The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-05-01
The Blair Educational Bill.

The New York Ecening Post has been, and
is. vigorously opposing the passage OF the
Blair educational bill. Ever since the bill
has been before Congress it has let no oppor-
tunity pass to oppose the measure, and has
ably, forcibly and successfully answered every
argument advanced in its favor. The past
few DAYS it has reprinted, in pamphlet form,
its articles on the subject, and with 1t has
been issued an extra sheet giving some ex-
tracts against the bill from Southern papers
and opinions of some prominent Southerners.
The ADVOCATE has opposed the bill ever
since il was first brought into notice, several
wears ago, we believe. Its ostensible object,
ms stated. is to foster education in the South,
Int in reality it is only step towards central
ization.
We believe the bill to be unconstitutional,
and for that reason oppose 1t. 1t imposes
certain conditions upon the states before they
can reap the benefits of the bill, that places
the state school systems to some extent under
government control. The conditions are not
difficult to comply WITH but they may be fol-
lowed by others that in time may eventuate
in bureau of education having the whole
system of public education under control,
with state control in name only. We have
ALWAYS viewed the measure as dangerous
one. 1t is but an entering wedge to a further
Capitalization of power, and the school sys-
tenn will be a political machine to be used by
the ruling party. 1t will be powerful one,
loo. on account of the number of persons 1t
can affect, and as to the education of the peo-
pie by text books.
Apart from these considerations. we oppose
the bill because the people should be taught
selfreliance, rather than dependence on the
general government. When the government
lends a hand, the people will relax their en-
erges, and the school systems will langulsh
rather than improve.
The South, especially, does not need gov
eminent aid in the cause of education. The
reason that that section has recuperated so
RAPIDLY from the effects of the war, and made
such rapid strides in manufactures, commerce
and agriculture, was because the people had
to depend upon themselves. Her school sys-
TENS, although established but few years,
have reached remarkable degree deficiency.
If undisturbed they will continue to improve
until they will have equaled, or even sur
passed, those in the North, just as that sec
ton is sure to outstrip the North in the way
of manufactures.
Although the Senate passed the Blair bill,
the House has shown but little disposition to
take up the measure, and the committee to
which it was referred on last Monday, by a
vote of nine to three, decided to report another
measure as a substitute for it.
The substitute proposes that the receipts
from the sales of public lands, and other rev.
enues of the Land Office, be divided among
the states for the next ten years, twenty five
per cent. of the sum to be used for industrial
and technical instruction and the remainder
for the support of common schools.
This bill does not commend itself more IA
vorably than the Blair bill, any further than
that there is hope that in considering both,
both may fail