The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-23
SCHOOLS OF THE SOUTH
OUGHT TO HAVE THE AID OF THE
sNATI0N.
The Reasons Why Clearly Stated by q
SOutherner, a Democrat Of Forty
Six Years. Standing.
To the Editors Of the Appeal {;

To the Editors Of the Appeal;
NASHVILLE, TENN, June 2l.-There
is a question wi ich is OF practical inn
poitanoe and about which 1 regret TO
saw there is not unanimiiy OF opinion
that is the policy OF national aid to
education, embodied in what is known
as the Blair bill. l do not hesitate to
ayoW nv self in favor Of this measure
and shall proceed ID give my reasons.
am for il because il is Democratic.
The National Convention which nomi-
mated Grover Cleveland for President
and Thos. A. Hendricks for Vice-Presi-
dent adopted as part Of their platform
the following: eve favor the diffusion
of free education by common schools,
30 that every child in the land may be
taught the rights and duties oil citizen
ship"
This must have referred to national
aid TO education. The Federal Gov
eminent has nothing 10 do with
purely local matters, and national
convention would not say anything in
reference 20 them. The great body Of
our laws are purely local, and there
fore the National Convention had
nothing b say abou. these laws be-
cause the Federal Government had
nothing TO do with them.
The fat thst the National Conven-
ton did speak out on any question
shows that they considered 1t a
national question. Whether tia States
as States should encourages educa.
tion-public Pchool education-if 1t
had been merely a local question,
could not have been interferred with
by national convention, which only
looked TO matters requiring Federal
legislation. This Is conclusive ss to
the views taken by the Democratic
party in convention assembled. No
one will contend that the National
Convention could interfere with a
purely local matter.
Again, the leading statesmen OF the
country who had hand in making
the government and were assisted in
framing the constitution maintained
that the Federal Government was
bound TO aid in establishing public
schools and ia aiding education.
George Washington, who presided
over the convention that framed the
constitution, and who was the first
President under it., said in his fare
we'll address that Congress should
"promote, as IN object OF primary
importance, II stitntouH for the gen.
eral diffusion OF knowledge" Thos.
LETTERS N, the author Of the Declare
ton OF Independence, and who wss
in his day the III tinkuished lesder Of
the Democratic party, said in his an
nusl mes age in 1906:
When both these branches Of revenue
shall In this way DO relinquished, thero will
still, ere long, bo ar, ACCUMULATION Of mon
eys In tho Treasury beyond the lnstallmenta
OF the public debt which w0 are permitted BY
contract TO pay. They cannot, then, with
out modification, assented 70 by the pub
lie creditors, be applied TO the extinguish-
mont of this debt, and tho complete liberia
ton Of our revenues. the most desirable Of
all objects nor, u our peace continues, will
they be wanting for any other existing pur
pose. The question, therefore, now comes
forward, to what. objects shall these sur
pluses be appropriated. and the whole SUR;
plus OF impost after the entire discharge Of
the public debt, and during those intervals
when the purposes OF war shall not call fol-
theml Shall we suppress the impost, and
give that advantage TO foreign over domestic
manuAoturers2 On few articles Of more
general and necessary use the suppression, IN
due season, will doubtless be right, but thu
great mass Of the articles on which impost II
paid arc foreign luxuries purchased only By
those who arc rich enough 10 afford them.
selves the use OF them.
Their patriotism would certainly prefer la
continuance, and application 70 the grea'
purposes OF the public education, roads
lie improvement as IL may BIO thought neceE
sary TO add to tho constitutional enumera
zion Of Federal powers. by these operations
new channels Of communication will be
opened between the States, the lines OF sep
aration will disappear, their interests will
be Identified and their union oemented b.
new and indissoluable ties.
In his last annual message, In 1908
he again said: "Shall the revenue bI
reduced or shall il rot rather be ap
propriated TO the improvement o
roads, canals, rivers, education anC
other great foundations Of prosperity
and union III der the powers which
Congress may already possess, or sucl
amendments OF the constitution n
may be approved by the States2"
With such men as these advocating
national aid to education, who cal
doubt that it is a Democratic measure
Again, In our own day and time
when such men as l.. @ O. Lamar
A. II. Garland, Wade Hampton,
l.. Pugh, Howell h. Jackson, d. w
Voorhees, and hundreds OF other lead
ing Democrats a1voc, to this bill
how can anyone question its bein
a Democratic measure2 IL is Demo
cratic, because it gives to the State
the right TO manage the fund-to %
lect not only the books but the teach
era; or, in other wordP, il completed
recognizes the doctrine Of State
righW, as will appear from ex 'minin
the bill.
am in iayor oft because It'll Ugh
because II is necessary, because Il
indispensable. In republic the pee
pie must be educated 10 tudain III
government, and uphold popular il
situations. Men OF wealth are able
educate their children at piiva
schools, but the great mass cf the PEI
pie are laboreis who are unable to o.
ucste their children except at publ
schools. These sre often the mo
valuable portion OF the communit
and constitute the governing clsset
of the country. / am aware that Il
couteuded by some, but by only ie,
| trust, that education units a man /
manual labor. This Ia q great mistak
Proper education qualiats a man
labor OF any kind, and causes him
honor il. A man is not mere hOr
or mule, that is only valuable in pI
portion to the amount OF manual lab
he performs; he Is given intells
which it is his duty TO cultivate, a,
which frs him for all the relations
life, including labor. The better ed
Gated any community is the me
prosperous il lie, as wei IS the me
happy. For these r.a ons il is Il
duty OF the government TO foster, {
coursge and maintain public schoo
In our State the people are not able
dir, ct taxation b maintain an efiicie
public school system. The taxation
now very heavy, and yet there is
grea, deficiency. In many of {
counties the rate of taxation for SIT
purposss amounts to 20,
40, and in some counties to
gants IN tha G1OO Worth nj nronar