Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-09


The Opposition 10 the Blair Bill.
The main argument against the Blair
educational bin is that it will encourage
the states TO depend upon the national
government to provide them with means
for supporting their schools. The New
YORK lV0rid, which admits that it would
be advisable from every point Of view to
have better educational facilities. partic-
ularly in the States where the percentage
otIlliteracy is the greatest, opposes the
Blair bill because it is afraid "that the
habit Of selfreliauce and the integrity
OF the powers OF the States will be under
I mined"
/ 1t is remarkable that this argument is
used so often by the opponents of the bill
not only In Cong ess but also in the news
papers. 1t is fact that the larger part
of the money appropriated by the bill will
be spent in the South, because the per-
centage Of ilIiteracy In the South is great
err. and II is admitted that there s justice
in assisting education in the South, be-
cause, as compared TO the North, the
South is poor, and the burden OF preparing
a large portion or her population for GILL
zenship was forced upon her by the gov
eminent, but the opponents OF the Dill
can't get rid of the idea that to help the
| Southern people educate the colored peo-
pie will somehow or other destroy their
selt-reliance.
But why is it that when 1t 10 proposed
to distribute millions OF dollars through
out the wealthy North in the shape OF
pensions the cry is not raised that there
is danger OF destroying the self-reliance
OF the people in the Northern Statesp Mr..
Bayne. OF PENNSYLVANIA, a few days ago
in a speech in the House said that their
were 700 ex-Unlon soldiers in the poor
houses of that State. II 1t were not for
the pensions it 10 net unreasonable to
suppose that there would be ten times 100
ex. Union soldiers, and their widows and
orphans in Pennsylvania dependent upon
charity. The distribution OF nearly $780,
600 900 annually in pensions lifts a vast
burden from the Northern people. The
call upon them in behalf Of private and
public charities would be far greater than
it is If the pensions were withdrawn. The
pcOrhouses would be crowded, and asy-
lums and homes for soldiers orphans and
widows would have TO be established.
Nobody opposes the granting of pensions,
however, on the ground that it tends to
destroy the self-reliance OF the people.
The South is not getting any help from
the government for her ex-sOldiers or for
the widows and orphans of ex soldiers,
and she doesn't ask any. She is bearing
that burden as best she can, and that she
is bearing it fully as well as the North is
bearing her burden of the same kind,
the help furnished by the
government, Is shown by the fact that in
20 Southern State is there 700 ex-Con-
federate soldiers in the poorhouses.
The help that the South will get for edu-
cation In the event Of the passage OF the
Blair bill will be mainly for the colOred
people; and why should not the govern
ment help to prepare the co1ored people
to handle the ballot intelligently? The
Southern people did not force citizenship
upon them. The government did that, |
and did it, too, long before they were
ready for it. The Southern people will |
take the risk Of having their habit OF SELF
reliance undermined if the government |
will lend helping hand In the work of
improving the moral and intellectual con-
ditlon Of the colOred people.
1t is said that the opponents of the
Blair bill intend to try to kill it in the
House Committee which has charge Of it.
because they are afraid that II it is report
ed to the House 1t will pass. 1t will not
pass the House unless the people |
want it 10, aud II the people want it the
committee which has it in charge will do |
very foolish thing to try to defeat it be-
cause its passage, although it may be de-
layed, cannot be prevented.