Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-03-27
eureka Dailp 9entinel.
TUESDAY ..,.....-...MARCH II, 1883.
pnEpOyrEROUs PROJECT.

Wv
1t is at first rather startling, says the
New York Sun, to find that the editor
of the North American Review considers
Senator John A. Logan a competent
writer upon matters of education; but
the April number is enriched by an arti-
Gle ON s'National Aid to Public Schools, "
from the pen of that eminent educator,
who, after all, is doubtless able to dis
cuss illiteracy with the conviction which
comes only from experience. We regret,
however, that he is so profoundly pene-
trated by illiteracy an. its EFFECT upon
the general welfare" that he quite
n~eglects to give any reasons why any ma.
tional aid should be given to public
schools. ''We have reached that stage
in our progress he assures us, "when it
becomes necessary, if we would meet the
demands of the age, to provide means
for extending this system of common
schools in its most advanced and COM
plete form over the whole country. That
this can be done only by the General
Government must be admitted by every
one who will give the subject a moments
thoughtful consideration"
Most persons who give the subject
more than a moments consideration Will
not admit Mr.. Logan's proposition; but
thew will wonder at the monumental
mind which, starting from the admitted
facts that common schools are a good
thing and that each State has the right
to regulate education within its territory,
calmly asserts the right and duty OF the
General Government to encourage edu-
cation in the separate States.
Having settled the whole abstract
question, like the practical man he Is,
Mr.. Logan goes on to consider the
amount which the Government should
distribute annually among the States and
Territories in aid of their common
schools. He thinks that the amount
should be confined for the present to not
less than forty nor more than sixty mil
lions of dollars. This sum IS not to be
distributed among the States and Terri
tories in the ratio OF their illiteracy. but
share and share alike among the just and
unjust. Every State and Territory is
required to raise a sum equal to the Gov
ernment gratuity before it can receive its
share.
Mr.. Logan's paper is, Of course, ludi-
crous; and if it were not the constitu-
tional and economical objections. ignor-
antly passed over by him, to any plan
which commits the General Government
to interference with education in the sew
eral States, are sufficiently obvious.
But such plans would not be thought
of if the Treasury were not overfiowing.
Forty million dollars or sixty millions
a year is 4 nice little sum to handle, and
perhaps the Republicans would lose
some OF it in the process. Mr.. Logan
ought to have added S25, 900, 900 for sal.
aries OF persons to distribute the pro.
posed fund. 1t is easy to be benevolent
at the expense of the taxpayers, and
what do the philanthropists at Washing
ton care for the Constitution as long a:
there is a surplus?
When men of sense come into powel
they will find additional reasons fo
abolishing the internal revenue taxes and
reforming the tariff in such extra consti
t~utional and wasteful schemes as thi:
scheme of Government aid to State edu