Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-11-20
Largest Circulation in the District
Reading Matter on Every Page.
WASHINGTON CITY:
WEDNESDAY 20. 1874



There can hardly be q reasonable doubt that
some scheme Of popular education enforced by
general legis alton, and applicable to all of the
the states, Is required by our necessities as a
nation, End especially because of the great
political upheaval in our midst which resulted
IN the investment of four millions of people with
al the rights and privileges OF Americ an citizen
ship However much difference of opinion mas
existed III reference 10 the prOpriety of clothing
the race referred 10 with these rights, all we'll
Wishers OF their country recognize the fact and
are ready TO unite in some plan which has for
Its objects the educational, and consequently
the moral advancement Of our new fellow-citi-
zens. ASIDE from this peculiar view of the sub
ject there are millions of our people in the dir
ferent states and territories growing up without
even common school advantages, AMI st ltistics
SNOW taat a fearful amount of crime within our
national limits l. attributable 10 lack OF edu-
catiCnal privileges in youth. Thinking people
are now beginning to earnestly inquire, what
can be done to leayen this uncOuth mass of
ignorance" and statesmen are at last taking
up the matter with zeal that promises
salutaTy results. bill looking TO some
national policy in the direction OF popular
education was reported from the csmmittse on
education and labor during the last session of
Congress, and passed the House by fair
majority; il would doubtless have passed the
Senate, but want OF time prevented action
Inns measure which Is commonly known
Hears bill-it having been drafted BY the Hon
George +. HOsr OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
without in any way modifying the policy of the
government in regard to the disposition of the
public lands, that the net proceeds of the sales
Of such lands shall forever be consecrated to the
education OF the people; that one-half the net
proceeds in any year shall become permanent
fund, and the other half, together with the
interest accruiDg annually, shall be distributed;
that the Commissioner OF Education shall appOr-
ton the net proceeds of the previous year to the
several states and territories and to the District
Of Columbia, for the first ten years according
TO the rates Of the ilIiteracy of the people; that
the first state or territory providing for the free
education OF its children without regard to
color, shall be entitled to the first distribution;
and that 10 aPpOrtiOBment shall be withheld
from any state because OF separate schools for
white and black children.
The Commissioner of Education is almost
daily III receipt of communications from all
parts of the country calling his attention TO the
necessity OF some general system of education,
especially in the south, and highly commenting
Mr.. HOaT's bill as a step in the right direction
Nh. IF. Smith, formerly state superintendent
OF education in Kentucky, writes the commits
sloner an earnest letter, depicting the edlca-
IIohai ltces-ltlUs OF the south, and urging him
10 90 ali in his power 10 interest Congress and
the government in behalf OF the ignorant masses.
He says --'' Nothing il more certain than that
the great majority OF the poorer whites and the
cOlCTeC people Of tie southern states will grow
VI in the bsrbarisms and disabilities of igno-
rance, a. their parents have done, unless the
strong Al n and abundant resources of the fed
eTai government bring relief. Neither
the state or federal governments can afford to
be responsible for the perpetuatiOn OF ignorance
among it, subjects. The rearing and
peTpetUsting of such elements in our midst are
at war With our civilization, with our society,
and With every personal and private interest
IL the states will not provide the remedy the
general government should not hesitate. bill
something ike that OF Mr.. Hoar's with perhaps
some modification TO adapt il to our peculiar
wants, - well a. TO the common wants of the
whole country, is needed TO be passed by Con-
gTess al an early day, by which provision may
be made for such deficiencies Of WAYS and
means a may exist in each state, and looking
TO the guarantee of universal education among
the masses OF all races. If this is hot DONE in
my humble opinion, the rising generation will
grow W 10 be as the present, and the reproach
OF degrading ignorance will attach to the ma
ton as well a. TO the states"
The necessity for some genera legislation on
the suhl,c CT is apparent As 10 the exact charac-
ter Of Tat legislation our statesmen must de.
eide.