The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-19

MT. A1k0u on the GQuCdGlOQ Dill.
The interview with Congressman Aiken
OF South Carolina, reported by our Washing
ton correspondent, does little credit to that
gentleman's candor or good sense. He is
chairman of the House Committee on edu-
cation to which is referred the bill making
an appropriation from the public treasury to
aid the States in the establishment and
maintenance of public schools for the edu
cation of all the people. MI. Aiken treats
the whole subject with degree of indiffer-
ence which we hope is shared by but small
proportion of the people North or South
The debates which have been had heretofore
in either house of Congress on similar bills
have developed an increasing interest
in this subject and some of the leading Sem
atois ard Representatives from the South
have taken an active interest in supporting
the measure, recognizing the peril to our in
situations which is involved in tolerating a
numerous class of illiterate citizens who
have the right to vote and thus to exercise a
large influence on public affairs.
Mr.. Aiken's talk about the unwillingness
of Congress to have subtle money spent in
the South is sheer nonsense in view of what
has been done. He instances the re-
fusal to appropriate millions for building
Mississippi leyees. The North is ready to
DO, and to have done, whatever it is right to
90 Ior the Improvement of the navigation of
that great artery of commerce. Much has
been given already to be expended, both along
its course and to open deep channel at its
mouth; but many are unwilling and ought
to be unwilling to expend money on schemes
of improvement which are private, rather
than public, benefit, or on>schemes which
provide no real advantage in return for the
vast amounts required. Every river and
harbor bill passed by Congress in recent
years has given the South a fair share of the
amount appropriated. The sums given by
Northern people in charity to aid the South
millions and ought to forever close the
mouth of any Southern man who is disposed
to complain of Northern uncharitableness to
that section.
But Mr.. Aiken's talk shows that he is
strangely ignorant of the history of attempts
ed legislation on this very question. Bills
for educational purposes, which involve
precisely the same conditions of distribution
by which the South would, as was we'll
known, have received the lions share of
benefit, have been passed by one or the
other house in different congresses, sup
ported always by the leading Republican
Congressman of the North, and with the
full approval Of their constituents. Senator
II ,ar. who, when member of the House,
introduced the first bill of this character,
fourteen years ago, once said in the Senate,
that he challenged the Representatives of the
South to name sum which he would not
gladly vote for, to be expended in the educa-
ton and elevation of tie ignorant popula-
ton Of that section. 1t is not Northern in
difference or Northern selfshness that has
stood in the way of making such appropria-
tons; but just such indifference ard stupid
ity on the part of Southern and Northern
Democrats as Mr.. Aiken, in this reportel |
conversation, shows an example OF.