THE GAZETTE.
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RALEIGH, N. C, JULY 24, 1897.
The editor of the-iVeica and Observer ,
in an editorial, Bays: "Oueof the most
intelligent negro educators in the State-
said: 'It teas a big mistake to have elected
a single negro on the board of education
in the State. It would have been better to
have left them off the school committee.
too. What the negro wants is a chance.
The politicians have hurt his chance by
clamoring for and getting petty places
for petty negro politicians' " The negro
who uttered these words, if he sincerely
believes them, is not an "intelligent edu
cator," and is unfit to teach the children
of any race.. It is from just such cring
ing sycophants as this negro is, whoever
he may be, that the race is caused to suf
fer so much. Because this mealy-mouth
was in the presence of a bitter partisan
who has been foaming at the mouth be
cause negro manhood has been recog
nized on these boards and committee, he
cringes and cowers like a whipped span
iel, and stultifies his weak manhood by
denouncing men for doing the very thing
he doubtless had asked and expected
them to do. One essential thing the
negro race needs is manhood to stand
up under and all circumstances.
PENITENTIARY MANAGEMENT.
So different is the treatment given the
prisoners in the Penitentiary under the
present management of Superintendent
Jonn il. Smith from that given them by
his Democratic nredeceasnra that ttm
Democratic newspapers are mad about it
and a9 is their custom are trying to de
ceive and mislead the people about it.
So envious are they of the kind treat
ment given these unfortunates that they
are publishing anonymous letters which
pretend to be written by one convict to
another. Last week witnessed two of
these counterfeit letters in two different
papers. These letters are not genuine
and are manufactured for a purpose, but
they will fail of that purpose. Demo
cracy in North Carolina is in its last
throes, and like a drowning man is catch
ing at straws. Their Intention is doubt
less to make Superintendent Smith
abandon his kind treatment, but they
will fail of their purpose. That the pris
oners are treated well under Republican
and Populist rule is well known and that
they were brutally treated under Demo
f mini) ne. 1 ? 1
vjv.ct.iij co wm JiiiUWll.
Under the rule and - management of
TV n .
Ascuiuviaujr ivmnw .prisoners gave Dirtn
to children in the Penitentiary and not
more than two months ago a woman bad
to be brought from one of the farms in
Halifax county to be delivered of a child.
This last case should be fully investi
gated and the facts laid before the public
in order that the people may rightly
judge next year between rule by the peo
ple as against that of rings and cliques.
Turn on the light.
A woman prisoner died there last Sun
day morning, but before dying stated
that her death was due to bad treatment
of an employee of. the past administra
tion. She alleged that she was confined
in a cold cell without cover during sev
eral cold bitter nights last winter. The
evidences of ill treatment continues to
come to light.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The Wake County Board of Education
is composed of one Populist, who is a pro
gressive farmer, one Republican who is
an active and prominent educator and
one Democratic who is a scheming ambi
tious lawyer, with a hankering after the
legislature. When the Board of Commis
sioners selected Mr. Fleming, the Demo
cratic member, we thought that as he was
an active politician they had made a
mistake, as we had heard so much from
Democrats during the past few weeks
about selecting educators instead of poli
ticans for these boards; but since the ac
tivity of Mr. Fleming on the board, we
now conclude that the Commissioners
made no mistake in selecting him. Many
things which he has brought to light and
many intentions of the Democratic party
which he has exposed would not have
been known at this time but for him. At
the first meeting of the board, Mr. Flem
ing became so very non-partisan (being
in a minority) that he nominated a gen
tleman for supervisor, whose politics he
declared he did not know nor did he
want to know (this shows progress), and
he also admitted that there had been
something wrong with our public school
system in the past.
Notwithstanding the fact that people
were here at the first meeting from every
township in the county except two to re
commend men for school committeemen
for their respective townships, yet he of
fered a resolution, naming three succes
sive days in the next week to select com
mitteemen for certain townships on each
of the three days, but then what matter
was it to him to trouble the people then
present in large numbers from each town
ship to go home and come again, as he did
not see in all that gathering a single man
who favored him for the legislature?
Was it not right, in his sight, to give his
friends a show in order that they, may be
of service to him next year? While
Messrs. Bagwell and Roberts did not see
the necessity for the resolution, yet act
ing under the injunction of the Bible
they "agreed with their adversary quick
ly," and voted for it to the great surprise
of Mr. Fleming. When the board recon
vened, one week thereafter, Mr. Fleming
was ready for the fight, for he had his
partisans here from every township to
help him select the needed, committee
men (all from the Democratic party if
possible), and, especially to see that no
negro was put upon the committees.
However this part of their work proved
futile because Messrs. Bagwell and Ro-J
berts believed in doing justice to all men
regardless of "race, color or previous
condition of servitude," and they voted
to give the colored people representation,
to the utter discomfiture of the Demo
cratic horde
But Mr. Fleming, like the rabbit in the
t?.r-baby case, soon showed them that he
had another foot and at once offered the
following clap-trap resolution, and fell
back in his chair with the comfifure of
one who saw himself ten degrees nearer
the halls of legislation:
" Whereas, it would be detrimental to
the public school sys'em to appoint col
ored men on the bchool committees to
look after the interests of the white
schools either in whole or in part.
"It is therefore resolved that such col
ored school committeemen as may be ap
pointed are exprts-dy appointed by the
Board to attaint in looking after the inter
ests of-the colored schools, and it is the
opinion of this Board that uch, commit
teemen should not interfere with the con
trol of the white schools either in the em
ployment of teachers or otherwise.
Mr. Fleming did his legal ability no in
justice whatever in offering the above
r. solution, for every one who knows
him know that he is too able a lawyer to
believe for a moment that such a resolu
tion, if passed, would have any legal ef
fect and, yet he also knew as everybody
else dogs, that practically the white men
will attend to the white schools and the
colored men to the colored schools. To
be perfectly plain and frank, we say it
now and here.as every one else could see,
that Mr. Fleming simply offered this re
solution to place himself upon the plat
form which Josephus Daniels announced
one day before that of " white metal and
white men" for 1898. ' Mr. Fleming was
one of the gentlemen who we beat for
the legislature last year, and he was the
most anxious one of the three Democratic
candidates to be elected, and was for all
the planks in the Populist and Democratic
platforms of that year. Messrs. Bigwell
and Roberts let the resolution lie over
until they had completed their work, and
then very promptly and properly voted
it down. But that did not amount to a
rows of pins with Mr. Fleming, as he had
it printed in the daily papers and had re
ceived the benefit of the partisan Demo
crats knowing where he stood on the
"negro question" kind that makes him
the leading candidate of his party for the
legislature in 1898 as in 1896. In the
meantime the negroes have gotten their
eyes open and see what men and political
parties are their friends. A political
party whose members are so hide bound
as to refuse justice and equal civil rights
to all men is unfit to rule this great State
of dura, and the people will so decide in
1898 as in the past two elections. We
shall say more of these boards later on.
THE NEWS AND OBSERVER, THE
NEGRO-HATING ORGAN OF
DEMOCRACY",
Spit Forth Fire and Brimstone Be
cause the Negro was Given His Rights
In the Appointment of School Com
mitteemen. The News and Observer, the leading
and recogtiized organ of Democracy in
this State, in several of its issues last
week, belched fonh its venom and hatred
of the rights of Negro manhood, as fol
lows: A negro school committeeman in each
township in Wake county must now help
select teachers for, and look after the
interests of the white schools.
And for this we have the recent de
mented fusion Legislature to thank.
It will be a bitter p. 11 to some people,
but it must be taken, for it is the law.
In accordance with this law the County
Board of Education for Wake county
met yesterday and proceeded to appoint
committeemen for the townships.
Mr. Fleming, the Democratic member
of the Board, tried to remove the most
objectionable feature of this negro school
committeeman business by introducing
the following resolution:
"Whereas, it would be detrimental to
the public school system to appoint col
ored men on the school committees to
look after the interests of the white
schools either in whole or in part
"It is-therefore resolved, that. such
colored school committeemen as may be
appointed are expressly ' appointed by
the Board to assist in looking after the
interests of the colored schools, and it is
the opinion of this Board that such com
mitteemen should not interfere with the
control of the white schools either in the
employment of teachers or otherwise."
But this did not suit the other mem
bers of the Board a i ignorant Populist
and colored Reuliran. But they did
not have the backbond exactly to vote it
down, so they bimply postponed action
on the resolution.
Hasn't this negro business gone about
far enough ? The self respecting colored
men and women think so if this Board
does not. They no more want to have
anything to do with the school affairs
of the white people than does that race
want them meddling with them.' What
does this B jard propose to do with Mr.
Fleming' resolution?
The resolution offered by Mr. Fleming
in- the meeting of the Wake County
Board of Education on Monday that the
colored men appointed on school commit
tees "are expressly appointed by the
Board to assist in looking after the in
terests of the colored schools, and it is
the opinion of this Board that such com
mitteemen should not interfere with the
control of the white schools either in the
employment of teachers or otherwise"
this resolution is as sound as a dollar.
If the Republican and Populist members
of the Board vote it down or suppress it,
they thereby declare that they want the
negro committeemen "to interfere with
the control of the white schools" a thing
that will not be tolerated.
Tne FayettevilleJ Observer defines its
opposition to the local school tax in these
words:
The Observer, in keeping with the
spirit of the times, is in favor of popular
education, and it commends the motive
of those who sought to stimulate interest
in that cause by the local option device
which we are to vote upon in August.
But speaking now only tor Cumberland
county, we have to express the earnest
hope that all those who cherish Anglo
Saxon civilization and who believe that
in Anglo-Saxon supremacy alone lies our
hope of escape from social and political
I rum, will case their votes against placing
one cent more or public money in the
control or tne present board or education.
Our reason for taking this position is the
fact that the authorities in this county
have chosen for one of the
three county commissioners in control of
all the public school moneys, the public
school teachers (female as well as male)
and tne public school children, a negro
man no doubt a very worthy man of
his race, but still a negro man. No white
man worthy of his. race will vote more
power into the hands cf a board so con
stituted." The fact that other men antagonize lo
cal taxation for like reasons, shows the
timeliness of the resolution offered by
Mr. Fleming.
- '
The new County Board of Education
has made a spectacle of itself a brilliant
and harmonious spectacle. Just such a
spectacle as one would have naturally
expected from such monumental men as
the Hon. Jay Hazy Bagwell, Prof. North
Carolina Biuce (colored) and the Rev.
Henry Whangdoodle Norris.
The architecture and composition of
these men are on noble lines. The ebulli
tion of gray matter in their craniums al
ways manifests itself by a sound of re
volving wheels, and their ornamentation
Is in perfection of the flamboyant Gothic.
In short, these men are some of our most
beautiful specimens, and never did they
show to belter advantage than during the
past three days, when they have been
bard at work appointing negro school
committeemen to direct the affairs of the
white schools of Wake county and choose
teachers for the children of Anglo-Saxon
parents. A glorious work this was, and
most gloriously have they performed it I
And for it their names will be held in
everlasting desecration by an ungrateful
generation.
These appointments were completed
late yesterday afternoon, and the work
fittingly crowned by voting down the fol
lowing resolu tion. introduced Monday by
Mr. j. ii. iieming, tne Democratic mem
ber of the Boards:
" Whereas, it would be detrimental to
the public school system to appoint col
ored men on the school committees to
look after the interests of the white
schools either in whole or in part.
" It is therefore received that such col
ored school committeemen as may be ap
pointed are expressly appointed by the
13 jar d to assist in looking after the inter
ests of the colored schools and it is the
opinion of thit Board that such commit
teemen should not interfere with the con
trol of the white schools either in the em
ployment of teachers or otherwise."
This done they went home to breathe
in peace, and rest their super-heated
brains. They needed it needed it badly.
For three whole days they have thrown
the whole proligious candle power of
their giant intellects into the work of en
lightening the children of Wake county
and defeating the "local taxation " elec
tion. Thus far, though, no light has ap
peared from these gnat efforts only
much smoke and a very bad odor every
where except in Cary township, where
they didn't get any " nigger."
. mere may not be an excessive load of
gray matter in the gray poll of the Hon.
Buck Adams, but he has had the good
taste and the good sense to keen this bril
liant Board from putting a negro com
mitteemen over the white schools of his
township. Good J or you, Buck ! "
In the campaign of 1892 and 1896 we
beard a great deal about the unwilling
ness of the Democratic party to let the
people rule. On many a stump it was
said: "Why, they wont even let you
vote for school committeemen. They
are appointed by court house rinera."
Well, Democratic rule has been suc
ceeded by the rule tif Republicans and
their allies. Do the new powers let "the
people vote for school committeemen ?"'
Are they not named by a few oolitic
bossfs wherever Fusionists have control?
And, worse than that, do they not ram
rdown the. threats of the people negro
uuujuiivitxiucu tu luaiiUKe- Willie scncois
and school teachejes for. white children ?
Worse still, do they not appoint negro
committeemen in townships in which he
negroes are'Tew in number and in wh&h
no negro commitleman could be elected
by a poplar voice. "
If the Democrats did not let the people
vote for school committeemen, they ap
pointed the fittest men to manage the
schools. They did not put the bottom
rail on top by giving negroes a voice in
selecting teachers for white schools.
They did not make political merchandise
of the education of the children. In
Wake county, in New Light township,
where the negro population is small, the
school board has given a negro a voice in
selecting the teacher of the white school.
Unless the spirit of that people has
changed, they will resent this new de
parture, as will the white people in every
other section of the State.
- Two Fusion victories has not broken
the spirit of the North Carolina Anglo
Saxons. They are not yet willing that
the teacher who is to instruct their child
ren shall owe his position to one or more
negro committeemen. Wherever this is
attempted it will result in damage to the
schools. The Boards of Education ought
to go slow.
A correspondent asks, " What will be
the leading issue in the campaign of
1898."
In the domain of national politics the
issue in 1898 will be'the same as in 1896,
without the crossing of a "t" or the dot
ting of an " i." The failure of the advo
cates of free coinage to elect Bryan in
1896 was due solely to the successful use
of an unprecentedly large corruption
fund. We do not believe it is possible to
buy two national elections in succession.
Every promise made in 1896 has been
broken, and men who were promised
bread have been given a stone. They
wilfnot be deceived again, by the same
crowd that deceived them before. In
1796 the influence of money was able to
compass the defeat of Jefferson. It was
shorn of its power when its hostility to
the real welfare of the people became
manifest, and in 1800 Mr. Jefferson's
principles prevailed by an overwhelming
majority. History will repeat itself.
In North Carolina, the issue that will'
swallow up all other issues will be the de
termination to rescue the State and its
affairs from the hands of the ignorant,
corrupt or wanton men who in a short
lease of power have manifested their un
fitness to govern the State or to adminis
ter the affairs of the ninety-six counties,
which are even more important than the
State government. The only portion of
the government of North Carolina that is
to-day free from scandal is the town and
city governments which, with a few ex
ceptions, have not passed into the hands
of the Republican party and their allies.
Hardly a day passes when in this or
some other paper in the State, Eome new
scandal is not uncovered to the public
gaze, and the end ia not yet. In some
of the counties it is already apparent that
there will.be deficits. The schools have
even been brought into the mire of petty
pea-nut politics, and nothing but the de
cision of the Supreme Court kept the
charitable institutions out of the hands
of the men whose only desire was to ob
tain the offices that were held by compe
tent men.
The legislation enacted, when it was
not vicious, was crude and silly. Merito
rious measures, as a rule, did. not get a
decent hearing, and if, perchance, there
was a disposition to enact a good law, the
ability to properly draft and enact it was
often wanting. Its friendship for educa
tion was the only ray of light in a night
of blackness, ignorance and corruption.
The people of all parties stool aghast at
the venaPand vicious spirit that domi
nated that Legislature. They have been
astounded again and again as law after
law that imposes grievous burdens and
unheard of penalties has come to their
knowledge. They are shocked every
week at the wanton disregard of every
principle of decent government displayed
by men elevated to power, in many in
stances, these ten dollar men in thousand
dollar places, conscious that they will
never have another chance at the public
crib, have shown their hoggishness and
greed in a way to disgust all decent mem
bers of their own party.
The people of North Carolina believe
in a clean, honest and frugal government,
the kind they have enjoyed for twenty
years. They are already sick and dis
gusted with the reign of . incompetency,
bate and scandal the change of parties
has brought, and their wrath is kind
ling against that day when they can visit
vengeance upon the men who have be
trayed their trusts, brought shame upon
their State, made a bankrupt treasury,
and inaugurated a reign of scandal, petty
greed and rottenness that even now stinks
in the nostrils of the people. In 1876,
all men who wanted to restore the State
to clean government by just men rallied
to the standard of the Democratic party.
then as now the only hope of good gov
ernment. In 1898, unless they be bas
tards and not sons, they will repeat the
scenes, the incidents and reap the glories
of the campaign of 1976.
'I Ha nrh m atn I oni f r K if a y n n "
is the shibboleth of -just and good gov
ernment.
The board of education in Duplin coun
ty is composed of two Populists and one
Republican. When they came to appiont
school committeemen, they refused to
listen to the clamor of the negroes to have
a voice in the selection of white teachers
for white schools and appointed white
commit'eemen throughout. The negro
made a big kick, and the Clinton Demo
crat pays that last Monday the Duplin
board "spoiled a good resolution by ap
pointing negro committeemen in town
ships where vacancies were purposely
made by resignation."
If this is not negro domination, what
" Til .
IB 11 1 v-
There.is little comfort to be found in
the foregoing ranting of that venomous
Democratic sheet for the negro gentry
who want to vote for the Democratic
candidates next year. Some weeks ago
an unknown negro in. this city said to
the correspondent' of the Charlotte 06
server that, "if the Democratic party
would give any recognition to the negro
at least 20,000 of them would vote
that ticket next year." But we guess
that even that fool has sense enough to
see the trend of Damocratic thought in
regard to the treatment of the negio and
his rights. If be does not, we will tell him
that when the moon turns to green
cheese and the sun refuses to shine, that
then probably the machine Democracy
of this State may recognize the negro
and his rights. But, then, if this idiotic
negro and his 20,000 want to go with
Democracy next year, we bid tbem God
speed, for they doubtles3 belong to the
purchasable gang.
PUBLIC SCHOOL ELECTION,
AUGUST 10.
By act of the General Assembly an
election will be held in every township
in North Carolina in which there is no
local taxation for school purposes, Tues
day, August 10, for the purpose of im
proving the public schools by local taxa
tion. The State of North Carolina has ap.
propriated $50,000 out of the General
Fund to be apportioned among the town
ships voting in favor of local taxation.
If a tonWp votes a tax of 10 cents on
njjeri2fJ f property and 80 cents
on the poll and thus raises- $500 in addi
tion to the usual school fund, the State
will add $500 more, making the extra
amount added to the school fund in the
township $1,000. If the township raises
$300 the State will give $300. If it raises
over $500 the State will add $500.
Any township that votes for local tax
ation will, therefore, be sure to have first
class public schools.
Col. J. S. Qarr of Durham has promised
to give $500 to the school fund of the
county that votes the largest per cent of
its voters for local taxation. Let all strive
to get this bounty.
Remember the day, August 10. Be at
the voting place and bring your neigh
bors. To stay away will be equal to vot
ing against this plan to get good schools
for only a small expense. The tax of 10
cents on the $100 is only one dollar on a
thousand or five dollars on five thousand.
Surely every citizen will see that thus the
best schools can be obtained cheaper
than any other way.
- - J. W. Bailey,
Htjoh Morson,
L. D. Howell,
C. H. Mebane,
D. H. Hill,
Committee.
N. B. Those desiring literature for in
formation or to distribute, send to J. W.
Bailey, Chairman, Raleigh, N. -C.
WHY POPULAR EDUCATION HAS
FAILED IN NORTH CAROLINA.
BY SUIT. LOGAN D. HOWELL, RALEIGH,
NORTH CAROLINA.
(Before the University Summer School.)
In considering the results of popular
education in North Carolina, we must
compare this State with all others in the
Union. One of the results of education
is wealth. Judged by this standard, edu
cation in North Carolina has lamentably
failed. For with the exceptions of South
Carolina and Mississippi there is less
wealth per capita in North Carolina than
anywhere else in this Union. But South
Carolina and Mississippi have over half
their population black. North Carolina
one-third only. "
ILLITERACY IN NORTH CAROLINA.
V
But the first object of education is to
remove illiteracy. Judged by this stand
ard our popular education has been an
ignominious failure. In fact there is no
such thing as popular education here.
For the people are not educated. More
than a thud of those over ten years of
age cannot read or write. Our condition
is worse than that of any other State or
territory except fix, namely: Louisiana,
South Carolina, New Mexico, Alabama,
Mississippi and Georgia. But all these
States except New Mexico have a larger
per cent, of negro population than North
Carolina. Virginia and Florida also have
a larger per ctnt. of negro population
than North Carolina, yet their illiteracy
is less than ours. .
OTHER STATES ARE EDUCATING FASTER
THAN WE.
These facts are unpleasant to admi,
but the most humiliatmg is this, that our
State was nearer being the most illiterate
in 1890 than it had been in 1870. It is
true the whole amount of illiteracy was
somewhat reduced. But we have been
more laggard than other Southern States.
Florida, which has nearly half its" popu
lation black, has gone by us, so tha
whereas in 1870 we ranked 8th in'illiter
acy, in 1890 we ranked 7th. At this rato
it is oniy a question jor time wnen norm
Carolina, the other States having edu
cated their children, will be the home of
the most illiterate people in the American
union, onaii we let this come to pass r
ILLITERATE WHITE PEOPLE.
Already it is the home of the most il
literate white people in the United States
except in the territory of New Mexico.
Our State ranks worse in illiteracy when
we compare the white people of the dif
ferent States than when we count the ne
groes.. This does not mean that the
white people of North Carolina are more
illiterate than the negroes. It does mean
that the white people of North Carolina
are the most ignorant of all the white
people in the United States except in New
Mexico, and that the negroes of North
Carolina have more 'education than the
negroes of several other States.
WE RANK LOWEST OF ALL EXCEPT NEW
MEXICO.
About one white person out of every
four in North Carolina cannot read; to be
exact, the illiteracy is twenty-three per
cent. The enormity of this appears when
we consider other States. Massachusetts
and Nebraska have less than one per
cent, of illiteracy among their native
white population. There are seventeen
States with less than two percent. Count
ing the District of Columbia and exclud
ing the Indian Territory and Alaska there
are foity-mne btates and territories.
There are thirty seven of these that have
only half as much illiteracy among their
native white population as North Caro
lina. In other words, the white people
of North Carolina are twice as illiterate
as the white people almost anywhere else
in the Union, including the States of
Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, Arizona,
Texas. Florida, Mississippi and west Vir
ginia. We have more illiterate white
persons than South Carolina and Georgia
combined, more than Alabama and Mis
sissippi, more than Louisiana and Texas,
whose combined white population is
twice as great as North Carolina's. Del
aware. 'Maryland, District of Columbia,
Virginia and Florida, together fail short
of North Carolina s number of white il
literates, but their aggregate native white
population is over twice as great.
SHORTEST SCHOOL TERM OF ALL. .
The cause of this large per cent, of
illiteracy is seen when we compare the
school terms of other States with North
Carolina's. The report of the United
S ates Commissioner of Education for
1894 and 1895 gives the average length of
terms of the public schools of the united
States, one hundred and forty-one days,
or over seven months. North Carolina's
is the shorten term of all, sixty-three
days. For twenty years we have b;en
struggling in vain- to teach four months
in the year. All the other States, except
South Carolina, Alabama and Oklahoma,
have more than a four months' term.
The school terms in New Jersey. Rhode
Inland, Massachusetts, Maryland, District
of Columbia and Connecticut are three
times as long as ours. There are thirteen
States that have an eight months' term or
longer, twenty-four States that have a
seven months' term or longer, thirty-one
States that have a six months' term or
longer, this includes Virginia, Arkansas
and Kentucky; there are forty-one States
(all but eight) that have five months' term
or loneer this includes Georgia, Louis
iana, Mississippi, West Virginia, Texas
and Florida.
ATTENDANCE AT OUR SCHOOLS.
With a school term of only three
months in the year, we cannot hops to
educate the body of the people very
highly, even if we had the beat teachers
and every person of school age attended
every day the schools are open. As a
matter of fact, only about a third of them
do this.'. ... --vv.- .... ... .
OWt-SCHftLS-ARR-TJEPEECTATINa 15
VALUE. '
The distressing fact is, that little edu
cation as our schools have been giving, it
is becoming less and less yetr by year.
The attendance at the schools last year
was less by 4,454 than it had been eight
years ago. In 1895 sixty-one per cent, of
the white school population was enrolled.
The next year the enrollment fell to fifty
six p r cent. The falling off in the col
ored schools was even greater from
fffty-i ine per cent, in 1895 to fifty two
per cent, the next year. The total en
rollment ffll in one vear from 373,563 in
1895 to 348,616 in 1896, a loss of nearly
25,000.
, WHAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE DOING.
Nearly half the school population did
not go inside of a school last year. But
what was done by the other half? Little
more than learn the A, B, C's. Not half
the children studied arithmetic. The
average white teacher in North Carolina
enrolls during the three months she
teaches forty-one children. But their
attendance is irregular; and if we should
visit her school on an average day, we
should find twenty-eight pupils present,
only thirteen of these far enough ad
vanced to study arithmetic, only seven
geography, four in grammar, and two in
United States history. -
COST OF EDUCATION.
Let us see what it costs -to educate
children in the different States. The
average for the United S ates is $18.93 a
year for each child. We spend upon
each child only $3.40 a year. This is less
than any other State, except South Caro
lina, which spends $3.29. The wealth of
MassachuKttis is five times as great as
North Carolina's.but Massachusetts spends
for each child at school about ten times
as much as we ($33.98). Seven Southern
States spend for the education of their
children twice as much as we do: New
Mexico, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma,
Virginia, T xas and Arkansas.
ARE WE TOO POOR TO EDUCATE?
We hear it said that North Carolina is
too poor to do more; that we are in fact
spending as much upon our schools in
.proportion to our means as the wealthy
States "up North." This statement can
be made only by men who are guessing
at what they have never examined into,
and when only the wish is father to the
belief that our commonwealth is acting
as nobly in her poverty as others with
more abundance. The truth is, we are
taxing ourselves for schools lees in pro-
L portion to our means than all the other
States but six Wyoming, Arizona, Ala
bama, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico. But
all these Stati s, except New Mexico, have
income from invest ments, which goes to
their school funds, and amounts in some
cases to as much as the tax collected.
Twenty-three Spates, including Kenr
tucky, Arkansa and Mississippi, have
over twice as heavy a scbool tax as North
Carolina.
OUR EDUCATIONAL POSITION.
Our position among the 'sisterhood of
States is then this: in per cent of illiter
acy of the whole population; seventh; in
per cent of -illiteracy of the native white
people, second; in leog'hof school term,
forty-ninth; in amount expended for
each pupil, forty-eighth: in amount of
tax in proportion to wealth, forty third;
in salaries paid teachers, furty-ninth.
ARE WE TAXED TOO HEAVILY?
There can be only one excuse for such
a condition eflorni u taxes for other
things. But taxe-i in Noi ih Carolina are
not enormous. They are le-s than any
where else in the Union, except in Nevada
and Idaho. The tax rate for all purposes
in North Carolna is only something over
half the average for the United States.
LET THESE FACTS AROUSE US TO ACTION.
, n makine public
mere is no ilco " . " o . -.
such humihatrng facts about ou State-
pxceDt for the nope mat -j . ry
Action. For these conditions exist,
and North Carolma must face them.
Shutting
them: denying mem -win e
L' Butyhaving seen the .cause of our
failure, we ought to know how to make
our public schools a success.
LOCAL TAXATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
it i. .11 tha vliml tax in North
very ucmit
Carolina is imposed by the Legislature,
less than twenty coinmumths supple
menting this by a selWraposed local tax.
Here again we are behind in educational
progress. Two-thirds of the school f unds
f .u - tt-:..1 Bi.tu am rairtPd DV local
taxes. Thirteen States, including Massa
chusetts, have no State taxes, au mw
v i ora lrwnl An a rule the
States that have the best schools support
them mainly oy locai mxeo.
OUR LARGE GENERAL SCHOOL TAX.
TUia ia sill a nou) nrnxr In North Carolina.
A JIIO AO vr v.- -
r,, Q.ofA tar ia nlrPttdv one of the larg
est, only six other States having a heavier
one. nut wnen we coma iu
1 1 - tUa n-onorol tAZ North
iwai L-a a o aiiu
l - 3 1 . 9 nil tn 1 1 olr
uaronna arops w iuwtii ui
LOCAL TAXATION IN AGRICULTURAL
STATES.
There are objections that local taxation
may suit Maine, but it will not suit our
(vmHitinn ftn agricultural DeODie. We
hear men savin e that good schools can
not be maintained among a population
so scattered as ours. Local taxation is
not peculiar to the North or to cities
Kansas and Nebraska are great farming
States and settled only about half as
thickly as North Carolina. Kansas has
no State tax, and Nebraska only three-
tenths of a cent, but by local taxss Ivan
sas keeps its schools open six months and
Nebraska seven. Arkansas is not as
densely settled os North Carolina. ltd
tax rate for schools is two-and a-half
times aj great as ours, and two-thirds of
it comes from local taxes. Arkansas'
school term is nearly twice as long as
ours.
None of the following States are 'so
thickly settled as North Carolina and
they raise all, or nrarly all, their school
funds by local taxes, and all have an
average school term of from five to eight
months: North Dakota, South Katota
Montana, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Minne
sota, ilonda, Louisiana.
Compared with other States south and
west North Carolina is well populated
Scarcity of population cannot excusj
our illiterate condition.
THE NEGRO IS NO EXCUSE.
Nor can we plead the negro as an ex
cuse. . Seven btates (South Carolina, Mis
sissipp8, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Vir
ginia, Alabama) have a larger share of
negro population than North Carolina,
and they all have a longer school term
than ours, and all but Alabama have a
heavier school tax. Georgia has 300,000
more negroes than North Carolina and a
school term ten weeks longer. Virginia
has 75,000 more negroes than North Caro
lina and a school term twice as long and
a school tax nearly twice as great as ours.
THE EXAMPLE OF MISSISSIPPL
Mississippi is a poorer State than North
Carolina. Its per capita wealth is 9.00
less. Over half the population of that
State is black; in North Carolina about
one-third. Mississippi also has fewer
towns than Noith Carolina and less per
sons to the square mile. In spite of these
facts Mississippi offers its children a five
months school term. North Carolina a
three monts term. Mississippi does this
by paying money for it. Its school tax
is more than twice as heavy as North Car
olina's. As a result there is not half as
much illiteracy among its white popula
tiou as w.e have. -
THE TIME FOR ACTION HAS COME.
Let us stop trying to excuse our ignor
ance and selfishness and narrow-mindedness.
We are behind all other States in
the education of the people. The sooner
we recognize this fact the sooner we may
hope to change it.
Training School for Norses.
On October 19, 1890, St. Agnes Hos
pital and Training School for nurses was
established in connection with St. Augus
tine School, under the supervision of
Mrs. A. B. Hunter. Very few people have
thought anything about the work since it
began.
This institution was started for two
reasons to care for the sick outeide the
city limits who could hot have the ad
vantage of the Rex Hospital in the city.
The charges were placed at the low price
of one dollar and a half per week, this to
include board, nursing atd medical at
tendance from some of the best doctors in
the city. The sum does not pretend to
cover expemes, but was placed so as to
reach the needy. Yet many are not able
to pay this and they must be cared for,
md are oftentimes cared for at the ex
pense of the hospital. A hospital is nec
essary in the neighborhood where St.
Agnes is located. I have seen two deaths
from the want of medical attention and
proper care while sick.
Secondly, the Training School for nur
ses was established for the purpose of
training a refined class of our young wo
men to intelligently care for the sick and
enable them to have a profession which
will place them in a position to always
demand good remuneration and gain a
good livlihood in an intelligent manner.
A thorough course of instruction is given
by the Head Nurse in "Clara Weeks"
text book on nursing Hutchinson's Phy
siology and " Dock's Materia Medica" for
nurses. Thus the nurses learn the proper
uses of medicine and, above all, are
trained in the art of nursing.
Dr. L. A. Scruggs is attending physi
cian and lectures on Medical Chemistry,
and Materia Medica. Dr. K. Battle, Dr.
Knox, Dr. W. I. Royster, Dr. Lewis, Dr.
McKee and Dr. Hubert Royster, all lec
tures on special studies. Thus we have
some of Raleigh's best physicians on the
staff. .
At the end of the eighteen months'
course the nurses will receive a diploma,
which will place them on equality with
any trained nurse in the United States,
who can demand from fifteen to twenty
one dollars per week in private work
alone. The money is nothing compared
to the sacrifice of youth and strength.
Few understand what a trained nurse
is. The time has come when the doctors
of the present era will have only trained
nurses who understand how to care for
the sick. Many a life has been sacrificed
through ignorance and inexperience, and
now, when so much more is expected of
nurses, they are obliged to be trained.
For this purpose St. Agnes was started
to give our young women an opportu
nity, which is open to so few of our race.
It is grievous to see how few grasp the
opportunity. What is the reason ? Is it
fear of work? Is it lack of ambition?
There are over eight thousand trained
nurses in this country, and I don't be
lieve we can find twenty of our own hos
pital graduates. This is a very sad state
of affairs.
Now I wish to say a word to. the differ
ent churches. This hospital is undenomi
national. We have cared for twenty
four (34) regardless of religious belief,
and only two were our church women,
the others being Baptists, Methodists and
Christian. No denomination has ever
iecognized the work or stretched out a
helping hand, but Rev. Peagans, who has
been interested in a sick boy. He has
kindly interested others for us ; and if
each church would make a tm.n .
tion monthly it would rmf " "'W-
great work to go on but would hhrTp"
preciation to Rev. and Mrs. a i
ter, who have sacrificed so much L.
work. Mrs. Hunter has thi , t EUf
school at heart, and it is bv .ui "5 "!n
nih rh h rniiu-a thmt tkl. -... "I'UQU
I hops everyone will become inH?.
but in deeds. ' ord
Head Aurse and Matron.
SHOOK IMPLOItES Jl'KIXLEY.
Washington Pout.
To the President: On the 3,ih...
November, 1890, under authority ve-ti
yj " "o vmu-a State,
in the people, all business ami ... "
suspended, and the patriotic will of ti..
jhjuimo mao nftiovciru iu I&VOr Of the It,..
puuucHu iHinj. xou, as tne standard,
bearer, became the chief bonefuuMi-v n.i
trusted agentof that choice. Along mth
you, and second only to yourself in hnu.
er and distinction, a worthy Bon 0f ti,..
ancienc ana nonoraoie commonwealth of
New Jersey was chosen. On the 4 th day
of March following, under regulation of
our organic law, you, with your ilhis.
irious comjwer on me ucitet ho recently
successful, in the presence of counting
thousands of your admiring countrymen
were ujuuvktu imu tuo uigu irUMIS to
which you had been promoted. Your
entrance was hailed as a new imjietus to
the prosperity of the country. When
under power invested in you by law you
called to your bide your advisors, your
first choice fed on that poerleas states,
man from your own grand Common
wealth. Your second choice fell up()n
that successful financier from the "White
City by the Lake," the pride of the great
Prairie State of the West." Both thews
appointments were hailed with delight
and satisfaction from one end of the coun
try to the other.
In addition to the electoral vote of
those States which they bo loyally gave
you and the caue,you represented, each
displaced a Democratic Senator with a
Republican who could be relied upon to
uphold your administration in all of im
efforts to resuscitate the country from
the degradation to which it had sunk
under four years of Democratic control.
But with all the magnificent triumphs i f
the brilliant galaxy of loyal States thai
contributed to your election, there vvts
yet a void of Republican supremacy in
the Senate which, if not filled, would in.
evitably impede the progress of tho
promised restoration which your admin
istration was to give.
From away down South in Dixie's
Land, from a State which furninhed the
first blood at Big Bethel and the lat
sword at Appomattox, you heard the
welcome intelligence flash with the speed
of electricity, "We have furnished the
man. -We have filled the void in your
Senate. Will you, upon coming into the
majesty of your power, recognize our
labors and reward our patrioliHm'" For
the age of a generation we have been
loyally supporting the cause of Republi
canism. We it were in 1890 who made
the passage of your tariff law possible.
We it will be in 1897 who will again Bave
your measure from defeat. During all
these years we nave borne no part in the
administration of the affairs ot the coun
try in high places. None of our sons
have been recognized upon a political
equality with the sons of other States of
equal merit to ours. All the days of
these years we have been begging for but
the crumbs that fall from the table, and
our answer has always been a stone. Are
we to forever be met with this treatment?
Is the mijetic Potomac to be continued
a dead line to all our hopes and aspira
tions? ' Hope deferred maketh the heart
sick." Why allow this noble attribute
grow gray to the sickening of our souls?
We have ome noble repnwululives of
the best quality of fire-tried Ik-publican,
ism, peifectly willing, nay, anxious, to
be called on to do service for their coun
try, at home or abroad. Can we hear
the call?
Again, turning to the honored States
of New Jersey, Ohio and Illinois, whoHe
many worthy sons have recently been
called to high stations in your trunt and
the country's service, I want to mention
the fact that not one month has pasned
since all the great cities of those States
have passed upon a choice between the
party you represent and the opposition.
Disclaiming any intention of being rude
in referring to so soulless an anguinh as
the mere mention of the result in Uioho
cities produces, I want to ask you if you
remember the choice they made ; un
doubtedly you remember.
After meditating thoughtfully over the
disastrous condition that confronts your
party in its recent contests in those cities,
without once referring to the unsUblo
condition of their fidelity to your cause,
I beg you to again turn your ear to the
sunny home of the loyal, brave and true
in the grand old State of North Caro
lina, which so lately marched from under
the brightest pall of Democratic mid
night darkness and rescued your admin
istration from the peril of defeat in tho
Senate, and bear the message which the
wire brings from there to-night, an
nouncing that victory has been further
added to conquest, and Charlotte, Ashe
ville, and all the best cities have this day
passed their municipal government into
the hands of the party of progress and
prosperity. Like the old, old story, you
came to your own and your own received
you not, "but the stranger opened his
gate unto you."
Now, with this light before you, what
may we not ask at your hands? Will
you reward us according to our merit, or
shall we still be treated as aliens? Give
us your bounty and our final persever
ance in the good work of Republicanism
is assured. J. Wiley SHOOK.
Washington. May 3, 1897.
Miss N. D. Rogers ia summering at Old
Point Comfort, and having a delightful
time.
Music School
OF
KITTRELL INSTITUTE
KITTItELL, N. C.
FACULTY l
C. O. O'Kelly. A. M.. Dean.
Mrs. Lillian M. Hawkins, Principal.
J. W. Wilson. A. M., Choral Master.
W. A. Hammond, Conductor of Orchestra.
Miss Corinne L. Gibson, A. B., Teacher.
Miss Lula A. Norms, Assistant Teacher.
This School offers superior training in
the higher branches of music.
Branches Taught: Violin, Piano, Or
gan, Delsarte Culture, Music History,
Harmony, and Orchestration.
Boarding pupils in the Music School
are under the discipline or the Institute.
Three terms of nine weeks each.
For further information write
Mrs. LILLIAN M. HAWKINS,
Principal of Muaic School,
or a O. O'KELLY,
Dean of Faculty,
BOX 65, KlTTRELL, N. C.
School opens October 1st, 1897,