Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-27
SATURDAY. 80. DECEMBER "a. isS4'
The Blair Educational Ill.

The winchester Tines Is Q paper that
has its own opinions. II IL always able to
piye reason for the faith that is In 1t. We
ore pleased, therefore. TO be able to state
that that paper has, after studying the sub
icct, declared itself In favor OF the BLAIR
bin. There Il no other subject 80 import
ant. now claiming the attention OF the peo-
pie Of Virginia. That bin appropriates
many millions Of dollars to be drawn out
IN the course Of the next seven years. Oh
this sum Virginia viii. II the bill becomes
law. get very large proporti-n owing
10 the immense number OF ilIiteraies In
this State, illiteracy being the basis upon
which the money is to be distributed.
The Democrats Of Virginia hope to elect
Governor ten months hence. But they
may not do 50 " they nominate for that Of
fee man who is opposed to the BLAIR bill,
las II Is callcd.l' There are many able le,d.
CTS In TIE Democratic party OF this State
who are willing 10 accept the nomination
for Governor. We ask them all to consider
the question discussed so calmly by the
Times In the following article. Our own
opinion Is that IL the House OF Representa-.
tiyes shall neglect, OF fail for any reason, TO
pass the BLAIR bill. II will be necessary
for ouI next Democratic State Convention
10 put into its platform plank upon which
all can stand UNFOLDING the policy OF Fed
erai aid to the pubic-scbool systems Of the
several STATES, and especially those OF the
southern States.
The House Of Representatives ought not
10 amend the BLAIR bill, unless there
De insuperable objections to il. The
Senate may not be well disposed towards
The South, now that we have contributed
so largely to the election OF Democratic
President Of the United States. Last win.
ter that body dealt kindly and literally
with US, but we fear that II 1t gets another
"whack at the bill II may decide that the
money appropriated by il ought to be dis
tributed amongst the States according to |
their population.
The Times says:
Fer a number OF years past. by reason OF |
revenue Of the Government has been largely |
in excess Of its wants. accumulating in the |
Treasury annually nearly one hundred mill |
ion dollars surplus.
The Democrats have come into power.
backed by the demand that taxation must
De reduced.
But the industries OF the country, built
up under the enormous bounties OF war
tarig. will naturally cause and require the
reduction In the taxation to be gradual and
conservative.
Further than that, in many instances the
reduction OF the tariff will be followed by
IN increase in the revenue.
Ii is very likely that. in spite OF the rev.
enue reform TO be inaugurated by the Dem.
oerstic party, the surplus revenue for a
number OF years to come will be very large.
The public debt has been rapidly re-
duced, and 1t Will soon be impossible for
the Government to apply its surplus rev.
eDue in that direction without paying a
very large premium upon the purchase OF
It's bonds.
The question then arises with our states
men. what use 10 make OF the surplus rev.
enue now in the Treasury, and that will
surely for several years annually be col
lected.
TO lei IL lie in the Treasury is either to
each year from circulation con-
Siderable slice Of the currency, or IL Is sure
10 become the prev Of schemers, specula-
tors. and jobbers Of high and low degree.
The one produces striDgency In the money
market. and the other loose and corrupt
legislation.
1T would seem that there could he no
thing to which this money could be better
devoted than 10 educational purposes, in
proper and constitutional manner.
Tire war dcsolated and devastated the
South. In her impoverished condition she
has been called upon TO educate an appall-
ING mass OF ignorance. which the war In.
jeeted into her body polite. The great
aim of southern statesmen must be 10 free
their several States from this great and OPP
pressiye evil. II would be simple act OF
Justice. and Of policy also. on the part of
northern statesmen, TO lend an aiding hand
IN this great work.
OF course the bill must provide for the
Of the money in a constiiu-
tIoDal and proper manner. As an educa-
tlor nj purpose Is the object Of the bill, the
money should be distributed among the
several States according to the demands OF
education; and this would be according TO
the iliteracy found in the several States.
Aud we do not want the Federal Govern.
ment interfering in the control or manage
ment OF the schools OF the State, or OF any
other matter OF state concern. We have
had enough OF that FOR twenty years. The
money should be distributed amongst the
several states TO be by each applied to edu-
eational purposes. according to It's own
views ard requirements.
Any bill that is liable TO any OF these OBJ
5ections ought TO be killed.
H.. Al nj IT,. ~ T. ~ -. 4
stripped OF any OF these Objectionable
features. II presents the naked question,
whether the surplus revenue shall be dis
tributed among The several States in pro-
portion to their illlteracy for the assistance
Of the State frce.school system.
We need the money for this purpose.
The money lies idle In the Treasury. and
we see no Just objection 10 its benehcent /
application 10 this great object.
All About a CAPITAL Letter