carolina are
great states.
North Carolina is common