The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-24
National Aid.

Some over-squeamish people in this
country are infinitely distressed that
the government proposes to apply
some of its surplus revenue TO the
education of the masses of the people
who are unable to educate themselves,
In government like our own, where
its force, worth and efficiency depends
upon the intelligence of the people,
such squeamishness is to say the least
of it, out of place and ill-timed. So
important is it that the low standard
of intelligence prevailing in many
of the states be raised and at
the smallest possible waste
of time, that we would accept money
from the Khan of Tartary If he were
willing to apply his revenues to such
purpose. Nor do we think Uncle
Sans patriotic ardor in this line
should be baked, even for moment,
We are not acquainted with all the
provisions of the Blair bill, but we do
not object, in the least, to the design
evident all through it, to assist the up
building of a sentiment of national
ism among the people. 1t is only
right for the general government, ap-
propriating money for any purpose,
to be little anxious about its place
ment, and look carefully after its
almoners. 1t is the history of all the
efficient schemes of public education,
that they have been national schemes
carried forward and supported by
the national revenues. We care little
if the city, the county, the state or the
nation furnish the money, so we have
an extensive and competent system of
public free education, so every boy
and girl in America, of every race,
color and condition, receives liberal
education. The higher the grade
of general intelligence the less have
we to fear from federal encroachments
and it doesn't matter one whit that
the money for the support of the
schools is taken from the vaults Of the
government itself.
The same Objection was made when
the Peabody fund was first offered in
aid of educational enterprises in the
southern states. Ignoranceis the vice
of the age, and we should not be very
squeamish as to whose money it is
which is to work out the proposed
reformation. The government of
Spain has appropriated large sums for
the establishment and maintain
ance of public schools, and
the king himself is one of the
most ardent of the friends of public
education. He is to-day the president
of the national teachers association,
and not a mere show officer either
On the contrary, he is one of the very
hardest workers in the cause. The
United States has long sneered at
the pretentions of Spain to be con-
sidered one of the leading nations OF
earth on the score of intelligence
|
everyday systems Of public instruc.
ton to be found on earth. No one
seems afraid there that wrong use
will be made of the power thus placed
in the hands of the government in
addition to that already existing
there by long habit and the system up.
on which that government is run
We in the south need the fund worse
then any other section. With our
four millions of newly freed people
all in utter ignorance and with many
of the states but indifferently recov.
cred from the blighting effects of the
late war. There is another phase OF
the matter which it may not he very
prudent to refer to, but we
are not running on mere pru-
dence disconnected from truth
1t is this: There are many
people here yet who are sore over
the loss of their money invested in
slaves, and the destruction in values
consequent upon the Titanic struggle
which they lost. Out of the small
balance remaining they do not want
to pay taxes to educate the masses
and yet they are progressive and
value the advantages of high stan
dard of public intelligence. These
people would say to the government /:
Come on. Bring to our people the
advantages of education. Dis
tribute the burdens equally among
the citizenship of the nation and
not upon the restricted citizenship
of the individual states. Here is a
good conferred which costs money, no
little amount of it. Like all the
other good things of life, it must be
paid for. Is it not better that fifty
FIVE millions of people divide it among
them, rather than that the entire bur-
den be placed upon the shoulders of
fifteen millionsp One can only be
surprised that opposition should come
from the section most benefited. Yet,
so it is. So it will ever be. We are
too often blinded, and repulse the
hand which would confer good upon