Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-23
The BLAIR IN.

We are piessed TO zee that the Atlanta
Constitution has entered the lIsts - Guam
pion Of the BLAIR bin. fas We style u Tor
convenience sake.) The Democrats OF Gcor-
| gia. no doubt, approve the votes OF their
Two able and practscal United states sens
tors, Messrs. Brown and CoLouiTr, In favor
OF that measure. The Virginia delegation
| In Congress ought 10 exert Ia the same
direction all the influence they possess
| in the House OF Representatives. When
they 10 before the voters OF this State next
fall with & candidate for Governor. that can
didate will have to show some good reason
| why Virginia IL not to receive the millions
| Of doIIars which would come 70 Der u the
BLAIR bill became law. We advise all
good Democrats 70 mount the right plat
form at once. Our Atlanta contemporary
says:
EDUCATION IN TUE SorrH. Senate
passed at the last session bill appropri.
ating millions OF dollars TO the cause OF
education in the South. Democrats and
Republicans alike supported the bill In the
senate. Both OF the Georgia senators, and
such men as Garland, OF Arkansas; Hamp.
ton, Of South Carolin Ransom, OF North
Carolina, and Williams, OF Kentucky. voted
for the Blair bin, and the Democratic party,
by The action Of lis best and most repre-
sentative men in the Senate. became fairly
committed 10 the support Of the bill.
II the Democrats OF the House would
Get as the Democrats OF the Senate have
done the bill would become law, and the
entire South would be largely benefited.
Tue entire country would be benefited by
K reduction OF the dangerous percentage
OF iIliteracy. We believe that II the south
crn Democrats would stand together on
this bill the rules could be suspended and
the bill put in q way to go to the Presi-
dent. The objections presented are senti-
mental ard impractical, and out OF Joint
with these progressive times. The South
has steadily paid taxes ever since the close
OF the war, and IL is high time she got
some OF the benefits Of this unceasing col.
lection OF taxes Wehave paid money into
the Treasury in large sums, and drawn ont
very little. The process has been as one.
sided as iug-handle; and now. when II Is
proposed to educate the iIliterates OF the
south on funds drawn from the Treasury,
portion OF our representatives resort TO
fine distinctions and obsolete policies.
Such hair-splitting stands in the way Of
national appropriations to carry out work
that We cannot afford to prosecute ourselves
within the lifetime OF the present genera
ton. Public schools are becoming more
and mere popular, aud more and more es-
sential each recurring year In all civilized
countries; and how any southern member
can reason himself into opposition
to the Blair bill is altogether be-
yond our comprehension. The bill
Is as unobjcctionable as a general law cin
well be. The money is appropriated and
handed over 10 the state authorities to be
disbursed by them in the cause OF general
education. Tlere Is no responsibility be-
yond report at the end Of each year show
ing how the money had been applied and
What had been accomplished. Let the re-
sponsibility Of the defeat OF such bill be
placed elsewhere than on southern men,
bers. Let no representative OF the South
stand in the way OF giving any child. no
matter how humble, the advantages Of
common school education, when the Gov
eminent bad the money TO apply to such
purpose. aud there were enough northern
votes ready to assist In securing such an
application OF 1t.