Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-20
neutrality-suspicious. 20, 1885.
sherman VS.. the Blair Bill.

TO stump the state LOT "ish' sa'u h''
Cincinnati organ recently; but 1t would
seem from q recent utterancc OF the
Senator himself that he will decline ia
visit Virginia this fall on the ground
that be would probably be met by men
bearing shot-guns--a Islander upon our
people, as he we'll knew, seeing that he
saw at the Fair Grounds near this city
when he visited Virginia in company
with President HAYES thousands OF
men from all sections Of the State, and
received none but the kindest of treat
ment, not to say q cordial welcome.
But SHERMAN has fully endorsed
General MALONE and Governor ~
WISE" lie has avouched to the people
of Ohio that they are men Of the genuine
bloody-shirt persuasion. Hehas assured
his Ohio audiences that WISE and Ma
HONE are engaged in a bitter contest
for the securing of his rights to the ne
gro.
And yet SHERMAN opposed the
passage Of the BLAIR bill on the
ground that he was "not willing to
trust" the people Of Virginia and the
other southern States to disburse "the
money of the United States" until
they respected the rights of the
negroes. No wonder MALONE and
WISE desire to secure for their own
benefit the services of SHERMAN. He
is q man after their own kind in his
denunciations Of the good people OF
Danville and Of Virginia generally, and,
Of course, of the rest of the southern
States.
Hon. GEORGE c. CABELL was some
time ago interviewed by reporter for
the Danville Register, and asked to
give the history Of the BLAIR bill.
Mr.. CABELL did so, and in the course
Of the conversation quoted from a
speech of Mr.. SHERMAN's in the
United States Senate the following ex-
tract. Mr.. SHERMAN said:
"What kind Of education, what kind
Of ideas are to be promulgated? Who
is to control that matter, 1t seems to
me that it is unfair and unjust, and that
when the people Of the country under
stand that this disposition is to be
made of their money there will be
profound feeling Of discomfort. l know
there is general desire to cure illiteracy
in this country, to help to some extent
the southern States to grapple with
great evil, but it seems to me that no
provision could be made more unjust
than this. l am not prepared to vote
to the southern States money from the
Treasury for any purpose until we have
better signs than we have had
for the last year or two that
they are willing and feel bound
to respect the rights Of citizens Of the
United States. If | had no other rea-
son for voting against the bill at this
time, l am frank to say that | should
do so because / am not satisfied that
If this money were placed in their
hands it would be used for education
Of all classes Of people of those States,
and ! am not willing to trust them to
disburse the money Of the United
States until they respect the acknow-
lodged rights and constitutional privi-
leges conferred plainly by the Constitu-
ton Of the United States upon all the
citizens Of this country alike"
Recollect that if the Republicans
carry Ohio this year it will, as we
showed recently" mean SHERMAN for
President Of the United States" And
Of course, il JOHN S. WISE is elected
Governor Of Virginia this year it will
"mean SHERMAN for President Of the
United States" What do the friends
Of education in Virginia think Of the
prospect9 Entertaining the opinions he
does Of the southern people, Mr.. SHER.
MAN would Of course veto the BLAIR
bill and any and all other bills Of
the same kind that might reach
him during his term as President
He would allow none Of "the money
of tho United States" as he sneeringl,
speaks Of money that belongs as mucl
10 Virginia IS to Ohio, to be expende,
In States that fail TO bow the knee I,
JOHN SHERMAN. lie will vote not
dollar to any State that fails to recog
nize his surprising merits.
We now quote Colonel CABELL:
"Now, how was 1t in the House o
Representatives! The bill did not pas
the Senate until some time in April
and when it went to the House it hat
to take its place in regular order on tn,
calendar. So many bills had obtained
precedence over II that il was impos
sible to reach the Blair bill in regu,
lar order during the session, snd
the only chance to secure &C.
zion upon it was by the unanimous
consent ofthe House. Certainly on one
occasion, when its friends thought tina,
favorable opportunity had arrived for
securing its passage, unanimous con-
sent for its consideration Was asked,
when objection was made by Mr.. His
cock, the Republican leader Of the
House, thus throwing the RESPONSE.
bility for It's failure to become Law on
the Republican party for that time at
least.
"The bill came to the House again
ct the last tshort session, but the tariff
agitation prevented its consideration.
The Committee on Education found that
] was entitled to the floor on 'suspen-
sion day. and asked me to offer the
bill. I he'd prepared . speech and
would have offered the bill, but did not
Rok he floor. Thar Ia No doubt that