The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-09


party. "One more year Of the Funder doc
tor would have found the schools dead"
Mr.. w. G.. Mustard asked MIR. Trigg what
had become Of the 100000 diverted from
the schools.
Mr. Trigg replied that resolution from
his side OF the House was to put that money
back--every cent OF 1t.
Mr.. Barton said, ''Don't ask us for
money you stole. You can answer your own
| question better"
THE SPEAKER SPEAKS.
Speaker Stuart Mr.. Graves in the chair)
said:
He did not intend to occupy the atten-
tion OF the House for any great length Of
time. but when he remembered what the
Democratic party done for the public
schools, and thought how dear these
schools were to his heart, and the hearts
OF the people he represented. he could
never sit silent and hear that party's work
In the great cause Of education ignorantly
reflected upon, and charges made against
its great aud good work that contained
not an atom of truth. He would be false
TO the duty he owed himself, false to the
people OF Virginia and the noble workers
In the cause OF education. did he not rise
here TO recall the acts OF the Malone Legis-
lature. II sat here on the floor OF this
House, Mr.. Speaker, and saw the'whole OF
that enormous iniquity perpetrated by
which the people Of Virginia were de-
prived Of the services OF one OF the FORE
most men In the educational ranks
OF this country, and his place supplied
by O man who could not spell word OF
four syllables properly. and the extent OF
whose learning forbade his writing the
English language correctly. IL was the
Malone Readiuster Legislature OF 1882
that Legislature for which so much Is
claimed for the public schools now by gen.
temen on the other side-that did this.
Your love for the public schools was shown
when the man whose duty it is to select
schOol-books that our children are to read
could not close that book and spell four
words or write by dictation any sentences
that were put to him." He alluded to the
change made in the public-school books at
an expense OF 100000. and in dwelling on
this point said, II want to know where is
the great blessing OF Malone ruley for it Is
Malone rule" the speaker declared. "that
brought about this large and unnecessary
expenditure Of money"
Mr.. Stuart, calling attention to the INTRO
duction in the public schools OF books
which had come under his eye and which
he had examined, he declared. as he had
said upon the stump, that the introduction
OF such books into the public schools OF
Virginia was "an outrage upon the living
and an insult to the noble dead OF Vir-
ginia that ought not to be tolerated by any
man who had reverence for truth, and re-
spect for that which could but be honored
by the brave and true everywhere"
THAT was my view then, and it is my
view now." And, turning 10 the Coali-
tionIsts, Mr.. Stuart said: "You can go
quietly to your homes and inquire how
much of the taxes paid to the public schools
came from the pocket OF the last Legisla-
ture. am opposed to this substitute, hut
| cannot stand here and hear the record OF
my party attacked by praising the action OF
the Legislature Of 1SSlJS2. That action
was the greatest stain and iniqulty ever
put upon the fair name Of the Common
wealth Of Virginia"
Mr.. Porter denied that the Coalition
party was the friend of the schools. He
said he did not know where Mr.. Banks got
his information from that his party sup
ported the schools. Out Of nearly 1000
voters in his district in 1882 only small
number paid their capitation tax for the
support OF the schools. The report OF the
Superintendent OF Public Instruction
showed that the counties giving largest
RCadiuster maiorities paid less for the sup
port OF schools ITO the county and district
fund. which is voluntary.l by one-fith
than similar Democratic counties. He read
a compilation OF statistics from the reports
Of the Superintendent Of Public Instruc-
ton, which shows that in counties where
Coalitionists had biggest maiorities fewer
schools were opened and less money raised
for them than in counties which voted
largely Democratic. These were facts and
figures. He said when Mr.. Banks claimed
that his party, which paid but little to sup
port the schools, was their friends, and his
dhe Democratic) party. which supported
them, its enemies, he (Mr. Bsnks) ought to
have his statement backed by some au-
thority and facts.
Mr.. Griffin (colored Coalitionist) said he
was "nomflustered when he heard II
stated that the present superintendent OF
Public Instruction could not write good
English nor spell correctly.
Mr.. Dodson (colored) spoke at great
length on the question.
Mr.. Thomas Smith made a strong and
eloquent defence OF the Democratic party
and its treatment OF the school question.
He declared that it contributed $4,000
more voluntarily to the fostering OF the
schools. His advocacy OF schools was
complete. and OF 80 much force that il
commanded the close attention OF the
House.
Pending the discussion, which was very
long, the House adjourned.