Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-08
AIDTO EDUCATION.

OF Religion
The Rev. A. D. Mayo. of Boston, deliver
ed an interesting lecture at Plymouth
church to large congregation last night,
taking as his subject the important theme
of National Aid to Education"
In commencing the reverned speaker
called the attention of the congregation
to two bills now before congress, having
in view national aid to elementary educa-
ton on the ibasis of illiteracy in all the
states, and attention was then called to
the senate bill by Mr.. Blair which proposed
to appropriate during the next ten years
$10O,OO0,OOO to be distributed on the basis
ofilIiteracyof citizens over ten years of age
This money was to be donated exclusively
for common schools, non-sectarian in
character, and one-tenth was to be used
for the training of common school teach
ers. Allusion was then made to the house
bill reported by Mr.. Sherwin, of Illinois,
providing that the sum of $10,000,000 be
appropriated annually for five years on
the same basis, for similar purposes.
Both of these bills, he said, permit states
with only per cent. of illiteracy to use
their portion in any way for the promo
ton of common school education; the
house bill differed from the senate in leav-
ing out the elaborate machinery for gov
eminent inspection.
The speaker then went on to describe the
features and workings of both bills, stat
ing that the old and new states would re-
ceive considerable sums. In the house
bill, New York would receive $352,000;
Ohio, $21I, 900; Illinois, $233,OOO each.
Under the senate bill the sums would be
much larger at first, gradually decreasing.
Both bills. he said.had been thrust aside at
previous sessions and the subject now await
ed the action of the present short session.
The necessity of prompt action was here
advocated by the speaker, who called at
tention to the great interest manifested
by both the press aRd the public.
No subject of legislation was more ripe
for decisive action; such action was in
the direct line of public policy and had
been recommended by Thomas Jefferson
and his successors. The propriety of
making school grants of land was then
spoken of at length, and statiStios were
given to show the large donations OF the
several states east of the AlleGhanies.
Few statesmen, he eaid, seemed to realize
the Importance of the subject; it did not
contemplate making constant support Of
education necessary, but TO laid the great
commonwealth together by 4 system OF
national encouragement ana Ri&.
be speaker then referred 70 the ooAdi-
ton of education and illitSYaey in the
South, alludirE to the revival nov Undsr
way in educational matters. and Ssnpar-
ing the spirit OF progresslVenssS with the
terrible sloth snd bsSottinE iGHOrsnes
which hitherto prevailed and still prevailed
in some localities, tables Of illitsrAsy BE-
ing read to fortify his remarks. OOHtiHU-
ing on this branch Of the subjSsh he said:
It is probable that the southern people
this year will sXpend $16. 100000 altogether
for education. A widespread revival Of
educational interest now extends frem she
Potomac and the Ohio TO the Rio Grade.
New Virginia is really about Nc far elOng
in the establishment Of the fPee-soA0ol Sys-
tsm Gs Old England; the movement in
both countries really beginning about
1870. Yet this large work is RiSeFAbly in
adequate to the demand. In their most
favored cities thousands of children cannot
be taught, and the open country, largely
from the poverty of the people. il strong
hold Of ignorance. Of the school popula
tions generally less than oRe-haf are en-
rolled, and the schools suffer greatly from
vagrancy and absenteeism. Twice the pres
ent amount expended is the least sum that
can establish an effective system of ele-
mentary schools for six months in the year
in the country, and eight or nine months
in towns or cities, while for the present the
secondary and higher education can ex-
pect little public aid. The political dis
orders of the franchise in the South are no
reason for Withholding, but for making
haste to afford this aid. This malignant
disease of the debasement of the franchise
is the logical outcome of the lower region
of American society. No generation of
politicians in this republic can be expected
to Withstand such temptations as the pres
enoe of great, ignorant, superstitious,
credulous, and vicious voting population
affords. The best people in all eur states
are doing what is possible to stem this
tide. But saints don't walk in brigades,
even on Boston common; and no Anglo
Saxon people was ever known
to submit to the gov
eminent Of an inferior class, even though
the numerical majority. Every state has
its own way of trying to avoid the danger
of government of ignorance by irrespon-
sible classes. The Southern methed may
be more crude and defiant, but it is no
more criminal or dangerous than methods
that obtain largely in every great city and
most of the states of our Union. The only
cure for this American plague is to educate
the people out of the hands of corrupt
leaders. 1t is a work of generations, but
affairs are now desperate, and to-day is the
accepted hour for repentance and amend
ment. The one thing needful is to bring
congress up to fair consideration of the
emergency. A weeKs discussion would
bring out the reasons for the measure so
fully, and so arouse the country, that it
will not be possible to wreck the meas
ure on any question of detail. We
need fully $10,OO0,OO0 for five years for
elementary schooling and the training of
teachers. This benefaction will not hurt
the North, while it will come like the
bread and water of life, through a realm of
thousands of miles to millions of children.
Ten years, perhaps five years of national
aid, with the great awakening in its behalf
through the North, will enable every state
and territory to root firmly the public
school, and make universal education the
rule through the republic. And out Of
this, with the cooperation of all the up