The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1886-03-27
THE BLAIR EDUCATIONAL
BILL.

It does look to a mai of ordinary
comprehension that some men har
Dor an unnecessary fear about the
effects of the Educational Bill, that
has passed the Senate, and is now
before the House Of Representa-
tives awaiting actor.
The Carroll Democrat devOtes a
whole column to that subject. Our
able cont,ere immaglneS that 1t
clocks like the Federal Govern
ment means TO take charge Of edu
cation.'
How any harm can come from
the Blair Bill is a mystery, and we
candidly confess that our MUD is
TOO ohtuse to tathom il. The mon
ey is 70 be placed in the treasures
OF the States TO be used erclusireiy
TO aid in the education OF the chII
dren that attend the public schools.
At present but few Parishes can
run the public schools more than
three or four months in any give Il
year. Now, if they have money
enough to maintain the schools
open S months, where a tn e harm
be found DO TIE opponents of
this beneticent measure fear the ed
ucation of the boys and girls, in the
future? Do they suppose Cha: edu
Gated citizens will run the Govern
ment into Il centralized or despotic
power! The people of the vicinity
i'll which the Carol! Democrat is
printed has had millions of dollars
expended 10y the general Govern
ment, before their doors, in an eff
fort to improve the Mississippi riv
er, AID If our information is reliable
the people OF Carroll Parish have
been relieved very materially from
danger of overflow. 1t the Govern
ment "a expend millions to pre-
vent one section Of the country from
overflow by water, why should it
not give a few millions to save the
entire South-the entire Unioli.
from an inundatlon of ignorance
The Government is called upon
for money to improve rivers, to
build bridges, to subsidize railroads.
to dig canals, and clean out harbors,
and numerous other purposes, in
which cases the funds are expend
ed by the agents of the Government,
and not a word is heard about cen
t~ra!lzatlon or despotic power.
But, 10Y when it is proposed
that the Government give to the
Statrs-an absolute gift-a few
millions to educate the children OF
the POOR, the funds TO be used and
paid by the State agents Of educa
ton, without any Observation-Disclosures
than that it must be paid Tor the
support of public schools, hands go
up, eyes become extended, and a
terrific cry of Capitalization and DIES
potism is heard echoing over the
hills and valleys.
There lies behind these arguments
a certain fact that the opponents
of the Blair Bill do not bring very
deliberately to the front, that nj co
temporary of CARROLL admits, bu1
does not dilate upon.
In the commencement Of the arti
Gle that causes this comment, the
CAROL, Democrat says that,
The Blair bill as it passed the
Senate is subtle piece of Iepubli
can campaign legislation. 1t is "a
cunning devise and shows consider
able political argument on the part
of its originator. 1t is a particular
~ remarkable instrument as it has
every appearance OF a liberal adj
vance Oh the part of Il political
enemies, and is fair to look upon
while it's secret lies in the fact that
it creates IA demand for revenues
md thuS nonausarilx nrnuaS Ii fo