Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-12
Speech by President HAYES.
HIS VIEWS ON IMMIGRATION, EDUCATION TT
SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE SOUTH, ETC.


HIS VIEWS ON IMMIGRATION, EDUCATION. THE
SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE SOUTH ETC.
President Hayes begun hisspeech at the grand
reunion CT ex-sOidlers and eX-sa1lors In Coluun.
bus. Ohio, yesterday, by saving that the citizens
o. Chic Who were soldiers In the Union army
jofce that they had the glorious priyilese OF
enlsting and serving on the right side In the
great conflict for the Union and Tor equal l,ghts
He referred to the fact that during the civil war
and the years which preceded and followed IL
Immigration fell off, and became OF Compare
lively small Importance. But now the prospert-
ty OF the country and the stability of the gov.
nment have given to the world confidence in
the future welfare and greatness OF the United
States which is pouring upon our shores such
before. He then continued as follows:N..it is
easily seen what 1t is that chiefly attracts
this immigration. 1t goes where good land is
cheap; where labor and capital find profitable
prevail, and where civil and religious liberty
are secure. If we draw nearer to the subject.
and ask where In our own country does this
whose results we are now getting. gives us the
answer. That census shows us parts OF our
country, where land Is cheap and where capi-
ial and labor are needed. that are not rapidly
Increasing In population. In these states Ii will
be found that two things are wanting: the
means for popular education are not sufficiently
provided, and the good order Of society is dis
tulbed by practical popular refusal TO accept
the results Of the war for the Union. These
Two defects, wherever they prevail In our
American society, are hostile to the increase OF
population and to prosperity. They are found
generally to exist together. Where popular ed
ucation prevails the equal rights amendments
10 the constitution OF the United States. en-
Ut must, perhaps, be conceded that there was
one great error in the measures by which it
was sought TO secure the reSultS-tO harvest
the fruits OF our Union victory. The system OF
slavery III The south OF necessity kept in ignof-
ance 4, 10000 OF slaves II also left unprovided
with education large number of non-slava-
holding White people. With the end OF the war
tie slaves inevitably became citizens The
uneducated whites remained as they had been.
also CITIZENS. Thus the grave duties and re-
sEoIsibiltieo OF citizenship were devolve1
iargely III the states lately in rebellion upon
uneduca!ed people, white and colored And
with what result? Liberty and the exercise OF
The rights OF citizenship are excellent educators.
IN many respects we are glad to believe that
encouraging progress has been made at the
south. The labor system has been reorganized,
material prCsI Gritty is increasing race preju-
dices and antagonisns have diminished, the
passions and animosities OF the war are sub
siGlEg, ana the ancient harmony ard concord
and patriotic national sentiments are return
ing. But after all we cannot fail to observe that
immigration, which so tnfallibly and instinc-
tries Goes not largely go into the late slave
holding region Of The United States. 4 great
deal OF cheap and productive land can there be
fGand 1adsin where o population IS not rapidly In
ADOPTED the ordinance OF 11SI for the govern
rent Of the Northwest territory, out of which
ONO AID tour other great states have been
ung Tito that organic law firm prohibition
against slavery, and providing effeCtual guar
anteeS or civil and religious liberty, but they
stitutions they wished to build, this article
Religion, morality and knowledge being neces-
safy 10 good government and the happiness OF
mankind, schools and the means Of education
shall forever be encouraged Unfortunately for
The complete success Of reconstruction in the
south, this stone was rejected by its builders
say saKery ~ nag been destroyed by the war; but its
the south of that intelligent seIrgovernment
without which, In America at least, great and
permanent prosperity is impossible. To
RIpe'qahte 1h the er Union and to abolish slavery
1ne uneducated Is the appropriate work OF
peace. AS long as any considerable number OF
cur country men are uneducated the citizenship
OF every American In every state is impaired In
value, and Is constantly impeIiled. 1t is plain
that At the end OF the war the tremendous
charge in the labor and social systems OF the
lshment OF the conflict, added to the burden of
lhe1r debts, and the loss OF their whole ctrcu-
lat1ng medium. which died In their hands, left
the people OF those states In no condition to
proFide 1or universal popular education. In q
recent memorial to Congress On this subject In
FbaH OF the trustees OF the Peabody educa-
t;onal fund, Hon. A. II. Fl. Stuart, OF Virginia
SHOWS that two millions OF children fn the
southern states are without the means OF in
stIuction,' and adds, with great force where
lhl ons OF citizens are growing up In the grossest
ignorance, II Is obvious that neither Individual
charity nor the resources OF Impoverished states
VIII De su1hcient to meet the emergency. Moth
lhg short OF the wealth and power or the federal
government will suffice to overcome the evil.
The principle applied by general consent to
WORKS OF puollc improvements is in point. That
principle is that whenever a public improve
ment Is OF national Importance, aud local and
private enterprises are inadequate to its prose-
cufton, the general government should Under
take It. On this principle would deal with the
question Of education by the aid OF the national
government. Wherever in the United States
he local systems OF popular education are mad.
tquate they should be supplemented by the gen
eral government by devoIing to the purpose, by
suitable legislation and with proper safeguards.
me mel public lands, or If necessary, appropriations
from the treasury Of the United States. The
soldier OF the Union has done Ills work, and has
done 1t well. The work Of the schoolrnaster is
Low In order. Wherever his work shall be wei
done, fn all our borders, it will be found that
there also the principles of the Declaration Of
independence will be cherished, the sentiment
Ct nationality will prevail, the equal rights
amendments will be cheerfully oDeyed and
there will be 1.-The home Of freedom and the
]efuge OF TIE oppressed OF every race and OF
every Cline"