National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-15
THE BLAIR BILL.
A Strong Appeal in Its Behalf by Fred
erick DOuulnss.

erick Douglass,
EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: Please
allow me a word in your colums in favor Of
the passage of the Blair educational bill,
which has twice passed through the United
States Senate, and which is now pending in
the United States House of Representatives.
Considering the growth Of public opinion,
the generous expressions OF men Of both
parties, had hoped, until few days ago.
that this heneilceut and much-needed meas
ure would meet with no material resistance
in its passage through the House, especially
Us 1t met with so little on its final passage
through the Senate. But from rumors, too
well founded, ] Am now led to fear that my
hopes have been altogether too sangune.
Standing, as | have always stood, aud
always expect to stand, the friend OF every
public measure in any wise calculated
to advance the interests and improve
the condition Of the long-enslaved
people Of the south, am warmly in favor
Of the speedy passage Of the Blair educa-
tiOnal bill, not because 10 will do all that
should be done for the illterate white and
colored classes Of the south, or all II prom
ises to do, but as step in the right direc-
tion. In my humble judgment great mis-
take will be made, great wrong will be
done, and great opportunity postponed,
| pass the House. To me II is bill in the
| interest Of both races, and is Of a tendency
| to do away with the spirit OF caste and Of
sectionaism, and 10 promote the general
welfare by difrusing knowledge and enlght-
enment In the darkest corners Of the rcpub.
| lie, where II is more needed and where the
people are the least able to secure such
knowledge for themselves.
In advocating the passage OF this hill
do not overlookIthc fact that, admirable MS II
is in its object and carefully MS II Is framed,
1t may fail Of its object, so far as the colored
| people Of the south are concerned. No
| colored hand will probably have anything
to do with the disbursement Of the millions
| given by gov ernment in this bill, mainly
| in the name and for the benefit OF colorcd
| people. Like the Peabody fund, the Slater
fund, the Freedman's Bank, and many
other institutions nominally established for
| the benefit Of these people, the hands are
white that handle the money.
The Germans have n provcrb that, "They
| who have the cross will bless themselves, -
and there is nothing in the history OF the
institutions named, or in the history of
others that might be named, to contradict
| this proverb.
But while commend the keen vigilance
and scrupulous fidelity of Senators Allison,
| Logan, and Edmunds in taking care that
| the people in whose interest this measure
is mainly asked, and freely granted by the
| United States Senate, shall have u fair
share of its benefits, and while, from past
experience, cannot hope that, If this bill
shall become law, 1t will in every instance
| he faithfully and honestly administered,
still, even If only tolerably so administered,
| 1t cannot fail to be a blessing to the coored
| people as whole.
Something must he trusted to the spirit of
| justice, honor, ana fairness Of the southern
! people. They will ultimately see that II is
| good to be- honest and true, even TO those
they have formerly enslaved and plundcred,
and whom they still defraud Of their po'
litical rights.
But aside from possibilities, and even
probabilities as to the administration of this
bill, should it become law, 1t will Of itself
have an educational influence, and turn the
mindEand heart Of the nation in the right
direction.
1t will be, at least, recognition Of q
great national duty toward people to
whom an unreasonable debt is due. II
| will tell that people, and all others, that the
nation has the disposition, IL not entire
ability, to do the negro right and justice
1t will be in the line Of peaceful and inof
fensi We reconstruction, and will help to heal
the wound left by the war, by holding out
a helpful hand to the poor of the late con.
fedcrate states. To the celebrated saying
| OF ten. Grant, LET us nave peace!" we
must add, "Let us have education ~ The
negro needs it, the iliterate white needs it,
the nation needs ii. II the national gov
ernment had tine power to put down slav,
instructions, hunt fugitive slaves ovcI
state lines, protect slavery in the state
while slavery existed, it has the power ant
the right To assist IN the education and I'm
proVement of the newly-emancipated ant
enfranchised citizens, now that liberty ha
become the base line of the republic ant
the fundamental law of the land.
Neither of the great political parties car
afford to let this educational bill fail, and
least Of all, can the great Republican party
the party of justice, liberty, and civlliza
ton, afford to let it perish or be postponed
to a more convenient season.
| EREDERICK DOUGLAss