Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-26

The question OF aiding popular education
from the federal treasury is receiving consider
able attention at present. la fact, this subject
has been more or less discussed since President
Hayes publicly declared himself IN favor OF the
general government contributing towards the
education OF the masses He alluded, In his re-
marks upon this question particularly to the
illiteTate condition OF the colored population of
the south. and The necessity of providing for
them greater facilities than now exist for ac-
quirlDg education and fitting themselves for the
duties and Responsibilities Of citizenship. Re-
Gently Senator Brown, CT Georgia, has taken
substantially the same ground, and the Indfca-
lions are that the iCea is growing Ia favor north
and south. The agitation OF the question
win probably, lead to It's consideration In Con
gress this winter. The plan for assisting poDu-
lar education with government means, when
seems 10 &c generally endorsed by those who
have considered it, IS embodied In bill which
is pending before the present Congress THIS
bill provides that the proceeds Of the sales OF
public lands Shall be distributed among the
states for educational purposes, according to
the initeTacy or the population. This measure
has been twice reported favorabIy from the
House committee Oh education and labor. we
believe, unanimously. II was brought up and
discussed III the last Congress and failed
because OF objection 10 some OF the minor pro.
visions and not 10 the purpose OF the bill
There was considerable opposition TO the clause
for the distribution OF The money, according to
the fllieTacy III population, 1t being held by the
directors that the distribution ought to be In
proportion To population.
When the bill shall come before Congress
again no doubt, this feature OF 1t will still be the
Done Oh content L Very much depends upon
the method OF d.~CTfbltion. President Hayes
nd IL hot
mental aid for general education base their
argument mainly upon the necessity OF educat-
ing the colored people of the south. The states
or that section maintain that they are doing all
within their power IN this direction but that,
owing 70 the large proportion or 1lllteracy,
created by enamel patton, and the poverty OF the
people, caused By results OF the rebellion. this
power Is limited; that tGe whites OF the south
realize The receSSity CT educ ating the blacks
but cannot 90 them justice without impov-
erishtpg the states. III, then, the real pur-
pose or the bin we have referred to, is to extend
educational facilities Is the increasing colored
population OF the south, the money to be con
tIfbuted by the general government, for popu-
lar instruction should be distributed according
TO rliteracy of pOpluti0n. II, On the other hand
the ground IS taken that the government must
not show any Partially in It's favors, but must
bestow its generosity upon all alike, then the
money should be distributed in proportion ID
population, by which, OF course, the rich north
would get much the larger share. This Is the
question that really endanger5 the passage Of
the bill Members OF Congress from every state
VIII probably feel that they owe it 10 their con
StituentS TO procure for them all the benah ts
possible from any educational measure, and
this would constitute majority In favor OF dis
tr1butins the money in proportion TO population.
There is 10 longer heard in connection with
this subject, the old slates-rights plea which
formerly was made prominenI-that the sub
lect OF education belonged to the states, and
must be left 70 then The south, where states
rights has ruled n the past, seems TO De
nearly unanimous n favor OF aiding public
education from the federal treasury. TIE
Louisville CO'n-ier-JOuTRa} one of the most in
fuential OF all the southern papers, expresses
the hope that President Garfield VIII In his
inaugural address recommend the passage OF
the bill we have alluded to.