Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-09-19
Our Free Schools.
From the Richmond Whig.1

IIOlu INC RtCuLuOuQ W ulR.
If there is anything upon which
the masses Of the people, of ali
parties, colors and conditions in
Virginia fully agree, it is upon the
importance of public free schools
to educate and elevate our rising
generations-an Importance recOg-
nized to be no less in the public re-
latiOns Of the matter than in its
private bearings. 1t is duty due
the rising generations of citizens
and voters individually that facili-
ties for at least elementary educa-
ton should be freely furnished
them, and it is to the interest of the
State that Its citizens and voters
should be prepared for the demands
necessarily made upon them as the
controllers of the Government.
There is now sentiment against
free schools in Virginia that can be
avOwed by any man seeking favor
from the people, and even the
BOurbOns who formerly did all they
could to ruin our free school syS-
tenn are to-day loudest in protest
ing their friendship for the system.
For that matter, however, some of
them (nOtably Daniel) made similar
protests when they were actually
labOring to intercept the revenues
of the schools.
1t is, therefore, only by insidiOus
and disguised means-under all
sorts of false pretextS-that the
enemies of free education are likely
to attack it,--as Daniel formerly
did under loud cries about indie
feasible contract, sacred obligation,
and public honor. But, it is adj
mitted on all hands that Virginia,
without Federal aid, is unable
adequately to supply educational
facilities for all our children, and
the Republican party Of the cOun-
try has taken steps to furnish
this aid in generous measure. Yet,
so far, this aid has been withheld
from Us through Democratic OPP
Congress, Senator Blair (Re-
publican), Of New Hampshire, in
troduced his Educational bill, to
appropriate large sum, during
eight years to aid the free schools
in proportion to the illiteracy of the
people in the States respectively.
Under this bill 100000 a year for
eight years would have been dis
tributed from the Federal Treasury
to Virginia and her citizens in be-
half of our free schoOls-prOmislng
incalculable blessedness in results.
1t was opposed in the Senate al
most wholly by Democrats, only
two Republicans voting against it.
1t was alleged to be uncOnStitu-
tional for the United States Gov
eminent to levy and collect taxes
to be thus distributed to the States
or the citizens thereof; it was urged |
as unnecessary; and some BOurbOns |
attacked it upon the ground that it
was an invasion of States Rights |
the right to keep the citizens of |
the United States in ignorance and
all that implies The bill finally !
passed the Senate by 80 ayes to IL
noes-three to one. OF the IL
negative votes 8 were Democrat
and only 2 Republican; Of the 80
affirmative votes 20 were Republi-
can and only 13 Democrat some
of the latter only so voting under
instructions from their Legisla-
lures. This was in April.
The bill, so richly freighted with
blessings for our rising genera
lions, was promptly sent to the
House of Representatives, where
the Democrats had and have sew
eight majority. For three
its friends sought in vain,
by every device, to have the bill
called up, considered and acted
upon. For three months the
Democrats repulSed all efforts to
this end, and Congress adjourned
with the bill killed by the Demo
Gratis Of the House.
In pursuance of the policies thus
indicated by the parties in their
action on this great measure for
popular education, the National
Conventions at Chicago proclaim
ID in their platforms as follows:
REPUBLICAN. DEMOCRATIC.
"JTe faror a wise ave are opposed to
md judicious system GUpropositioRs which,
# general education upon any pre- ter T.
y adequate dppropri- would convert the
tiOn from the Nation General Government
I rerenues Wherererinto a machine for
he same is needed. collecting taxes 10 be
distributed among the
States or The citizens
thereof"
The language employed in the
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