River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-01-26
National Aid for Common Schoo.s--Its NeeC
Objections Answered.
MARY II. HUNT.


In this country, where the people
rule, there are six millions who can
neither read nor write; an increase of
two millions in ten years.
OF our ten million voters, according
to the last census, two millions Zone
fifth of the whole) are illiterate.
One in every group of five cannot
write his name; one in every six can
not read his ballot.
A representative of North Carolina
says "The number of people in our
state who do not know the alphabet is
larger than the number of votes ever
there polled for governor or presi-
dent
Who can estimate what all this por-
tends to Republicl
The question now is "What shall we
do with six million illiterates!" If
not answered Alright, it will soon be
what will twenty million illiterates
do with us!"
Many of the Southern States, impov-
erished by war, are doing more for
public education in proportion to their
taxable property than even Massachu-
sets, and yet their free schools are la
mentally inadequate for either blacks
or whites.
An army of ignorant slaves was,
(by a national act,) made into voters.
Should not the nation complete the
emancipation of these freed men by
helping to furnish the means of edu-
cation their respective states are not
able to supplyl
How can any one oppose SO reasona-
BILE propositionl
The NORTHERN DIRECTOR says
First: ''Illitefacy IL State not a
National question, and has no claim
on the National Treasury. Each state
should provide the means to educate
her own illterates.
Answer-An ignorant voter any
where in the country, votes on Nation
al as well as on State questions, there
fore illiterate voters in any state are a
peril to tht Nation composed of all the
States; thus illiteracy is a National
danger demanding National relief
Secondly: Federal aid for free pub.
lie schools will pauperize states re-
ceiving it, and thus destroy the spirit
of self help" the DIRECTOR says.
Answer-If national aid would de-
moraliZe the state which receives it,
why does not state aid demoralize in
stead of building up, as it has, the dis
trict school; and why has not free ed
ucation demoralized the individual in
stead of making, as it has, achieving
men and women2 This objection APP
piled would do away with scholarships
in our colleges and the educational
funds that have helped poor students
struggle into the self made manhood
that is the pride of our land.
On page ten of the catalogue of the
Minnesota Educational Exhibit at the
Worlds Centennial at New Orleans,
we find Minnesota has a school fund
of over six million dollars, the gift OF
the National Government, in lands for
school purposes which nets an annual
income of over $500 900, with which
this state of the Laughing waters"
supports her admirable school system,
including a State University. On the
OBJECToR's theory, Minnesota should
have now petty pauper spirit, in
stead of being the vigorous young
State she is.
National aid for improvements of
Harbors and Rivers has not seemed to
pauperize the spirit of internal i'm
provement in the States. Why, then,
should national aid for improvement
| o. luluIe luel dnu NOAhSA " AAOAS W
moralizing!
Instead of destroying a spirit of self
help. for it provides that mo state
shall receive moro from the National
Treasury than it expends itself for
free schools.
Thirdly: 1.-The newly awakened edu-
cational spirit of the South in time
will provide for tAe education of her
own children, the DIRECTOR says.
Answer-Tbis would do if the chill
dren would wait, but while we are
waiting for "time," a generation of
children will grow into manhood and
womanhood of ilhteracy to their loss
and our peril. Now is the accepted
time if you would educate child.
Fourthly: 1T viii not reach the
blacks he adds.
Answer-This bill declares "No
money shall be paid out under this
act to any state or territory that shall
not have provided by law a system of
free common schools for all Of its chill
dren of school age, WifhOut distinction
of race or color, either in the raising
or distributing Of school revenues or
in the school facilities afforded, pro.
vided that separate schools for white
and coIored children shall not be corr
sidered a violation of this condition. =
The OBJEcToR has ordinarily never
read the bill. lie fires at man of
straw.
| Filthy: You can't trust the states