The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-09-10
The Blair Educational Bill.

To the Citizen.
L enclose you a clipping from the
Century Magazine. which 1 should
like to see published. in the hope
that somebody can explain why
there is so little interest taken in
this matter in the south:
The movement to give national aid to
elementary education, which originated
with the National Aid Association few
years ago, nearly reached a successful
elimination in the Blair bill, passed by
the senate, and now awaiting the as
sembling of the next congress. AS a
living issue of national importance and
a measure of public safety, it ought to
receive the general attention OF the
press. The larger journals and maya
zines have set good example, but the
network of local publications, through
which the masses are best reached, have
barely touched upon the subject. IL
has engaged the support of some of the
greatest minds in this country, and lit
erature on the subject is not wanting,
but the means of distributing the data
already available is sadly lacking.
or course, the south will receive the
most direct benefit ii this appropria-
ton is granted, because they have the
most illiterates; but IL ever our sister
states need help, it is now. The war
left the south so desperately poor that
tax equal to, and in many cases great
er than, the northern school tax, barely
keeps their schools open three months
in the year; and to this fund the col
ored man, who receives over one-half
the benefit, contributes next to nothing.
. IL al 81, IL
ored man an education He is with US
to stay, and we have made him a citi-
zen, and as such he is entitled to an ed
ucation, whether he contributes one
cent to the school fund or not. The
duty is national one, but the burden
now rests on the shoulders of the south,
and the appropriation merely proposes
TO distribute the load. The essence OF
the measure Is contained in the propo-
sitiOn, Shall we as a nation assume the
burden, or shall we continue to shirk it
on the south?
A direct remedy lies in a thorough
discussion of the subject by the thous-
ands OF newspapers and journals scat
tered throughout the land. We at the
north are geographically too far re-
moved to appreciate the necessity of ex-
tending this aid; but once let it be fully
understood, the north will arise as a
unit and demand that a measure so lust
be speedily carried into effect. But the
benefits conferred will not be on the
cOlOred man alone. The trainers of the
Blair bill anticipated the objections of
the selfish few, who for the sake of a
few pence would let ignorance inhabit
and till the fairest fields of this country
The appropriation will be impartial to
in h..
cy within her limits, without regard to
race.
Major r. Bingham, in his mastery
paper entitled ''The New South" (pub-
lished by the Bureau of Education,
Washington, ID. c., in the proceedings
of the meeting in February, 1884, OF the
uperintendent's department National
Education Association, and in the pro-
ceedings of the National Education AS
ISOLATION, which met at Madison, Wis
cOnsin, in July, lSS4), ha set forth the
needs of our sister states far more forci-
bly, and appropriately than can, for he
speaks whereof he knows. Widespread
circulation of the sentiments contained
in his paper, coming as they do from a
prominent southern educator, would do
much; and as the day draws near when
this cause shall live or die, hope to see
the press OF our land, mustered under
the banner of justice, prepare our peo-
pie to give the Blair bill, or some SINH
lar measure, when passed by our next
congress, cordial reception.
l understand that the measure
was defeated in the house be-
cause it was opposed by a majority
of the southern representatives i
believe the explanation is that it is |
unconstitutional. 1t seems to me |
that it is the most remarkable exhi- |
bition of tenderness of conscience |
that ever heard of. A conscience
that is capable of making such |
hair splitting distin ctions must be |
a valuable possession. The states
have received aid from the national
government before in behalf of edu
cation without protest. The gov
eminent is responsible for enfran-
chising the negro and it ought to be
for his education, or, at |
least, ought to help the states in the
matter. When the senate and !
of the congressman of the
northern states come forward with
offers of this simple act of justice,
the southern congress men are seized
with qualms of unparalleled squeam-
shness and cry estates rights"
unconstitutional" etc. AS there
8 difference of opinion on the sub
ect, how would it do to send men
20 represent US who regard 1t as
,on stitqtiOnal and are willing to vote
or It2 l don't think they would be
lard to find. Will somebody en-
ighten AN IaNoRAMUs?