The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-30
Federal Support OF Public Schools.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
A strange fact confronts us in the results
OF the financial policy Of the Federal Gov
despite the millions voted for pensions,
despite an eXtravagant Administration, and
the large amounts OF public money worse
than wasted in political corruption, the
Federal treasury is burdened with an ex-
cess of money. The Government raises
about 800, 100000 annually by taxation Of
one sort or another, and wit is tortured,
but tortured in vain, to squander it all.
What shall be done with the annual eX-
cess, amounting to nearly Slj0,000,00 !!
Common sense would say that taxation
should be reduced so as to prevent an eX
cess-that the infamous interna-revenue
system, born OF war and blood, alien to the
policy of the Government in its purer and
better days, and in palpable violation OF the
Federal Constitution, unequal. unjust, and
oppressive in its operations, the malignant
iOster.mOther OF the basest OF human pas
sions, should be swept by the hot indigna-
ton OF an outraged people from our
statute-books. The reduction indeed
should 90 so far that an economical adj
ministration should become neces-
sty OF the condition OF the treasury.
While the Government is burdened with q
bewildering excess Of money, the people
are pinched by the want OF it. Let the
money stay where it belongs-in the
pockets Of those whose labor, whose capt.
tai, whose enterprise has made it. Too
much and too long already have we taken,
by legal robbery, money from its rightful
| owners, and squandered it upon others
having not even the semblance Of a claim
to its ownership. As we do this we re-
press thrift, enterprise, intelligence, and
honesty, and encourage idleness, vicious
ness, and crime. So far as Government is
| concerned, let every man have his own and
| no more.
1t is proposed, however, to distribute
| this heavy excess among the States for
public education. This Is the most dam
gerors scheme, the most centralizing poll
cy, that has shown itself in the last twenty
years, so prolific OF political heresy, so
full of silly and malignant legislation. 1t
were better TO sink the money In the deep
est sea. Then 1t would be simply lost, while
| the proposed use OF it would make 1t a
source OF infinite wrong. Let not the
Government be encouraged to go on In a
course that enriches it and impoverishes
the people.
A parade is made OF the great losses sus-
tanned by the southern States from tie con-
vulsions OF war, and the Federal Govern
ment is to give Ills money by way of COM
pensation. In reply to this we wish to make
few observations:
Q) The Federal Government is not q
money-making machine. II cannot make
money; it has no right to make money.
All the money it gets. II gets by taxation
from the people OF the States. II We are to
get back the money extorted from us by
unnecessary. and therefore unjust, taxa
ton, why, then, incur the expense--the
heavy expense-of collection aud disburse-
nent9 Why employ agents to take money
out Of my pocket and other agents TO put
| 1t backf
| (2) The Federal Government Is 10 be the
patron OF education In the States, and this.
we are told, will imbcd 1t In the loyal
affection Of the rising generationl Are we
fools, veritable fools We are 10 be very
grateful when we are robbed by unjust
taxation Of ei0, and 10 cents OF our own
money 70 dung back 70 vs. 10 gift! We