Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-17
The Blair Bill--Again.


The Blair Bill--Again.
The Democratic stump.speaker In Lex.
ington writes 10 us asking us whether we
cannot give a column editorial on the re-
cord OF the Democratic party on the BLAIR
bill. Only month or two ago, we had an
editorial on the history OF the BLAIR bill,
giving all the facts that we Thought II
necessary for Democratic stumper TO
have. Nevertheless, our rule is cline
upon line and precept upon precept"
and so we proceed to repeat what we said
in the article alluded to.
In the first place, what could be more CT.
fective before crowd OF voters than to
read TO them what JoHS SHERMAN said in
the United States Senate in opposition to
the BLAIR ir?-JoHN SHERMAN, the man
whom MALONE invited to Virginia last year
to make speeches to our people, and who
came and spoke in Richmond, Petersburg.
and other places s-JoBH SHERMAN, who is
more likely than any man except BLAINE
to be the Republican nominee for President
In 1sss?--JoBy SHERMAN, whom MALONE
at least prefers to BLAINE In speaking on
the BLAIR bill, this JOIN SHERMAN, on
March 10, 1884, said:
"Aithough this thing (the education bilD
has been talked Of in a sentimental kind OF
way in this country for some years, yet i
do not think the public opinion OF the
United States Is now prepared for any such
measure as this; and II IL should pass the
tofIxr & oh
gress--it would at once excite great agita-
ton, great complaint, great discomfort and
1 do not believe the system would stand
long before general public voice would
demand its repeal on the ground OF inius'
tice and inequality"
The "injustice and inequality" con-
sisted In the fact that the bill appropriated
the money on the basis Of illiteracy, giving
10 the South much the largest proportional
share Of 1t.
Senator HAwLEY, whom the Republicans
invited to Southwest Virginia in 1884 to
make speeches for BLAINE, but who failed
TO come possibly because he did not wish
TO face bis record on this very bill, -
said:
"The money that comes from long dis
tapce-tbat is, not felt by the taX-payers-
! Is money easily expended; and that may
he said OF the whole Federal revenue.
Therefore we should be the more jealous
MS TO what we do with 1t. Ii Is as costly as
# we took ii by direct taxation rieht out OF
their pockets | believe IL has been said
bere-but IL IT has not, II can be now
that II this money were to be levied by
direct taxation this bill would not get ten
votes in the Senate"
MIR. HAwLEY is the most prominent east
ern aspirant to the nomination OF the Re
publican party for the ice.presldency.
MIR. PLUMB, of Kansas, represents the
Republicans OF the far West. He said:
al shall regard the passage OF bill oil
This kind as the deaIh-knel OF the present
school system of the United States. The
annette once created, the demand for more
win be presented here each year, until
finally the Government will appropriate al
expenses and take full and sole control"
Then YOU may read what Congressmau
WILLIS has told us as TO the reasons why
the BLAIR bill was not passed by the House
OF Representatives OF the Forty-eighth Con
gress. He says:
"The bankruptcy bull, the Mexican pen
sion bill, with the Senate's Amendment
for the benefit Of the soldiers OF the ial'
war. the bills for the forfeiture OF the lana
grants, the national-llbrary bill, the snip
ping bill, the publc-building bilis, AM
Others equally important were all sfu !,;
Cling for consideration. All OF tnese plil
had their friends-friends without reiei
ence to party lines-and these geml'en,e
were also friends OF the Siair ol'l. IN
sRlasr, hill. however, was not stronge
than all OF these bills together. The con
sequence was that from day to day (unde
our absurd rules) these bills fought eac
other. and ali were killed off-that Is, a
ri them. the Blair bill Included, talled [
cef the consideration they esged. Man
Of these bills, like the educational bill, Ia
an overwhelming majority, but, by on
iron-clad rules, were not permitted to CON
10 vote. The appropriation bills, whie
ale always entitled 10 consideration, col
sumed the balance OF the time.
ON the same high authority, we may ad
that the Republicans controlled the Hou'
OF Representatives Of the Forty-seven'
Congress but totally failed under the rul
ever to get the bill up for consideration.
As we have heretofore said, the Dem
Gratis In the Forty-cighth Congress, on Il
first day they could be introduced uud,
the rules, presented In the House OF Repr
sentatiyes more than half dozen bill
granting Federal aid to education. Tt
Democratic Speaker appointed commits
Of seven Democrats aud four Republican
friendly 10 the object Of these bills. A su
committee was organized, which, with
twenty days after its formation, presents
o bill appropriating S55,ooO.ooo In aid
education. This bill was very much
same as the BLAIR bin. and was by the CO.
mitsee strongly recommended for passsg,
But acts speak louder than words. /
- Us auslyze the vote In the United Stat
Senate Arril Z, 1884, on the passage OF I
BLAIR bill. OF the seyenty-slx senat,
only forty.four actually voted. or
thirty-two remaining pairs were announc
for twenty, leaving twelve senators W
neither voted nor were paired. OF III,
twelve all but two were Republicans. n
WILLIS believes that at least four iliths
The absent, impaired Republican senate
were opposed to the bill. The aflirmsti
vote actually east was thlrtv.thrS
OF which twenty were Republica
and thirteen Democrats. OF the pii
ior the bill the Republicans h
four and the Democrats six. adding whI'
to the aciusl vote will give the "yea " vo
for passage Of the bill Republicans, q
Democrats, 10; watch is the relative NJ
merical proportion Of the two parties |
the Senate. OF the vote actually cast M
jority was twenty-three; OF the votes favor
able 10 the bill, including those actual
cast and those "paired," thirty-thre
would be q majority. In neither cas-
would the Republican vote have been sui
6cient TO baye passed the bill. The bi
paused the Senate by the combined vote @
both parties.
The Democratic party must be judged b
its .taders--the exponents Of IL principle
and policy. Judged by this rule, the Demo
cruls Of the South may proudly point TO th
irct thst In The senate General wADI
Hlnsron, General RAKson, Goyerno
1aowr, Governor CoLecI7T, Call. Gan
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