Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-28
The RIair Bill.

The argument has been and is still be-
ing advanced against the Blair educa-
tional bill that it tends towards centrall-
cation. Those who use this argument
express their inability to see how Southern
Democrats can favor the bill. There may
be something in the Capitalization argu-
ment. but Southern Congressman who
favor the bill-and the majority OF them
favor it-believe that the precautions
against its Capitalization tendencies are
ample. and that there is no occasion for
alarm from that source.
The truth is the thinking men of the
South see that the negro problem is a
difficult one, and they believe that the
way to solve it is by means of education.
The Rev. DIR. J. L. NJ. Curry, of Rich
mOnd, Va. superintendent of the Peabody
fund, in a lecture in Brooklyn last Mon
day night. in speaking of the
negroes in the South and the
progress they had made since
they became citizens, said: What re-
mains to be done should call forth our
best endeavors. 1t is the problem of the
century. requiring patience, courage,
liberality, faith, craftsmanship and con-
tinuOus effort. Two races, one of which
is degraded, cannot dwell side by side
without the one becoming tainted by con-
tact with the other. Society is bound
hand and foot to the lowest stratum. Both
races must suffer unless something gi-
gantic is done to carry the gospel to these
people and educate them"
In this statement Of DR.. Curry there is
great deal of truth. In the influence
which the negro race, numerous and
rapidly increasing in number and ignOr.
ant, will exert upon the white race lis the
danger that is apprehended.
Those who are not subjected to this in.
f1uence. and are not observers of its force
may laugh at the idea that the negroes
will draw the white people, among whom
they live, towards their intellectual and
moral level. but those who have made a
study of the effect Of lower race upon a
higher race will not treat the idea light
". The effect may not be seen in dozen
years, and perhaps not very clearly in a
quarter of a century, but it is certain to
be very apparent in the course of a gener.
alton or two.
Southern Congressman in supporting the
Blair bill are legislating for the future
rather than for the present. They recog-
nize that the good of the white race re-
quires that the black race should be
raised to a higher plane Of civilization.
A Washington special to the Times
Democrat says that the proposition to
create neutral political force in national
legislation by making all eX-Presidents
lie members of the Senate is being quiet
" discussed. There is no present thought
of bringing it formally before Congress,
but its merits are being considered, its
effects weighed and its chances appraised.
The general drift of opinion, such as finds
expression at least, is favorable. 1t is
said that such an element in the Senate,
not responsible to any party, not in
fluenced by local consideration or swayed
by the lower form of ambition, would
operate as a powerful conservative
factor in the government. 1t would
stand between factions in those
fierce conflicts which frequently occur,
unbound by caucus. unaffected by politi-
cal changes or contingencies, free to act
for the public interest without fear or
favor. Another argument advanced is
that the arrangement would dispose OF
the question Of providing for ex-Presi-
dents, avoiding the reprOach of their
poverty and need, which has occasionally
fallen upon the nation from time to time.
Nobody has vet suggested the introduce
ton of the matter into Congress, but
everybody is giving it more or less
thought. 1t is possible all this will fruc-
tify in the shape of an amendment. At
present it has not passed beyond the
sphere Of whispering.