The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-18
DIR. Curry's Letters.

The two letters which DR.. CURRY re-
Gently addressed to u, and which were
published In the Dispatch Of the 9th,
have attracted q good deal OF attention ana
evoked no little comment. The Provi-
dence Or. ~ Journal tackles the Doctor
as follows:
DIR. CURRY IN ExTENso.-The Rich
mond (va.) Dispatch, which repels our
unaffected interest IN the welfare OF
the South by calling US uncharita,
ble. plumplv asked the Rev. DIR. Curry, OF
Richmond. the general agent OF The tr'ls-
tees OF the Peabody Education Fund,
what differences there were. from the con-
stituiional point Of view, between the
Blaine scheme TO give the states money
from the Federal Treasury and the bar
scheme. The Doctor, In two columns,
contT1yes not 10 answer the question, but
he SAYS a good many things quite worthy
OF consideration. As for Mr.. Blaine's
scheme, Or. Curry says "it has not the
semblance Of foundation in any OF the
enumerations Of Federal power" And he
cloUently puts the suggestion made at
once by the Journal that such policy car
red out would in great degree wipe out
the sclf-rcspect and self-sustalning power
Of the States. Says Or. Curry: Each
state would soon sustain to the central
dominating head the relation which coun-
tv does 10 the State, all federal features
would disappear, and we should have one
supreme national government with para
mount control over the States" The Doe
tor 80 far is clear. He goes to first princi-
pies. He looks first 10 the Constitution,
and then he argues the case upon the fun
damental laws Of human nature and cXpe-
ricnce. He Is as clear a. daylight. There
is neither hesitation nor ambiguity. The
abstract proposition is enforced with all
the rhythm. no; to say redundancy, OF
southern rhetoric.
Turning TO the Blair scheme in aid Of
education in the States, after preliminary
flourish, complimentary Of Virginia, DR..
Curry lays down the posiulate that "the
management OF popular education in the
States should not be surrendered to the
Federal Government But Congress
should appropriate, for term OF years,
money, most OF which would 90 TO the
South. Let us say at the outset, rs deci-
dedly rs the Dispatch would say. that we
accept the words quoted Of Dr. Curry
rs wise and just; and this, although
the nation should DO what he asks
it to do. But in this proposition, rs
il stands without qualification. has Or.
Curry covered the whole ground? The
management OF State schools should not
be surrendered to the Federal Government.
But if the Federal Government gives the
State money, Is it not TO have any voice as
10, or control over. the expenditure Of Sald
money? The Dispatch answers No.
1
and we understand it. The Doctor does
not reply TO that interrogatory. Nobody
ever supposed that the State would be
called upon to give into the hands Of Con-
gress the supervision OF the state schools
absolutely. But between this and cXer-
cising no control over the money it appro-
pirates there is 4 wide space, and scope FOR
compromise and legislation.
When DR.. Curry comes to his argument
i'm favor OF national aid To education III the
South. we are disposed TO listen to him
with great sympathy. Ii we do not accept
his reasoning a. conclusive. we like II a
great deal better than the siurring over OF
the main question. Granted that Con-
greSS would appropriate hundred or TWO
millions OF dollars. upon what terms should
it be given: That is q question to be SET
tied in advance: the answer i Il condition
precedent TO the gift. The Dispatch an
swers that there shall be no conditions;
the whole business is Unconstitutional.
Or. Curry makes no sign. 80 that from
the South we get no aid in the endeayor to
give it money. even ii ultra constitution
ally. IN such wise aS TO preserve the dig
nifty and safety of the state, at the same
time securing the rights OF authority OF
people making a donation.