Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-07
The Blair Educational Hill I'm It's Reia'
ton 20 the Negroes Of the south.

To The Editor OF me Disp0ch
Having read with much interest your
numerous editorials in advocacy of the
Blair bill, ask space for a few remarks
in reference to its particular relation to
our colored brethren of the South.
1t is evident that this important, re-
inarkable, and momentous measure has
shared the fate of most congressional
bills in being for the most part advo-
Gated or censured by the press, accord
ing as il is deemed favorable or adverse
+, to the particular section in view, and,
unfortunately, in some instances has
been favored merely as a political ne
cessity, instead of being discussed as a
great national question of the first I'M
portance; and from the masses gene
rally il has received but little attention,
some regarding il merely as contest
between the politieally-opposed MEM
bers Of Congress, some being DESTROYS
Of its passage, as by that means Fede-
raj money will be brought to the South !;
others thinking il All excessive squan-
dering Of public money; others con-
demning it on constitutional grounds {;
whilst still others are even now opposed
70 education of public nature in gene
raj, and especially TO that of the negro.
To my mind this is the greatest ques-
ton that has been before the country
since the fifteenth amendment to the
Constitution, not as involving the ex-
penditure of seyenty-seyen. million dol
lars, for that were but grain in COM
parison with the weighty principles in
yolvec--namely, the constitutiOnality
and the propriety Of assisting the State
governments, the measure of its utility
generally, and its effect on tho unedu-
Gated negro voters Of the South as citi-
xens and members of society.
Our southern ste..c;smen nave ciiI .""
with singular tenacity to the principle
Of States rights, steadily refusing be-
fore and since the war all appropria-
tons Of any magnitude from the Central
Government, and combating even with
their likelihood the violation of the alb
stract, theoretical principle. Thus
il is that the northerners have
reaped the advantages of most of
the public money, and long accustomed
10 receive aid from that source,
now, in an admirable spirit of unanimity,
advocate the very bill that will be by
far more advantageous TO the South.
How long shall this spirit animate our
breastss Is not the doctrine Of States
rights practically dead issue! Why,
then, ON any such ground shall we re-
fuse the profiered gift that comes as a
messenger of light to carry the flaming
torch Of intelligence into the dark dens
of ignorance and vice? IL the inn
poyerished States Of the South were OF
themselves able TO organize thorough
system Of public instruction, should be
the last to vote TO accept any aid from the
National Government 0or experience
has shown that such divisions OF money
10 the State governments have not
always proved a blessing but when
We see the heroic efforts that Virginia,
for instance, is making by taxing her
lands " the highest point, and yet how
inadequate her schools are in numbers
| and in the competency Of teachers, ii
makes me feel that little aid would be
very encouraging and beneficial. Ex-
traordinary diseases require extraordi-
nary treatments. and in view Of the
great ignorance that prevails in the
South, and Of the inadeQuacy of tbs
State funds. think we ought to waive
our scruplcs Of constitutional nature,
and sanguinely 10 believe that the
States TO whom this money is entrusted
can and viii apply it so wisely as to be
most beneficial to our people.
The great hope Of this nation lies in
the integrity of the ballot-box. "Vir.
tue" says Montesquine, "is the life
giving principle ola Democracy" And
as virtue follows education, whereas
vice and corruption are the inyariable
concomitants Of ignorance. il is evident
that every effort TO extend the educa.
tional facilities should be made. or else
our maeh-beloyed institutions must
perish.
The spectacle was never before pre-
scented Of six millions of ignorant slaves
being by one stroke Of the pen made
equal aid free citizens, with all Of the
privileges OF the elective franchise with
out any qualification. How important,
how Ierculcan the task Of enlightening
this ignorant and supcrstitious race who
are exposed to the .intrigues OF wicked
dtmsgogaes. easily deceived, and set
az .ip,t their late masters. This race
Ia our midst must be factor OF good
OF evil. IL we educate them, just IN
fhsf urororf,on will We rise 70 q state