National Republican., 1883-01-13
National Ala for Edpco,io,.

National Aid FOR Education.
! II is wcl enough to discuss the manner in
which money that may be appropriated by
the general government for educational pur-
poses shall be disburscd. Instead Of peovish
objections as to what either the federal N the
state authorities may, must, might, could,
would, or should do in the promises, it would
be much moro agreeable if we could assume
that each would be disposed to con-
cedc more than the other would be willing
to suggest. II the amount should be
apportioncd in proportion to the illitcracy
shown by census returns then 1t would so
happen that the larger portion would 20 TO
the southern states. This is but result of
conditions Of society for which the present
generation is only in part responsible. If
the education Of the people is to be attained it
must be through friendly agencies.
/ The illitcracy which prevails among the
negroes of the south is one Of the evils aimed
at by the advocates of national aid. But is 1t
wise to ignore the fact that the negro has eno-
mics in the south who are welded to the task
of proving that his race is not adapted to tho
civilization which rests upon sohool-houscs
and billot-boxcs2 We know the answer that
will be made by such enemies. They
will Indignantly deny any feeling of
hostility to the black man, and viii
claim, on tho contrary that he IS u
favorite among southern people, by whom
alone he is known and understood. They
will insist that Mt the north he is denied the
familiarity and friendship which he enjoys
al the south. This is partially true. 1t is
just one of those "nggarlly half truths -
which is always so dangerous because it con-
fuses both sides in discussion. Here is the
analysis of the matter. Some southern peo.
pie like "civil" negro, "who knows
how to keep his place." US they
phrase it, just as they like a horse or a hound
Ellis place" is that of a scrvilc dependent, in
whom the least manly independence is "im-
pudcncc.' If he acts toward them any diff
fercntly than when he was slave he cNcitcs
their anger. His emancipation they are
wholly rcconcicd TO-, for he is no longer a
charge upon them in infancy, sickness, or old
age. If he knows ''his place." that is, if he is
poor, cringng, bonelcss, irrcsolutc, weak
creature, or if he prctcnds to be so
las he often does for policy's sakc),
then he is us great favorite with these
enemies of his to whom reference has
been made as is the horse who eats from
their hand or the hound who sleeps upon
their hearth rug. lie is to them a layorite
animal, but never a man. At the north,
however odious the educated race prejudice
of centuries have made him, he is neycrthe-
less Il man, and his rights are as much re-
spcctcd as those Of white man of the same
station in life. At the south he is not yet
generally regarded as any portion of the body
polite. The thirteenth amendment made him
free in the sense of not being property, but
the fourteenth amendment has not made him
citizen, nor has the fifteenth amendment
made him voter. The men who constitute
the governing classes in most Of the southern
states are the implacable enemies of negro
citizenship and negro suffrage. His illiteracy
is one of the main props Of their cause. They
= will never help to remove it. To vote
money into the hands of such people, and
make them the trustees ofthe illitcrate blacks,
would be as unwise as it was to add to their
| representation III COIlSIcSo anu tllb ClGClOIdl
college by granting the negro the right to
vote, which they withhold.
But the wiser portion of the southern pco-
pie do want the negro to be instructed, so that
his latent political power shall not be danger
Gus to society when, from causes as rcsistlcss
as the ocean currents, ii bursts forth, as it
will do by and by. They will not thank
congress to vote money in aid of universal
education into the hands Of men whose hatred
Of negroes, out of "their place" of dograda-
tion and ignorance, is as intense as is their
contempt for all white men who differ with
them. If money is to be appropriated il
should only be where the state will cordially
invite the national government to appoint
agents who shall be the almonors of It's bounty
under regulations prescribed in Washington
} These regulations should of course be framed
only after full consultation with state au,
? thorities. Then, if not agreeable, the aid
should not be rendered. The bourbon hawk
cannot be trusted to care for the black chick,
ems.