The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-12-14
National Education.

The subject OF national aid for educa-
tional purposes throughout the States is at
tracing earnest attention from Senators
and Congressman. The Fundamental the
DRY of our political system contemplates an
educated constituency, and in the degree
that the suifragans are restricted in their
educational advantages, must there be
want of appreciation of the broad and true
idea of governmen mt founded on the will OF
the people. The ballot is the form
through which the constituency participates
in the framing of laws and the institution
Of policies, and as that is exerc ised intel
lgently will conservative influence enter
into the enactments of the legislative power
There is no single fact which illustrates
so forcibiy the strength and durability OF
our form of government, as that the vast
iliteracy which exists throughout the
States is regulated and controlled by the
intelligent and educated of the American
people, and held under conservative re-
straints so as to administer to the genefal
welfare. This may arise from the TACT tha'
there is constantly going on an occult
training, from the cradle, in the love OF
country. Each citizen feels and realizes
that he is part of the government-that
an assault upon it is an assault upon nln'
and while he may not be able to explain
the cause which produces this effect, yet lt
rests deep down in his consciousness, and
is manifested on the least provocation.
When this patriotic devotion to popular lib
erty and the education which foster 1t IS
supplemented by universal intellectual
CULTURE and expansion and broader COM
prehension of the duties Implied by clti-
zenship, we may safely assume that the
greatest good to the greatest humber Will
be the final consummatiOn, and the Re-
public marcho on to its grand destiny OF a
perfect system of : government OF the.peo-
pie. for the people and by the people.
Referring to the subject special dispatch
to the Philadelphia Press from Washing
ton mentions the several bills to be consid-
cred, as follows, "-4't,r i'.-'.@+ T. .ta' ..H
The question of extending national aid to
education in the several States and Terrific
| ries will receive some attention at this SEES.
| sion of Congress, and it is possible that
| bill embodylng some of the most popular
| features of some of the many plans pro-
| posed may become law before the eXpira-
| ton of this Congress. Among the ideas
! on this subject that have found expression
( in bills introduced in one or other OF the
Houses is that of Senator Logan, who pro-
poses, to apply the proceeds OF the tax on
| whisky to educational purposes; that OF
| 10 ir xxhn We nj O
approprias for ten years, and that of
Mr.. sSherwin, of. Illinois, who wants di-
[rect annual appropriation for five years.
Senator Blair's scheme seems to be the
most comprehensive one. He proposes
that Congress shall begin by appropriating
] $I5, 000, 900, and appropriate gradually di-
minishing sum, $l,000000 less each year,
| for ten years, to be expended in securing
| the benefits of common school education to
all the children living I'D the United States.
| This fund he would divide among the
several States and Territories in proper
/ ton to the illiteracy of their population
according to the tenth census, and he would
commit its expenditure to the concurrent
action OF the Secretary of the Interior and
| the superintendent of public schools, board
| of education. or other bodies in the State
| in which the administration of the public
| school laws is vested. His bill also pro-
vides for the appointment by the President
of ii commissioner of education for each
State to superintend the details of the ex-
penditure Of the fund, and throws various
safeguards about its expenditure by the
States. Mr.. Sherwin'5 bill is somewhat
similar in It's general scope. to that OF Sen
ator Blair, and has been favorahy reported
to the House from the committee on edu-
cation and labor. II provides for annual
appropriations of $4,000, 600 for five years.
to be apportioned among the States and
Territories according to the iliteracy of
their population; no State to receive a
larger sum in any one year than it has ex-
i pended in the preceding year of its
own funds for the education of its chill
Edfen, without respect. to color. and makes
the commissioner of education the SUI
pervisor of the fund. Senator Blair
proposes to press his bill this session, and
MIR. Sherwin said to. day that he expected
to secure favorable consideration for his
measure. A good deal of quiet agitation
of the question isgoing on in both branches
of Congress, and will bear fruit before the
session expires.