The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-28
Mr.. Blaine's Bid-Mr. Blairs Scheme

Mr.. Blaine's Bid-Mr. Blair's Scheme.
We said in commenting upon two letters
which DR.. CURRY recently addressed to us
that he had by no means satisfied us that
there was any difference as to their consti-
nationality between Mr.. BLAINE's scheme
to give absolutely to the several States
moneys collected by the United States, and
Mr.. BLAIR's scheme TO appropriate such
moneys to the several States to be used
only for educational purposes. We have
rather favored this latter scheme, but with
the understanding that the Federal Gov
eminent was to have nothing in the world
to do with the money after it had been paid
over TO the several States. The Providence
Or. ~ Journal asserts the right of Federal
supervision, ard claims that DR.. CURRY
agrees with that paper and not with us.
1t is very interesting question, and will
soon in all probability become practical
one. We therefore reproduce from our
Providence contemporary the following
article:
DIR. CURRY FOR HIMsELF.-The Rev. J.
l.. NJ. Curry, LII. d.. agent of the Peabody
Educational Fund, whose intelligent zeal
in aid OF the administration thereof has
ELECTED the encomiums Of the trustees, has
presented to US some Information in regard
to his views as to Federal aid to education,
which Is new and gratifying. DIR. Curry
will readily understand that his exposition
Of his doctrine, as given at Washington.
might easily escape our attention, and that
In commenting upon bis letters to the
Richmond Dispatch we could not account
for his apparent reticence upon particu-
lar point, by the fact that he suggests that
the readers OF that paper are familiar with
his theory. That theory IL, TO use the
words OF DIR. Curry, that:
]. Universal education Is a sine qua non
for the security and the prosperity OF this
republic.
III. Universal education Is the work OF
government, and must be furnished in O
large measure by government action and
government revenues.
III. This work Is primarily that Of State
governments. With 1t, In the first in.
stance, the National Government has no
thing to do. Primarily and chiefly ii is the
duty OF the States to furnish this educa
ton.
Nv. The southern States cannot AIDE.
quately cope with this problem; IL is 10,
them an impossibility.
v. "Those in the South who have been
friendly to the establishment of public
schools have not been numerically the ma.
1orify OF the population OF the South.v
vi. The question of the authority of
Congress, constitutionaIly speaking, 10
make appropriations in aid OF education
Cue Doctor thinks demonstrabe. but he
puts the matter upon the basis Of the :. old
maxim that the safety Of the republic is
, the supreme law.'v
But that which we have asked Is upon
wnM terms this national aid should be af-
rorded, and DR.. Curry Ia explicit In this
regard SO Tar as the principle Is concerned.
we give his own lang nage: estate systems
should not be superseded. The General
Government should act In cooperation with
State authorities, and not adopt sny plan ar
practice or method which will aubordInafe
them. The Government has the right. and
u In duty bound TO follow the appropria.
ton 70 zee that the money Is properly ap-
piled. Any incorporation OF the money
or departure from the conditions OF the
grant should he followed instanter by a
Withholding Of the remainder OF the ap-
prOpriation."
The policy Of DR.. Curry Ia perfectly CON-
prchensible. lie goes as far a. any man
need 20 who rs not responsible for the
framing OF the necessary statute. The
foundation OF bis claim Is ultra-constitu-
HonsL II Is not therefore, necessarily