The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-01

and possibly crank. The bill was
simply introduced by him in the SEN
ats and the same bill BY Willis, q
Democrat, in the House. Blair was
not the author even Of the bill. 1t
was the work of the State teachers
South and their friends, who saw
the awful and pressing necessity OF
national aid to public education.
And this national aid is what we
need and must have. We are not in
condition to make ugly mouths
about the way it is obtained. We
ought to be glad to get anything we
can for the public good out of the
Yankees. And We might expect
them to object to paying three
fourths OF the money to educate the
children OF the South, but it is in
cred: bic that any man in Tenne ssee
of Intelligence should oppose it.
The Yankees are rich. Hundreds
OF millions are paid out to them an
nually in pensions, etc. Their pub
lie schools are success and they
are able to sustain them. They
get comparatively little if the
distribution is to be made
on the scale of illiteracy, be-
cause the proportion of illiterates
with them'is so much less than with
US.
Hence it is that while Tennessee
would contribute 81 she would re-
ceive in return $24 for the education
of her children. Eence it is that
Massa ,husetts, with q population of
one and three quarter millions,
would receive under the apportion-
ment about $1i000,0o0, while Ten.
nessee, with million and half of
population, would receive more than
$4,000, 900.
Now, of course, every man is en-
titled to his own political opinion on
the question of national aid to pub
lie education. The Republicans are
solid for it, and tits, confidently be-
lieved large majority Of the De-
mocracy favor iii The Democratic
platform of Tennessee, which, by the
way, is most excellent one, favors
"the maintenance and improvement
of our public schools and the educa-
ton OF all classes of our citizens"
but how are we to maintain and i'm
prove them unless by Federal aid?
The tariff howlers would make us
believe that the annual appropriation
for eight years of IS; 1000, 900 in aid OF
public education is for the purpose
of increased taxation, and in the
interest of bondholders and advocates
of high protective tariff.
Nothing is further from the truth.
There is now idle in the Treasury
about 1886, 100000. This amount is
increasing daily. The Congress
failed to materially change the tariff
laws. The public debt is being re-
duced as rapidly as the business
interests of the country will admit.
No considerable amount of the
national debt will be due until 1892.
The revenue under existing laws is
more than ample to meet all public
demand. The amount to be dis
tributed in aid IF public education
would be as nothing. 1t would not
be felt, while it would accomplish
for the South the greatest blessing
ever offered.
the successful politician ofth future
will not be the man that opposes
national aid to public schools. Those
who so vigorously oppose it now will
even be ANONYMOUSLY and perma-
nently retired. The people begin to
suspect that the man who opposes
national aid to public schools is gem
orally opposed to all free schools.
That is the best analysis, For with
out national aid we cannot maintain
and improve" our public school sys-
TEN. EDUCATOR.
BOLIVAR, Tenn, August %, 1886.