National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-13

The colored people throughout the coun-
try are making vigorous efforts to secure
the passage of the Blair educational bill.
At Philadelphia some days since they held
n meeting at which stirring resolutions
favoring the measure were adopted, aud
petition prepared and forwarded to the
House Of Representatives. This petition
contained thousands of signatures of the
most prominent colored people in that city.
Copies Of the resolutions were also sent
to each Pennsylvania representative in the
House, and autograph letters in acknowledge
ment have been received from several OF
them by DR.. N. +. Morsell, secretary Of the
meeting. Hon. Samuel j. Randall writes
that he will give the resolutions "due con-
sidoration.n Hon. Daniel Ermentrout, of
Reading, says "When the proposed meas
ure comes before the House shall be glad
to give IL earnest consideration Hon.
Alexander G. White replies that he will
cheerfully support the bill. Hon. Charles
O'Neill writes 81 concur In the resolutions
and have been doing all can forprogress
in that important legislation, and l will
continue to aid in accomplishing 1t, and
most sincerely hope we may have success"
In New York state the colored press aud
people are unit In advocacy Of the Blair
bill. They know the need OF their
southern brethren, and are kcenly alive
to the fact that this is their
great opportunity, and that to lose 1t
would be most deplorable The fact that
the Blair bill is now within reach Of becom-
ing law emphasizes their anxiety lest It
should be lost through the unaccountable
trining of the House committee, who have
been intrusted with its consideration.
That the bill would meet with some opposl-
tion was anticipated. There are some poll
tcians who would rather have the negroes
ignorant AMI the poor whites illi.erate.
There are some who want the money for
jobs, and hate to waste 1t on schools.
There are some so eager to diminish the
tariff revenues that they would cut of
every expenditure which tends to make a
tariff revenue needful-a political leader
who fears that he will fare worse with an
intelligent constituency than an ignorant
one, iobber who wants to line his own
pockets, a free trader who is devoted above
| extremist who dares not let mis- own state
have its treasury replenished from the ma
tional vault--any Of these may naturally
enough oppose a measure which is to
employ national money for the
aid Of education. Outside Of these
clauses, however, the opposition to the bill
! is almost entirely frivolous. The pretense
Of scruplcs where none exist; the claim that
the south is abundantly able to lift the load
Of iliteracy, when from the very nature of
the case 1t is impossible that she could be;
the lamentations over wasteful expendl-
ture of money, as II in the presence OF so
grave danger as threatens us from the
mass Of ignorant suffrage the sum pro-
posed in the bill could possibly be better
employed; the attempts to excite state
jealousy, lest, on the basis of illiteracy, one
should receive a somewhat greater share
than another; the anxiety over constltu-
tlonal points, as If every street corner states.
man were wiser than the Supreme Court
all these classes Of opposition to the mea-
sure are entitled simply to the contempt of
those who see the need and wish to supply
1t in the most simple and most practicable
way.
When the House Of Representatives by a
majority vote virtually censured its CON-
mittee on education, and referred the Blair
bill TO the committee on labor, the people
OF the country regarded that action as an
instruction to the labor committee to report
the bill at once to the House for its action
and sooner or later these gentlemen will be
called on to explain to the country, II moi
to the House, the reasons for their inaction
The people will, and rightly, insist on know
ing why measure which has the approval
of a large majority of both branches oi
Congress is being smothered in the pigeol
holes OF a committee room. The great
majority of the southern members favor the
bill, and are prepared to vote for 1t. They
perceive the evils that must surely follow q
protracted condition of ignorance among
the mass of their population. They have
witnessed for themselves the necessities o.
the case, and from every educator who Il
engaged in the laborious work Of building
up their schools they bear testimony daily
that help is an absolute necessity.
II any evidence were needed to prove th,
good faith and sincerity of the southern
people in their advocacy Of this measure
! the fact that eleven southern states pay an
nually sixteen millions OF dollars for educa
tion, and FIVE millions Of this for colored
schools, while the colored people them
selves pay less than two millions Of taxa
tion, tells the whole story. The south Il
doing its best In this direction, aud viii
continue to do its best aided or unaided
But its best is not sufficient to meet tn,
need.
Tothe Republican members II would seen
that nothing of urging or persuasion shoulc
be required. Upon principle they arr
the friends of education, and assuredll
should not now stand in the way of glvint
1t to the people. Let these two classes
then-the Republicans and southern mem
bers-unite in securing the passage OF thI
wise, humane, and philanthropic measure
Future generations will applaud it as sec
ond only to the emancipation act in thu
possibilities of its influence upon the unit,
of this nation through all time.
| Gladstone.