The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-07
THE EDUCATIONAL BILL.
A DEMOORAT's REASONS FOR
SUPPORTING 1T.
10 she south 20 Help Educate
our Poor Children.
To the Editors of the Appeal.

AS some newspapers in this State
have cllsled me with the Republicans
because / favor the educational b II
which passed the Senate, hope you
will publish this note, explaining my
true position on this question. have
no expectations, and no desire, #
changing my party relations. /, how
ever, favor the educational bill, for the
following reasons in brief:
We cannot improve our public
schools, even II we can sustain them
AZ they are, without a direct appro
pliation from the Federal Treasury.
Ghe Southern Stats are not able to
bear sufficient taxation to maintain an
efficient system Of public schools.
Nearly all OF the other States have re.
c.ived large donations from the FEEDER
al Government for purposes of edu a.
ton.
There is nothing IN the constitu.
tional objection. The COnstitu ion
empowers Congress to lay and collect
taxes, duties, Imports and excuses, to
pay the debts and provide for the
common defepse ard general welflie
OF the United States.
Mr.. MonIoe says and Gen. Jacks on
quotes aud Endorses him, that the
power to appropriate money ia only
limited by it's being confined to 'pur.
poses of general end national bene-
fit" Under this construction of the
constitution, viii h has been sustained
by ali our statesmen end hes been the
uniform practice OF the government,
appropriations to aid education are
clearly constitutional, for If they are
not for general welfare" what sppro-
priations can be2
Gen. Washington in bis farewell adj
dress said that "Congress shou pro-
mote as an object OF primary import
ancs institutions for the general diff
fusion of knowledge" and Mr.. Jt fer
son pronounced education one Of the
chief foundations of prosperity AID
union"
THere ia no proposition to collect
money 10 distribute smoDg the States.
This bill proposes specific appropri'
a'ion of money already in the Treas.
ury for specific purpose.
This bill does not infringe upon the
rights of the States, but, on the con-
trary, recognizes the right Of a s ate Ia
manage its own schoclo by placing
the money at the disposal of the State
authorities, upon condition that II
shall be distributed among the white
and Colored races according to theil
respective numbers. This bill, il
passed, would be an obstacle in tht
way OF Federal super vision, because
while this bill is in existence, there
can he no control of the schools by
the Federal suthoriti 8.
This bi will not increase the tariff
nor preJent its reduction, beciuse {
iudiclous reduction of the taiii will
increase the revenue.
There is sufficient money Ia tht
Treasury to pay all debts which ar,
due or may b'come due and to NEE
this appropriation. Sac Mr.. Beck
speech in the Senate.
IL this appropriation is not mad
the money will either be boarded il
the Treasury or expended for SOM
much less valuable and lees praise
worthy purpose.
Ii the support of measure by nine
teen out Of twenty-five Democrat
United States Senators and by ms
jority of the Southern Democ ats will
not make II Democratic, what IillP
Money Arising from the eale OF pull
lie lands is under the SINE restriction
as money arising from any othe
source, for the clause OF the constitr
ton which authorizes Congress to dil
pose OF public lands authorizes it
dispose of other property. There
no distinction. The benefits to tn
Southern S'ates, in the way Of educ
ton and Of increasing the c'rculatir
medium are too evident to mead EN-
meraliol; bore alluson is sufiicien
Some Republicans in Ienness'
object to the hill becau il does n,
contain Fe eral supervision. II gu
port of more partisan measure, sue
rs this is, by the Republicans of Tel
ness mukes IL Republican, does NJ
tho opposition of the RepublicG
Senators from Ohio and Kansas nal
it Democratic
! do not impugn the Democracy
the opponents OF this bill and the
have no right to impugu my Demo
raCy.
TIE receiving of the SOL, 900 900
which we are entitled, as matter
right, is no more bride than recei
, ing money to improve the Tenuess
and Cumberland rivers, or to pTevo
: yellow fever or other great epidemic
! have no desire 10 engage in polite
J diNu 'sions, hut | deem it due to m
! selitl lay thismuc WIN J.SyKRs.