Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-09-19
WHOLE NO. 2. .502,


Memphis Appeal.
We make room this morning for a
complete report OF the speech Of Sena-
tor Howell Z. Jackson, ON national
: aid for State public schools, frat deliv.
} cred at Jonesboro some weeks ago be.
: lore the State Teachers Association,
and repeated yesterday 10 the people
OF Columbia. Lengthy though il is, il
VIII repay the most careful study by
every man in the State, be his condi-
ton IN life what il may, or his politics.
IL exhausts the subject. Tho Senator
has left nothing for any body to say
on the same side, and we think II win
be found impossible for any one TO sue
cessfully controvert the position he de-
lends IN SO nasteriul manner. What
ever there is of Interpretation Of tho
Federal constitution by the iathera
and founders Of the republic. whatever
OF citation OF high judicial authority,
whatever OF precedent, whatever Of po-
litlcal disposition touching the powers
OF the constitution are here arrayed in
Il sequential order and logical relation
ship that must sweep all doubt from
halting minds and force even these to
become urgent pleaders for the aboli-
tiOn Of illiteracy in the only way open
to the Suites which il threatens as with
the power of an overwhelming flood.
No work that the Senator could have
undertaken for the people he serves
with dignity and ability in the Senate,
during his vacation, could he so effect
i've as this. He pushes aside tho veil
and gives US a glimpse Of the black
nf n
Tennesse as a great, unmixed evil and
retards her growth and her progress.
lie does not deal in mere assertion or
rhetorical display. He gives the fig
ures and facts OF illileracy MS they are
furnished by the census reports and in
overwhelming array, and thus forces
upon us the necessity for immediate
work to arrest the steady increase of
an army that, with the ballot-box as
its adherent right under the Federal
constitution, is menace to every i'm
terest, not only in Tennessee and every
Southern State, but 70 the nation at
large. No speech upon the subject Is
so convincing, so complete, not even
that OF Senator Blair Of New Hamp-
shire, delivered during the last session
OF Congress. Ii answers every ques-
tion OF necessity and of constitutional
right, and justiiies 10y precedent and
law the demand OF the friends Of pub
lie education, that since the States
themselves cannot do this work, since
they cannot build barrier that will
prevent the steady flow OF the great
river OF illiteracy that threatens even
the foundations of the government,
4 lrfa. 20
ion for it. The Federal government
can alone cope with it, and even with
the money that it can supply, il will
take years to accomplish even Gn APP
preciable modification Of the evil de-
picted SO vividly and startlingly by
Senator Jackson. Statistics were new
er used TO better purpose, were never
more scientifically arrayed to strength
en- a good cause. They were neve-
more convinciRgly marshaled TO makeR
clear the philosophy that underlies tho
individual mans relation 10 tho gov
ernment and the duty of the latter ~
the man. The power OF education ia
developing the faculties Of the handi-
in enlarging his mind and
his grasp OF his ayoca.
ton, and so making him more useful
to himself and more valuable TO the
State MS II productive force, are in this
admirable speech set forth with ro-
markable clearness. No workingman
can afford to miss these words OF wis
dom, grouped with trip-hammer force
10 urge the claims, not only OF his
class to educational facilities, but also
those of the humber worker, whose
of labor are the pick and
The shovel. Indeed, it is for these
classes that the Senator pleads with an
sloquence no man in the State can
surpass and few can equal.
The statesmanship that leaves the
petty purpose OF the politician behind
IS made eveident i'm every word he
ltters, and broad and comprehensive
view OF the only means for the better
nent Of the condition OF the people is
)flered that must be irresistible, es-
oecially with thinking men. Senator
Jackson, on of the few lawyers OF
marked ability in the Senate, has quite
his reputation IN so much
IF this speech as deals with the con-
of the question, and
What remains proves him a scholar,
he philosophic thinker, the lover OF
lis kind, with sympathies broad and
leep enough To embrace all classes and
conditions of men. Taken altogether,
t is speech worthy Of any man vt
my time i'm Tennessee, and must
,rove To the people OF the State that
n the man that delivered il they have
me worthy to sit in the seat occupied
" Grundy and Bell and johnson,
worthy Of their continued confidence,
nd 10 whom they can look as real
atesman who will grow and expand,
Who has the heart to sympathize and
he mind TO plead for the people, that
he great avenue for uieir advance
nent shall be made as broad as their
necessities, and that nothing shall
tand in the way OF their march TO the
Ultimate OF their destiny.