Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-10
Sectionalism in Education.

We had thought that the election OF Mr..
CLLyELAND, the soiiening effect OF time
upon The temper and animosities, and the
conservative tone Of the southern press and
the southern people. would induce even
the Providence Journal to recognize that
the South was again In the Union. We
hid looked forward 20 such consumma-
ton looked forward to such an acceptance
Of the inevitable by the journal as one OF
the bappiest concomitants OF Demo-
cratic victory. We had supposed that after
the heat OF the canvass was over, and II had
been demonstrated that the South did not
wish 10 stand the country On its head, our
Providence contemporary would acknow-
ledge that "thc war was over" But, alas,
for human calculations! The journal
seems TO have learned nothing. In discus
sing Federal aid 10 education II says:
"Federal aid for free education means aid
to the South. Putting aside for the purpose
Of the argument the constitutional ques-
ton, there are In the South not few who
object TO the reception OF national aid, II
there Is 10 be any. the slightest Federal SUI
peryision OF the expenditure Of the money
appropriated. Thus the Richmond (Va)
Uispatch, as we understand IL. would de-
cline congressional appropriation u 1t in
volved any right o! the National Govern.
ment TO interfere in the administration OF
the fund. II is TO be said at the outset that
nobody proposes national system or con-
troll Of education. The State Is 10 regulate
the schools with the qualification that they
are 10 RAISE specified or relative sum OF
money, and are TO expend 1t for the equal
benefit OF all children OF the school age, OF
whatever race"
So far. so good. While Il Is true that
Federal sd 90 education would be aid TO
the North M well as to the South, we would
not have been disposed TO take issue with
the Jownai il II had stopped with the
above. The Dispatch objects TO system
OF Federal aid to education that would
permit that system to become a political
machine under any Administration,
whether Republican or Democratic. 1t
could be made more powerful engine for
evil than Is the Internal Revenue Bureau.
But the Journal does not stop with the
above. After stating that "these provi-
sions mus, have some sanction in the Fed.
eral law, aud that this involves a certain
amount Of Federal inspection aud judy.
ment." Il adds:
"There Is danger 10 be avoided; q
great good 10 be attained. But the purpose
cannot be accomplished as one would buy
bond. Not only time, but sincere dis.
4 position on the part OF the State. Il neces-
ssry TO the iultlment OF the object. Is
there this dispositionf That Is question
which cannot be categoricslly answered.;
for, while In some OF the southern States
there Il feeling IN favor of the rudi.
mentary education OF the negro. In Others
there Is firm conviction that no, only Il
his education not necessary. but that Il
would be 10 him an absolute injury.
"There Il no use In discussing. here IN
the North, the right or wrong Of these con-
cllnions. The fact Is enough. Now grant
the money, with the two restrictions OF APP
preparation BY the State, and its appllcs-
ton for the benefit OF both Races, without
more, and what would Dc the result? In
sone States the money would be expended
in good faith, and In &C cordance with
the northern idea Of equality In edn.
cation; In others II would be expended
IN good faith. the needs OF the
blacks being construed and provided for
upon the southern idea, and Ia some States
the money would be used substantially for
the benefit Of the whites. Now, It Is pro-
posed thai the Federal Government shall
have no other right In the meter than 10 |
withhold appropriations after the law b,s |
been violated, having no means OF ascer. |
timing by law whether the law has or has
not been violated"
In accordance with the northern idea