National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-27

scheme for the management OF the public schools
OF Massachusetts
=, Mr. Jonas gave great credit to the gentleman at
Ile mead OF the committee on education ana
labor aud TO the members of that committee for
tne great pains they had taken to cOllate the elaD
VIate statistics which 80 ably supported the Dill.
MT, Jonas, while hot dOeming IL necessary 10
make any speech in favor of the bill, could not
Ielraln rom referring 10 the remarks made on
VINO had said he could not trust the south with
THIS money, and The senator from oregon Mr..
DonhI who yesterday had said the people OF the
south mad tramplod under foot the constitutional
amendments, and would not administer this
innd faithfully Mr.. Jonas denied most emphnti.
cslly, as baseless and calumnious, any charge
that the people of the south had any prejudice
against the cOlored people.
Mr.. Harrison inquired whether the senator
meant TO imply that the coored votes controlled
the elections in his section2
Mr. Jonas replied that they did wherever they
had numerical right to control them. They
controlled them in some instances ia the interest
OF the democratic party but they voted, and voted
freely and fairly. MIR. Jonas supposed, however,
that the senator from Indiana would not consider
that they voted freely II they voted for the demo-
Mr.. Harrison said the senator did him injustice.
lie Mr.. Harrisonl had but ono desire aud that
was to see that everywhere throughout the On.
tire country black men and white men should
freely vote and have their votes fairly counted.
MIR. Jonas said he shook hands with tho GENTLE
man on that, but that he wanted to give voters
the benefit of education. lie hoped tho time
would come when every man,iwomgn, ana chlld
III inc hOutn COulu De educated Dy lntlE oWll
states, but IL they were TO be educated now, MD
would be necessary. Mr.. Jonas repelled in the
strongest terms the insnuatlon that had been
made that the people of the SOUTH or ut least that
portion that he in part represented, would bo
iaithless TO this trust, ifconhdcd to them.
why, Mr.. President said he, (Mr. Frye being
tee that examined into the affairs iof the far-on
county OF Copiah, ifnothing else was proven there
i was proved that the blessings of education to
thelutmost limit Of the capacity Of that people
were extended to both races alike"
MIR. Butler opposed the bill. lie said the com.
mon school system of South Carolina was us good
as any In the United States. The people OF the
south, he continued had to solve n problem that
no other branch of the Caucasian race had ever
been called upon to solve before. They had made
mistakes, no doubt, and as long as human nature
was as weak as IL was he supposed they would
continue to make mistakes. But, II he knew us
own heart and the hearts of his people, they meant
to deal fairly with this great question. The slaves
had been illiter0te, of course, and rs freedmen
they had been iliiterato, but the next census
would show great Improvement, Tor the older
people were passing away.
Mr.. Logan called attention to the remarks made
by him Mr.. Logan the other day with reference
Der of children and not upon the total illieracy.
Mr.. Butler agreed that That would be better
basis; II would be impossible TO educate the old
people. The people of South Carolina, Mr.. But.
Ter continued, were not so badly off In the way of
education as might DO supposed from the DEBATE
which had taken place III the senate. For the
measure before the senate he could lind no au.
thority In the constitution lie predicted that III
this bill passed ten years would not roll around
before the school system of the states wond be in
the hands OF the national government The sena.
tor from OHIO lMr. sheTmanl had said, though
meant to be olfensiye-that he could not trust
the south to disburse this money. That senator
would pardon Mr.. Butler for saying, in the
same spirit that lie Mr. Butlerl would not trust
him Mr.. Shermanl 10 contribute it. Mr.. Butler
would not discuss with that senator or any other
whether the prejudice in the south against tho
colored man was stronger than it was i'll the north.
lie did not believe 1t was, but" said Mr.. Butler.
when the senator says he will not trust me with
money to educate the negro, say / will not
trust him to give 1t. 'Tmeo DaHdoS Ct dond fer
eutes.'"
Mr.. Butler preferred, on the whole, to trust the
pluck, endurance. manhood, courage, and human
ity OF the people of his state to do justice by all
men, white and black, than TO accept aid from
tho federal government.
Mr.. Jonas called up the house Joint resolution
reappropriating for the aid Of the sufferers by the
Mississippi river floods the $4,000 not expended
for the relief of sufferers by the floods OF the Ohio
river. 1t was read three times and passed.
The senate then (at 4:40 p. n.y. went into cxecu-
tive session, and when the doors were reopened
adjourned,