The banner-enterprise., 1883-10-13
NnIf ol9IdmO1 3 sHYf \ tN9iiB
ii Editor and Proprietor
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noitnoynoo edt NO. 23j!

ever, was fearful, over thirty per oent. OF
her white and seventy per cent. Of the |
colored population being illiterate. Ken.
tucky Rad $4,000. Aliterate white and
55.D00I AliterateI eoloFed ycterS The |
same condition Of things existed, in all the
Southern States, 90 that there was about
|. 1850, 900 illitsrstei voters in tbe South.
What had already been done toward cd
ucatibg the negro was very encouraging, /
and the result should only stimulate
toward greater efforts. He spoke OF
slavery AID thanked God that the negroes
were free. They had been brought 10
this country by cruel compulsion, apd
Though they we're free, thev we're still
the slaves Of ignsrsnee.a y The ignorance
of the negro was scarcely more appalling
than the illiteracy Of the whites. The
extension of Federal aid to the cause OF
education, he held, should be made upon
general principles. II should be immedi-
ate to relieve the present exigencies.
The States should help themselves, and,
in turn, should receive assistance from
the General Government. The measure
should lie outside OF party politics, from
which education should be far removed.
The speaker said that the constitutional
ty Of the measure would scarcely be ques-
toned, and in closing Mr.. Curry gave
recital of the perils that beset the free
institutions of this country from llliteracy,
and said it was the duty Of every one in
time of peace to guard against internal
foes. The country needed school houses
and good teachers, and no better use Of
portion Of the immense revenue OF the
United States could be made than by
applying 1t to the advancement Of educa-
ton. #-tl .-,..i.qf '...bq
At the close Of Mr.. Curry's remarks,
Gen. Eaton arose and asked that the
lion. A. s. Willis, member of Congress
from the Louisville District, speak on the
subject Of Federal aid to schools. 10 sub
stance Mr.. Willis said that if Kentucky
gave, in proportion, the same support to
her schools that Massachusetts, did, she
would have to raise fund OF 81 100000.
Though Kentucky was better off than
most Of the Southern States, about one
fourth of the voters could not read the
ballots they cast. The speaker then cited
several instances of where Southern cities
supported excellent school systems by
heavy taxation. The South, the speaker
thought, was doing her best, but she
needed assistance from the government.
He was IN favor of proportionlng the aid
extended by the National Government to
the amount of school fund raised by each
of the various States. He did not mean
by this that the Federal Government was
to take control Of the school system, but
it was simply to supplement whatever the
States themselves might do in educating
their people. The government would
have no trouble in furnishing the money
necessary for this aid, since the surplus
revenue in the treasury, he said, is about
100000, 600 annually. He estimated
that in FIVE years $500, 1000, 900 vii! have
accumulated in the treasury. No better
use could be made Of this immense sum
chan to devote part Of it to aiding the
spread Of education throughout the whole
country. He held that the question Of
Federal aid was a national one in which
the North and the South were alike In
terested. ,f e.. .-,,,g...L
Congressman Fl. D. Money, of Missis-
sippL followed Mr.. Willis, favoring the
same principles set forth by the other
speakers, and said the South had broken
loose from her old moorings into the
broad stream of life. He was tor Federal
aid, because upon it depends the per-
petuity of national institutions. A bill
embodying the principles enunclated
here will, he said, be presented to Con-
gress, and before ten years u will be q .
matter of wonder that any diversity OF
opinion ever existed.
DR.. Dickerson, secretary of the State
board Of education Of Massachusetts,, ia
vored the extension of Federal aid. DR..
Basel Manly, president Of the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville,
next spoke. He addressed his remarks
mainly to the condition of education in
the South. This concluded the discus
sion Of the subject of Federal Aid to
Education and the next taken up was
the education of the colored race. The
discussion was opened by Professor W.
lJ. Simmons, colored, Of the Baptist
Theological Seminary, who covered a very
wide field, going outside any reasonable
probabilities in his demands for his peo
pie. Simmons is a bright fellow, but
Idocs not know when he has good thing
for his people. pr. Bennett, Of the Fish
University, Nashville, followed Professor
Simmons in thoughtful address in the
interest Of the colorcd people, and the
convention adjourned for the day..
TUE CLOSE OF. THE CONVENTION.
J On Friday, the 2lst instant, the con
I yeution closed its labors. Among the
topics discussed during the day was
The best system of schools under State
control ssa..#l #J y...ir, La Llt
The following resolution offered by Mr.
O. II. Bafteau, Of Tennessee, was defeat
! ed after some discussion: yf s+l.
WHEREAS, The Federal Government
: collected from the cotton growing States
PRIOR to February, 1868, over $1,000,
900 as cotton tax, which is now in thu
Treasury of the United States, and which
tax, has been declared by the Supreme
Court OF the United States to have beer
illegally aud unconstitutionslly collected
and it would now be impossible 70 return
it to the individual owners thereof at thi'
late day; therefore f
Resolped That it is the sense OF thi
convention that it is the duty Of Congress
to return this money to the States Il
which it was collected as a school fund, II
be used by them in aid of the mean
! which they already have, or may hAv'
from any source in the future.