The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-09-03
The Blair Bill.

The Blair Bill.
Louisville Courier-Journal: A
new subscriber writes to ask that
the Courier-Journal will give an ar
licle in relation to the Blair bill and
explain the effect of Federal appro-
priations in aid of State schools.
The Blair bill appropriates $50
100000 from the Federal treasury
to be applied to the support of the
schools of the States. For this there
is absolutely no shadow of authority
in the Constitution. It is an open
and fragrant usurpation of power. 1t
is a direct and ineXcusable interfer
ence with local government. Con-
gress has no more right to impose
such Il tax than it has to impose a
tax to pay the officers of State
courts. There has been no measure
ever proposed fraught with greater
danger TO State rights. No man
well grounded in the principles of
the party can fail to see the danger
invited by this departure.
But it is said this is a mere gift, a
gratuity, ard that no interference is
intended No such assurance can be
given. The Edmunds amendment
and the Plumb amendment both
show that the power which appro-
PIRATES the money will follow it to
> e that it is appropriated in accor-
canoe with tbs views of the majority
IN Congress.
As an iitraction Of tie Constitu~
ton, this measure cannot he defend
ed. [ is kcpuDlIcan CAUCUS
measure, uut the Republicans would
not even discuss the constituriOnali-
ty; they assumed that it would
receive Republican support, because
Ii was defiant invasion Of the rights
OF the Stale; they counted on the
support OF Southern Democr ats, be-
cause large portion of the money
would come South. Senator Plumb
Of Kansas, himself republican,
said it Was the most dangerous en-
deavOr he eyer witnessed to extend
the power Of The Federal Govern
ment, all! he declared that The mea-
sure woU!i give in time absolute
control ii The system to the central
government Then lie turned to
those weak-hneed Democrats who
were blinded ny the promise Of
$79, 100000 ami tainted them with
their jail. Yea" he asked, what
say the friends OF State rights on
% L = L. .
Why are they silent? Is it because
their people are to be the chief bene-
ficiaries Of the biIl?'
The bill provides that before the
first installment is paid to any state
the Governor shall make a report
to the Secretary of tho Interior,
showing the character of the COM
mon school system in his State, the
money expended the year previous
whether or not any discrimination
is made between wnIte and colored
children, the sources Of revenue and
the basis Of division. No money is
to he paid to any State which has
not provided system Of free schools
for Its children without distinction
of color. The next year the Gov
ernOr of the State reports to the
Secretary of the Interior how the
money has been expended. The
Secretary then examines witnesses
to sustain or contradict the Governor,
and ifhe is not satisfied with the
condition of affairs he cuts off sup
Plies. The only appeal then is to
Congress.
1t is not possible in one short ar
ticle to expose all the inquities of
the Blair bill, as it is called in the
Senate, or the Willis bill, as, it is
known in the House, The evil
effect would be wide spread Interest
in education is rapidly growing
throughout the South, The people
relying on their own resources, are
| building new schOol-houses. extend
ing the sessions and greatly inoreas--
my the attendance. The work &C
compllshed in the past five years
shows that the South is able to crap
pie with this problem of education
without the assistance or the super
vision Of the General Government.
Indeed, this is the only way to deal
with It. No people caa be educated
from without. Any attempt by the
North 10 educate the South, of
New England to educate the West
will inevitably fail and turn back
the cause Of education ten years.
These are, III as few words as pos
sible, the objections to the Blair bin
The Courier-Journal has for five
years discussed this movement, and
is Democratic readers should neg
lect no opportunity to oppose It,
Texas repudiates those who favor it;
Tennessee in its State Convention
condemns it; South Carolina, which
two years ago favored it, is silent,
and in the next Congress, if the par
~ is not prepared to abandon the
Constitution for this mess of pottaee,
we shall see an end put to the whole
matter.