The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-28
National Aid of Common Schools :.


ment and temporary support Of common
schools" rests on the theory that isno-
rance Is menace to the Republic. II tins
experiment in popular government is ever
brought to failure through tho ignorance
Of GREAT numbers Of its voters, it will save
nothing from the wreck to say that inc
iauIt was with the several States which
wero unable or unwilling to provide their
neople with the advantages OF a common
school education. History would deal
will, us as the most stupid Of blundereFs
who, having in the National Treasury
abundant means, had refused to use some
mart thereofto make Of ignorant persons
capable citizens Of the Republic.
il the foundations Of the Republic rest
on the intelligence and virtue OF the peo-
pie, it is poor statesmanship to allow
ignorance and its twin sister vice to IN
crease and multiply in the lace Of a Ma
tional Treasury running over with full
ness. 1t is eyerybody's business to con-
tribute to the maintainauce Of this nobl0st
of experiments in government. 1t is
eyerybody's interest 10 lift from the body
polite, as far AS may be, the dead weight
of illiteracy which lies upon it. 1t lsa
melancholy feature of this phase OF the
national life that it shows no improve
,nent. In 1870 there were in this country
5,G5s,l5l persons of ten years OF age and
over returned as unable to writei in 1850
the number had grown to 0, 9SOpa5S. The
illiterates hold their own with great ten
acity.
These returns include many persons
whose accomplishment with the pen goes
no further than the ability to write their
names. There ara few questions in the
census enumcrator's list less candidly an
swered than this. The most Ignorant are
10th to admit that they cannot write at
nil. And it must he remembered that the
rudimenlary knowledge which enables a
man to say truthfully that he can write is
but small part Of the common school
education without which tho duties OF cit
lion cannot be well discharged. In our
own State We are not making progress in
this regard. In 1860 our illiterates num-
bercd 81 400; in 1880, $3.50.
There is no Constitutional difficulty in
the way. II tho Constitution permits the
appropriation Of money TO improve the
Kanawha river and to relieve the sufferers
by flood in West Virginia, the creation OF
n National Board of Health to exercise
powers which certainly are not enumer-
ated and ara in their nature local-if tho
Constitution permits all this and more, it
would seem to DO loss OF time TO hunt
for Constitutional obstacles in tho way Of
National aid to common schools.
While the Republican party was in Ma
tional control with every prospect OF SO
continuing this proposition was regarded
by some gentlemen Of the opposite party
as an invention of the enemy to bride
and otherwise corrupt tho people and
public officers of the Southern States,
which are TO reap the largest immediate
benefit il the bill becomes law.
Such suggestions now are but echoes Of
the old rcport-scraps culled from tho old
arguments in opposition-ior Educational
bounty is to be dispensed by Democratic
administration. 1t is great abuse of
language and OF the fact to say that one
State is to be robbed orin any way wrong
ed for the benefit OF another. A large part
OF the excess Of revenue is paid by foreign
manufacturers for the privilege Of setting
down their wares in. this country on an
equal footing with similar American pro-
ducts. II We can educate, or help TO edu-
cate, our youth at foreign cost there is
nothing in this to stir up any Americans
bile.
West Virginia should be foremost in
pressing wiseaud beneicient measure.
One in live Of her population Of ten years
Of age and over cannot write; some who
can make poor fist Of it and know little
beyond. Her Senators favored the Blair
bill in the Senate; her Representatives
ought to be urged to support it heartily
in tho House.