Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-02-11

DelaWa are and Il snlu,ky.
The Bourbous of Delaware might
learn something to their advantage II
they wonld only open their mind, to
conviction, and watch the movements
that are made IN other States OF the
Sou tn, that have heretofore been ca. led
unprogresslve, TO ed ucate he masses OF
the people regardless OF nativity or color
Delaware has generally been supposed
to stand with Kentucky on the subject
of education, and while all the other
States of the South distinguished them
selves more or less in making provision
tor the education Of the colored people.
Delaware and Kentucky have been
drawn together by kind Of political
affinity and designated a. the States
that made no progress. But it now
looks as if Delaware was going 10 be
left far in the rear march Of improve
ment and liberality by Kentucky cut.
ting the chain that bound her to the po-
Utical pref udices OF the past, that ike
q deadly weight pressed her to the
, earth. What has Kentucky done to
show that she is progressing Moth
ing particularly yet, but it is encour-
aging to know that members Of the leg
islature of that State, who are BOurbuns
of the BourboDs, want to do something
which will result in giving colored
children the same opportunity to edu-
cate themselves az white children
have.
In the State Legislature the other
day, bill being under considera-
ton which provided for the consolida-
ton Of the white and colored school
fund in a certain county and its distri.
button pro rata among all the common
school pupils in the county, member
by the suggestive name Of Mul.igan.
moved an amendment making the pre-
visions of the bill general, instead Of
contining it to single county. In a
speech in support Of his proposition he
proclaimed himself a Democrat of the
old school, who had never faltered in
the faith, but said he was in favor OF
popular education for the reason that
an education makes the citizen better
citizen, and in so much as he is eluca-
ted, tends to better serve the State. 4"
he believed it to be for the interest as
well as the duty of TIE State to educate
them, and that the wealth Of the
State should be taxed for that purpose.
He pronounced the present laws OF
kentucky unjust and absurd With a
large population of colored people, who
are citizens and voters, " no crowd the
outskirts Of every town and village, and
are STEPPED in ignorance and POVERTY,
the State must decide whether 10 adu
cate them or keep them n ignorance.
he believed the best policy to w ia
educate the poorest, those who most
need it, first.
Bravo Muligan Those are seuti
ments worthy OF the most progressive
statesman Of the country. But then
who ever knew the Irish to be wrong
III the matter of education when their
minds were divested Of political preju-
diceS If Mulligan were to utter such
sentiments as those il Delaware, he
would have the whole Democratic
Bourbon press yelping at his heels, HI
would be accused by the Gazette Of al
attempt to force negroes into the puU
lie schools and of breaking them (rhr
schools up entirely. The Every w
ening would arrange its glasses III.
taking a glance at the Celtic refOrme
would accuse hun Of coming into IT,
State to abuse it and would straight
way peremptorily order him back 10 hi
own native blue grass bailiwick to b
reformed by old fashioned BourbO
politics and whis key.
But now to the main point, Nj
Mulligau takes The sensible and tb
Lniy sensible view that can be take
Of the subject. Very likely the pIoviE
ions in Kentucky under the old orLt
of things is far more liberal and jus
towards the colored people than the
are here in Delaware, where all thu
the Democratic party ever did for til
sflucatl6n Of the negro, was to make
paltry donation Of t2iOO, to be divide
amongst 5000 coloIed children Of sch
age, and yet Mr.. Mulligan lenouuc'
the Kentucky law as oppressive AZ
unjust. We wish we had some Den
Gratis of the Mu.ligan stripe in II
Delaware Legislature. But thai "
cannot have. TIE Democracy Of Deli
ware don't elect such men 10 Otiic
higher than Cry Councilman NJ
Mulligan sees that in free state tt
most suicidal policy is that whiC
through tigotry, prejudice r. narrow
ness withhold- from any portion If j.
citizens the opportunities for hrti
themselves for the duties and resyun.
bilitieS OF citizenship. Tie ,quaor at
6lth of its pesliIeuCe breeding denS a
not more fatal to the health Of Il IT,
city than llteracy and ignorance are
good the government and well being
society. 1t is not all matter Of DL
anthrOpy, in the marrow sense Of t
word, nor is 1t "A question Of merely d
ing justice to any particular class.
If rather a question OF stlt.d, fence. n
Muligan is the first Democrat tu adv
cate in the Kentucky Legislature
wise and hrral policy towards the |
Ia t,,l1. - I D.