The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-28

public meetings in New York; much less
Minister Sickles reports of his conversations
with Spanish Cabinet officer, on professed
intentions to govern Cuba in liberal way.
Now, whoever may be in fault for the Gov
ernments not being possessed of more facts
regarding this very important foreign ques-
ton, we ask, Is the paltry summary given
above q sufficient ground for the statements
embodied in the message or for any other
statements? And would not a mastery
silence, or a candid avowal of ignorance, have
been more dignifed position TO assume than
the bold unqualified affirmations which fell
like wet blanket on the hopes of the coun-
try, and chilled the generous resolves which
Congr ressmen were disposed to bring into
their legislative action?
Congress will now be able to Judge how
much weight is to be attached to the conclu-
sions drawn by the President and the Secre-
tary of State, under the superintendent of
Mr.. Sidney Webster. They need have no fear
of coming into collision with what is called
official information, but may boldly proclaim,
of their own motion, the existence of what
has been made evident to the public for the
last fourteen months, and at once grant bel
Egerent rights to the infant Cuban republic,
or, better yet, direct the proper recognition
of its independence.
~.----
THE PEABODY EDUCATION FUND.
From the N. Y. Times.
The report of Dr. Sears, of the operations
of the Peabody Education Fund, from the
beginning down to last July, is striking
comment upon the sterling patriotism and
wise benevolence of the dead philanthropist.
The original gift by Mr. Peabody amounted
to million dollars, and about eleven hun
dred thousand dollars more in Planters Bank
bonds and the object was the promotion of
intellectual, moral, and industrial education
in the Southern and Southwestern States. In
addition to this, Mr.. Peabody gave, in June,
1869, 81, ,3S4, 600 more in securities of vari-
Gus kinds. The trustees to whom these large
sums were consigned were given absolute dis
cretion as to the localities and manner of
carrying out Mr.. Peabody s intentions, which,
considering the social position and character
of the gentlemen selected, was a perfectly
safe course.
The first step after organizing which the
trustees took was to survey the field of opera
tions, and with that purpose DR.. Sears visited,
in 1867, and afterwards, the seven Atlantic
and Gulf States, beginning with the eastern
portion of Virginia and ending with Louis
lana. He was received with cordial welcome
by all the chief towns through which he
passed, and about sixty, selected with refer
ence to their influence in their respective
States, already, in July of 1868, had made ar
| rangements at his instance to organize public
free schools. 1t may be remarked that this
| method of action was from the first decided
| upon by the trustees. They stated their
| leading object to be the promotion of COM
mon or primary school education by such
| means as then existed or could be created.
| 1t is remarkable that only one town of all
those visited refused to cooperate in the esta-
| blisbmeut of the schools.
| The cost of public and private education
at the South was illustrated in curious way
| by the agencies created by Mr.. Peabody S
| gift. 1t was found that the whole of the
white children of the South could be edu-
| Gated in public schools at no more than the
cost of educating half the white children in
private schools. In 1868, up to july there
was $4,000 definitely, and $7S,000 condi-
| tionally, appropriated for these schools in
eight States, and other grants were subse-
quently made. But the money thus given
was much augmented by the people to whom
it was awarded, and the fund, therefore, not
| only promoted the education of the South
| directly, but stimulated the people to new
exertions of their own.
1t is unnecessary to go over the whole field
embraced by DIR. Sears report The aid to
the various States seems to have been given
with great discrimination and care. The
plan generally was to induce the establish
ment of primary schools, by undertaking
the chief cost of such, and of helping strug-
| gllnS lnStltutlonS Wnere Tree primaries were
impracticable. Students at normal schools
receive also some of the benefits of the fund.
There are now considerable number of per-
sons included in this category. The whole
report, in short, indicates earnest and intelli
gent work. The trustees do well to publish
it, for a good reason. They are not amenable
to public interference in any shape, and
might, if they chose, have declined to lay
themselves open to any criticism whatever
Adopting contrary course, and inviting al
who please to read their statement of accom-
plished results, the public is not only informed
upon a very interesting and important sub
iect, but is able to commend the spirit il
which they have interpreted Mr.. Peabody
wishes, and the care and faithfulness will
which those wishes have, SO far, been carried
into effect
| THE LATE EDWIN M. STANTON-MR
STEWART'S PROPOSITION.
| From the NJ Y. Herald.