Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-05
Popular Education.

Over Burnsides education bill the north
and the south INDUCED in cordial hand
shaking across the bloody chasm which war
and politics have created between sections
whose fraternal relations should be as free
and as hearty as are those of the east and
the west. This bill was the tender Of an olive
branch by the north to the south, pledge
of genuine, substantial good will which will
outweigh in fruitful results and outlive in
influence the ELUSIVE declarations of the
commanders Of visiting military companies
at Bunker Hill centenaries, or the gushing
protestations of champagne-inspired orators.
The spirit in which representative southern
senators accepted the tender, and the con-
fession with which the acceptance was &C.
companied Of the need of the extension Of
the advantages Of education into the Hitter
ate communities of the SOUTH augur well
for the growth in national grace and intelli-
gent patriotism of section which every
citizen must wish to see brought into pleas
ant and harmonious relation with every
other section of the Union. Mutually to
understand and trust each other 10 seek
no political or commercial advantage each
would not have the other enjoy, is the broad
foundation on which fraternity will rear her
temple, and popular education is the chief
stone of the corner in that foundation.
When, therefore, illiteracy is the basis on
which the distribution of national educa-
tional fund is rendered and frankly accepted
there seems to be substantial ground to hope
that the old sectional wounds have at length
commenced to heal at the bottom, and that
the decade during which this basis of dis
tribution is stipulated to endure will wit
ness a grand advance in the great and
effective healing process.
Illiteracy is common peril in the great
cities of the north. 1t is no less peril
throughout the southern states, where illit-
eracy has its greatest area. The Union, in
the view Of this scheme, might be divided
into the educated and the illiterate sections,
and the bounty this measure contemplates
is practically agift from the educated to the
illiterate states. The bill provides that the
interest at four per cent on all the net re-
ceipts from the sale Of public lands and
from patent fees shall be divided for ten
years among the states and territories &C.
cording to the percentage of illiterate per.
sons. The receipts from these sources are
estimated at about 81 100000. The amount
apportioned for the first year would there
fore be $60,000,f for the second year $4,000,
and would increase in arithmetical progress.
sion during the ten years with a common
difference of 100000 amounting in the
tenth year to 100000, or to s3,3OO,OOO in
the ten years. If this estimate is realized,
and the money is honestly and efficiently APP
piled, a ten years trial of this scheme
should convert the wilderness Of illiteracy
in this country into paradise of enlighten-
ment. In view of the prevalence of illit-
eracy it might be regretted that the govern
ment could not begin with the last term of
the series, 100000, and distribute its bounty
in descending series but the wisdom and
experience in the use of the money acquired
from year to year will enable the trustees of
the government to apply its bounty more
effectively by commencing with the smaller
sum,-ten-fold more wisdom and experience
may fairly be demanded for the stewardship
of 100000 annually than for 100000. Nor
is it intended to supplant the state govern
ment in the maintenance of schools, but
merely to supplement and encourage local
effort. The bill further provides that one
third of the money assigned to any state
shall be given to the colleges established in
them under the act of 1862. The bill is
" sectional" as ignorance is sectional, but
the common sense and the patriotism of the
country will heartily approve it.