Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-11
Words or Warming.
Page News.l


If no bill at all is passed at this ses-
sion Of Congress. the Democratic party
in Virginia will have, to make an au-
thoritative declaration in favor of an
appropriation by the Federal Govern
ment in aid of education in the States
when the State Democratic Convention
of this year assemblies. A failure to do
so would put a most effective weapon
into the hands Of Malone and his fol-
lowers. No one need be told that it
would be used for all it was worth, and
with telling effect, against us.
Malone will make a last desperate
effort the coming fall to refasten his
grip upon the State. No one knows
better than he that defeat this fall means
political humiliation for him and his
party. Entire abolition of the capita
ton tax, less frequent elections, free
books for free schools, a protective
tarif-all these will attract voters, and
good many Of them, to the Malone
party. Now if we leave any loose
joints in our armor, Malone is just the
man to find them and pry them open.
A mistake about the Blair bill will give
him much-coveted opportunity for eff
fective assault upon us. 1t is plainly
the duty of Congress to pass the Blair
bill at this session. The Democratic
party cannot afford to let it fail.
Democratic congressman will make a
grave mistake if they fail to take up
and enact into law at the present ses-
sion of Congress what is commonly
spoken of as the Blair bill. We be-
lieye a large majority of southern DEM
ocrats are heartily in favor Of it. We
feel satisfied that this is true Of Vir-
GINA Democrats. In the campaign in
this State last fall our enemies charged
the Democratic party with. hostility not
only to the Blair bill, but to all schemes
for giving aid to the cause of education
in the States by the General Govern
ment. That these allegations caused
us to lose votes which, but for them,
we would have got we think is unde-
niable. Now, if the present House Of
Representatives refuses or neglects to
take up and pass the Senate bill which
lies upon the Speakers table, the charge
which our enemies brought against US
last fall will be urged with ten-fold effect
in the coming canvass for State officers
next fall, and we will enter upon the
campaign heavily handicapped. We
regard the Blair bill as a very proper
measure in itself. and think its passage
would be productive Of much good to
the South.
[Chatham Tribune.l
This fall we will have to elect a State
ticket, and in our opinion, unless our
representatives in Congress vote for the
Blair school bill, we will not stand a
very good chance Of carrying the State.
A large majority Of our people-in
fact. everybody we knows in favor
Of the bill except a few before-the-
war constitutional States'-rights Demo
Gratis. Away with such nonsense. 1t
is just as constitutional to distribute
the surplus in the Treasury accord
ing TO the Blair bill as it is to create
the surplus by collecting high internal
taxes. Virginia pays. four or five mil
lion dollars every year. She is poor,
she wants money, and don't want any
constitutional States rights nonsense
that don't pay worth cent ! This
county under the Blair bill will get
1880 for her schools. Just think Of
it. We think the Virginia congressman
who votes against it oughs to be re-
questcd by the people to resign his seat.
We are glad to see that Colonel Cabell
is in favor Of the bill.