The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-01-25
r.,,onal Aid for Education.


we are gratifed to note the unan-
E;tv With which the proposition Is
Ade for an expression by our Legisla-
re in favor of Federal aid for educa-
nal purposes among the States IN
oportion to the illiteracy Of their pop
atoms. Ordinarily We would not
yor such scheme, but the case IS an
;ceptional one. The Federal govern
ent went outside of the Constitution
enforce an emancipation act and to
vest the colored population OF the
nth with the responsibilities of
sedom and participation in the
ntrol of the government. It is
greater stretch of power to aid
qualifying them for the duties it has
volved upon them. It conferred
-eibly upon them the right of suffrage
4 other responsibilities of citizen
p, and it ought as a consequence to
I'd some assistance in fitting them for
proper exercise of that right. With
iorance prevailing among any large
.tion Of the community there is sure
be crime, vice, pauperism, neglect Of
bic health, bad administration of
.tice, violence and corruption at cleo
MS, and thousand other attendant
Is. Briefly stated, this is the case
ich they propose submitting to
ngress. 1t is one that merits
lsideration. Certainly if there
any sincerity in the Re
bIican regard for the negro
,e, that party will vie with Southern
embers in providing educational facl
es for the freedmen and their off
ring. Republicans will hardly so act
to render themselves amenable to
reflection that they desire for their
yn purposes to maintain the existence
large class of ignorant voters.
here will no doubt be objections to
oting money aid, but We do not under
and that assistance will be asked for
that shape The suggestion is that
le receipts from the public lands shall
4 part be applied to the formation of a
md available for educational uses
lost of the Western States have re-
eived large grants of land from the
yational Government for school pur-
oses, and if it were wise and proper and
God public policy to afford them such
id, there is at least as sound reason for
ranting like assistance to the education
f the ignorant poor in the Southern
tates. 1t is a strong case that is pre-
ented to Congress and persistently
rged 1t is difficult to see how, under
be circumstances, it will be possible to
efuse granting some measure Of relief.
resident Arthur in his message urged
be measure. He recommended that
be different States should receive as
in proportion to the number
f uneducated persons as shown by the
ensus.
Let the voice of our people be heard
trough the Legislature.
Section Z of the bill pending in Con-
ress is in these words. 1t will be seen
hat whatever is done under it, will be
one subordinate to the State and local
The design of this act not being to estab-
sh an independent system of schools, but
ather to aid for the time being in the de-
clipping and maintenance of the system es-
lblished by local power, and which must
ventually be wholly maintained by the
tates and Territories wherein they exist, il
hereby provided that no part of the
honey appropriated under this act shall be
aid out in any State or Territory which
nall not, during the first five years of the
peration of this act, annually cxpend for
ne maintenance of common schools, free to
Il, at least one-third of the same which
nall be allotted to it under the provisions
ereQf, and during the second five years OF
S operation sum at least equal to the
hole of it shall be entitled to receive I'M
er this act, etc.