New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-12
LETTERS IRON THE PEOPLE.
NATIONAL AID TO EDUCATION.
LETTER FROM JUDGE TOURGEE.
ORIGIN OF THE PLAS-H0w The MONEY SHOULD


ORIGIN OF TIE PLAN-How The MONEY SHOULD
BF DISTRIBUTED.
To the razor Of The TribHRe.
SIR: / see that nay name is freely used a.
favorinc the hi extending National aid IN education
which has just passed the senate am notmformeda to
the precise terms ~ that measure. judging from various
nevspaner analyses which have met my eye should
infer that it is very materially different from the Dill
origr ly introduced by senator Blair A. regards th'
oricn measure I have arc ldy expressed IN Vail"u'
forms disaVproya OF certain OF it, elements "u
as well known. very ardent advocate OF the prncpe
OF National education and regard the appropriation and
distribution Of National fund upon the basis OF inter
acy as a measure absolutely necessary 10 the com
pctiou aud success Of rocOu-truc0nary legislation
Ibclcve the unprecedented ignorance ola vast proper
ton OF the Southern be impending danger
the country far serious than any likely TO nave
resulted from the continuance OF slavery.
While National education in the abstract had been IN
certain sense contemplated and favored by many oil our
best statesmen since the days 81 Washington suppose
that the first time it was ever mOoci essential part
OF successful rccOustructiOnaTy legislation Wa IN e
which T addressed I'm January 1870 70 General Grant
then Pr, sdcut which widely published throu fhou
the country In ls72 pressed snch measure ron the
attention OF the Republican party at it, National ConVeu-
ton IN Philadelphia. and previous to the Convention O."
1870 boubartcd not only the Executive but the CON
cressiona Committee OF that party witt pamphlets ana
cl lou the subject These efforts received almost no
General Grant Icoud hardly nd anyone who had time 70
consider so trhn- amater In erdesperation wrote
Fools Erraud and Bricks without straw, Tor the
purpose Of illustrating the necessity OF snch measure
Largely as tho result ~ the rerusal Of these work.
think the Republican Convention in 1850 pledged lIset
TO the promotion OF this object.
II the measure which has passed the senate be-
as reported Ia THE TRBUSE and other journals. one
which contemplate the putting IN the hands of -ateo NJ
OF gross OF money appropriated for schoopu
poses IN the seyeIa states do not hesitate 20 say that X
most delusive and dangerous measures. The oneeI
OF such a measure T. the OF iteracy very large
proportion Of that cracy among the colored people
of the south Aside the fact that the handling
OF such gross sum in itself temptation ~ any Iegis
body have staring In the face The fact that
the public schO0, funds administered oy the state
Governments of In: South IN very many cases. 10 say
the least very nperfecty applied FAR rs tue eoored
people are concerned. While would by DO means have
the Government Of tho United states undertake an edn-
cauoua system Of its in any manner interfere
with the educational systems OF the various states yett
seems 10 ne that the distribution OF fund IN the manner
proposed would only defeat the object OF the bill IT.
SET but would encourage naction. sothfuness and I'm
proper MANA cement upon the part o. the State aGthoFi-
ties.
4 PLAN OF APPROPRIATION.
Whit t. needed I'm such system i that Dr. should be
simulc and thorough and a stimulus 10 endeavor. The
Peabody fund. that most marvellous Of Az good
charities, is distributed upon the business princi-
ple Of paying when tho work is done why GOT
make our appropriation the same way Instead
Of giving the money 10 h distributed nv the
states should he distributed BY the general government
directly 10 the schools operating under the State laws
While the National Government sh1uid attempt no
control Of tie schools IL should 10 II that the
money APPROPRIATED goes into schools and does not be-
come q corruption fund, the control OF which would
become main issue In every state election. In
Rofrg MID q he
should DO di-bursed directly % each school dis
tr1ct according the n"racy therein ana only pald
lro satisfactory proof that primary school or schools
under the charge OF competent Instructors has been in
operation boo s.d district for peclted time GgFES the
year for which the appropriation S. made.
In addition % this should see 10 II that the
proportion OF the flnd assigned for tho Hitter
ate. OF one race shall n ease Dee di-burscd 20 schools
for the other race nor the appropriation for year bc
ar piled 10 support Of schools during another year
Iy tni- plan possibility for misapplicaton
tt the choapc-t method of pu ting money into brains
that has c been devised A. the outside would NOT cost
more than one hag o. per eat the appropauont 10
nut 10 IN the hands OF those who have done the educa
oua work required II the fund Is appropriated 10 the
-tate- the Government has uo power ~ e. forcing i,s
c,nditIoIs that may isc made That shown % the
distribution OF funds l 1868. and again ~ me distFl
-f trt with h. money ~ iurts with h. remedy for
suy misuse Of that money Under ue plan winch ! nave
indicated 10 parts with 49, money ohl Nhrh ~ hA p" /,
gt tLt state has dy done ~ part ln tur WORK OF
educlfou and puts % only I'D tho hands OF tAo'e VINO
have don, he work. ..,.
IL e leourcmcut- ~ the law were nor computed WIN
ana rho schools Not maintained tlcu iLr sum N'-u '
49, ID .tr rro rne Treasury. g. would out rcguir"
f r. and rho -,rCiur OF checks INST us 3, now done
m tr, .rf Of pp, uu- uL cyecIt'l vouchers lIt cost
voIt n. almost nominal IT, certainty woldhr A~oi 4ir;
H would Inspire states. counties. towns ana individuals io
..irr ~ ~. 10 would br'L- the co." ruWrut ma De
r.ttelt form tl very doors of tp-. Who aye TO
look urDu IN with t.atIror; r. would INSPIRE c"Adt-cr
m -... -0 e.. .Il sloppy and lid -e-t-d tecol-tr'l,
-l,r. a..-.r has come fp seem almost ftrr"t iud,
,n., .l it,ora put tle plaster upon tle very spot lJ
j.. ..-~ glod 10 Ect..
Evils 81 "rUlUpEN LEGISLATION.