National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-15

Tie educational bill proposes tD donate
,toCDOrCO of national moneys TO the states,
proportional 10 the illitcracy within their
respective borders. The bulk OF this large
appropriation will 90 to the southern states.
II is to he delivered over to the states nnl
he discussed by state officers.
II this hill passes and becomes law, 70
seems that II must take effect against the
protest Of Senator Morgan, Of Alabama,
that Il ia absolutely unconstitutional. The
extreme states rights Democrats donct like
to sec the south invaded by the power Of
the nation, even for the purpose Of donating
large sums Of money for the benefit Of their
people. Alabama, which is TO get S5,01O,0OO,
through Senator Morgan, says II Is uncOu.
stitutioGal for the United states TO give her
this vast sum, even If she consents TO take
It.. We wonder whether Senator Morgan
would have made his extremely able and
forciJle states rights speech against the
bill II he had not been sure that the bill
would pass in spite Of his opposition, as It
did pass the Senate In the last Congress.
1t may he questioned whether the Re.
publicans Of the north ought to force the
greater part Of S17,C00,0OO upon the south
ern states for the education of their people
against the protest Of Senator Morgan and
those southern congressman who agree with
him. The Republican party is committed
to securing popular education as means
Of preserving a republican form Of govern
mcnt In state and nation, but Il is not
obliged to force the moneys necessary to
remove illitcracy upon unwilling state
authorities. II can establish a system of
national schools under national control anu
| with national teachers, then the nation will
be sure that its money Is expended to edu-
cate southern illiteates, and not diverted
for any other purpose.
As the bill now stands each southern state
takes It's share Of the s77OOO,OOO and does
what It pleases with the money. The only
provision designed to make certain that the
money will be applied for popular educa
tion as proposed by Congressis is that the
governor Of each state shall, at the end oI
each year, satisfy the Secretary of the in
terror that the school moneys for the pre-
vlous year have been expended in accord
ance with the intentions Of Congress. Tht
plan VIII work IN this way: In Mississippi
for instance, the state will take its frs
years share of the 100000 and will Dc
what 1t pleases. with the money. At the enc
of the year thdS governor Of Mississippi viii
have to satisfy Secretary Lamar that tn
first years moneys have been used properi
and wisely for school purposes. If secre
tary Lamar is then satisfied Mississippi will
get her second years proportion. Thi
we understand TO be the only nationu
control over Misslssippl's share of the none
which the bill provided for. 1t seem
to us entirely inadequate and we thin
that the bill should be amended 6
as to retain more national contrC
over the national donation; special
as the states rights southern leader
propose to grasp and use with one hand a
,, they can get of the national money, Will
with the other hand they thrust at th
north protest that the money is given t
them contrary to states rights and the col
stitution of the United States.
The House having, during the forty
eighth Congress, refused to pass this bill
and the great leaders Of southern though
being still opposed TO 1t on constitutions
, grounds, may It not be well to refer IL
whole question to the people of the sout
in the congressional elections of 1886?