Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-05-22
GAINESVILLE
WEEKLY CHRONICLE.
R. H. YANcEY, Editor
OBJECTIONS TO The BLAIR BILL

There never was just such lack Of
reason in support or opposition to any
neasure as is shown by the opponents
OF the Blair bill,
Men argue that it is unconstitutional
who have agreed to the appropriation Of
millions for pensions, for the improve
ment OF rivers and harbors, for yellew
fever commissions and for the prevent
ing Of the spread of epidemic diseases
among cattle.
They try to scare Democrats away
from its support by the foolish assertion
that it. is Republican measure when
the fact is IT secured the support of the
leading Democrats in the Union and
the votes ola majority OF the Democratic
Senators. The man who makes that
argument is either a lnaye or a fool,
perhaps both, and the one who believes
il is sadly imposed upon.
Then comes along your old Bourbon
fossil who hasn't absorbed an idea in
twenty-five years and never got one ex-
cept by the slow process Of ABSORPTION.
This crustaceous individual mumbles
out sit is not in accord with States
rights"
ii States rights in its strictest sense
was a live and important issue the Blair
bill would not conflict with it. This
bill provides that the money ii appro-
PIRATES be turned over to the State for
distribution according to State laws and
there is no Federal interference in the
matter at all. This clinging to senti-
ment at the sacrifice Of practical benefit
has been.the bane OF the South. While
the north has always gone in for the old
flag and an appropriation, we of this
section have made all Of our politics the
exposition of sentiment. The fellows
who bring up the States rights spook,
want the South to reject the profer OF
millions of money to aid in her public
schools simply through respect to the
ghost of this old idea that had its origin
in the maintenance OF slavery.
Another fantastic argument brought
forth by these carpers is that the slim
illus given by national aid will make the
States lethargic in their school interests
when this support is withdrawn. Such
reasoning comes from fine spun theory.
The public schools in the Southern
States need mainly to lie established
and put on such permanent founda-
ton that the States can support them.
That is what we want with the Blair
bill.
Probably the most plausible reason
that these directors present and the
only one entitled to serious considera-
ton is, that drawing such large amount
Of money from the Federal treasury will
lead to an increase in taxation, but even
this falls to the ground when it is re.
membered that the money it propose,
TO appropriate is a surplus that has in
some way got to be returned to the tax
payers, If this surplus is not paid out
for educational projects it is certain tC
so for purposes less praiseworthy. Il
is not practical that this money be APP
propriated to the discharge OF the nat
ional debt and not desirable if it were
practical,
The fact that the Federal government
turned loose on the South mass of il
literate voters just freed from slavery
and thus increased the educational bur
den of this section, entities the Soutl
to national aid in relieving this Hitter.
acy. This is an argument the DIRECTORS
have not tried to answer and canno
answer.
The fact is, all objection to the Blair
bill is based simply on objection to pub
lie education of any kind. 1t come
from men who think the benefits O
education should be confined to til,
few-those, for instance, who think
sufficient education for the masses cal
be had from public speakers.
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