Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-11-23
TIE seHsME OF NATIONAL EDUCATION
SHALL II BE ENGAGED IN?

There are Indications that the debate
relative 70 the Federal Government en-
gaging in scheme to extend educational
advantages to certain needy sections of the
Union is to be renewed.
1t certainly is a question with two
sides. Oar own conviction has been
against it, but we have recognized the
force OF the arguments advanced IN sup
port of the scheme. Perhaps the boldest
and among the ablest of the friends of the
plan is Judge Tourgee.
He frankly admits that unless the safety
and prosperity of the nation, and the whole
nation demands it, the Federal Govern
ment has not the right to appropriate a
dollar in furtherance of the education of
any class or race. But as the reasons
why action is desirable are inter.
woven with the argument of the lawful
ness OF the scheme, it is impossible to con-
sider them separately.
The friends of the scheme say that
illiteracy in the South is rapidly in
creasicg that it is greater now than in
1870; that children are born faster than
they are educated to read that in South
Carolina, for instance, there are more Tilt.
crate voters than those who can read their
ballots that in Kentucky there are more
white than colored illiterates that in the
entire South from 40 to 50 per cent. of the
electors are unable to read ballot; that
sixteen States, where illiteracy is abnor-
NAL. constitute by their votes three-fourths
of & majority in the Electoral College,
more than two.thirds of majority in the
House of Representatives, and eight-ninths
OF a majority in the Senate.
But illiteracy in state would not be a
serious mem ce if the people were homoge.
neous in race, religion and occupation /; but
IF the main body of illiterstes in state
are distinguished from the intelligent by
race, creed or occupation, or if they are
copgregsted in a given section, and not in
another, then illiteracy becomes 8 source
of peril.
Now we come, in brief, to the conclusion
Of the argument of the friends of
the proposed system. ANY govern.
ment has an interest, two-fold in
character, in the intelligence of the citizen
or subject. The wealth of a community
depends upon the productive capacity of
its individuals. One who can read and
write is worth more as producer than one
who cannot. Intelligence increases the
value OF the Citizen as unit of the national
life. To tax the rich to educate
she children of all the people is a
right exercised only by the States.
While crime and pauperism are for
State consideration alone, it is matter of
common interest to State and Federal
Government that the citizen be capable Of
intelligently performing the citizens duty
The right of the Government to take ac-
sion IN the matter is based on the as
sumption that intelligence is necessary to
the proper exercise Of electoral power
Dat of this necessity must arise,
then, the law aud the authority and the
reader will therefore realize how this de-
bate must lead him into the old and worn
discussion Of the questions, "What con-
sttutes the nation ? To what extent may
it go without infringing the rights re-
served TO the States in the perpetuation
and advancement of an indissoluble
Union,"
For, says the advocate, each individual
voter-each coordinate king-muss have a
distinct and intelligent opinion in regard to
the questions which the collective sover-
eighty is called upon to decide; he must
be able to express that opinion by his bal.
lot he must be brave enough and honest
enough to resist corruption, defy violence
and defeat fraud. These things can never
be true of whole people, and in so far as
either of them is lacking the elective power
is debased, and the government ceases to
be the will Of true mkjOrity. The first
two essential: depend wholly upon intelli.
genee. The illitersts man may be right,
but he cannot know that he is SO. His
ballot may express his will, but he must
rely upon the assurance OF another that it
does The Intelligent voter may be wrong,
but be is far more likely TO be right than
If the whole world of printed facts is ex.
cluded from his consciousness. Intelli.
gence does not make the voter brave and