National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-01
federal Ala for Free Schools.

The course pursued toward the Blair
scbctl hill In the present House OF Repre-
sentatives fully establishes it as the delib-
crate and resolute policy Of the Democratic
party that no such measure shall be passed
through Congress, II that can be prevented
in any manner, and It clearly develops the
immediate meaning OF the declaration
made by the party in its platform of 1884,
that the federal government should not,
for any purpose, make appropriations TO
the states nor the people thereof In 1850
the Democrats Of the House Of Representa-
tives smothered the bill, which had passed
the Republican Senate, TO distribute the net
proceeds Of the sales Of public lands to the
states for the benefit Of their public free
schools, and through both sessions Of the last
Congress the Senate Blair bill was utterly re-
fused even the poor courtesy of hearing
by the Democrats Of the House. Now that
the Blair bill has again passed the Republl-
can Senate, we find IL suppressed as OBJ
stinately as ever by the Democratic ma
chlnery Of the House of Representatives,
where the most vigorous and extraordinary
efforts to get the bill, or anything like it,
tees to which the subject has been referred
have proved utterly unavailiug, even
the Willis bill being superseded by the
Grain bill.
The Blair bill, though a proposition TO
distribute to all the states aud territories
alike, from the mutual federal fund, upon
the common and uniform basis OF llliteracy,
is yet tender Of larger relief and more
direct benefit to the southern states, be-
cause the basis Of illlteracy is there wider
among both whites and blacks BY reason Of
the former existence OF slavery. But by far
the greater number OF these southern illit-
crates, whose present civil aud political
| status creates and constitutes their chief
claim on any governmental provision for
their education, were raised to that status
by the federal government itself, against
the will Of the southern states aud Of the
majority of the people thereof The United
States not only made these colored Tilt
crates free, but elevated them to the condi-
tion of equal citizens of the Union aud of
the states in which they reside. Not
only so, but by constitutional amend
ments, and by the congressional
terms Of reconstruction imposed upon
the states which called themselves the
southern confederacy, the United States
practically made these colored illlteratet
state and federal voters. II, therefore, an,
government owes duty of education Il
any Of its citizens and voters, this duty 4
imperative upon the federal government to
ward these colored citizens and voters a
the south. 1t is paramount duty, in thi
regard at least, over any in the same regar,
due any Of its other citizens and voters.
is duty, too, higher in degree than tina
upon any of the southern states towart
these enfranchised people and their dc
scendants. Besides, It is q duty which 1
owes to all the other people of the country
to all the states, and to itself, to do all 1
properly may to help this enfranchised Il
literate element to a stage Of Kuowledg
and intelligence where it may be a strengt
and blessing, instead Of weakness an
menace, in the popular source aud centra
Of all our government, local and general.