Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-02-01
THE BLAIR BILL.

The Blair educational bill is the only
question which seems to absorb the atten-
ton of Congress, it now remaining, as for
three weeks past, the unfinished business
of the Senate, Mr.. Morgan, of Alabama,
speaking against it last Monday. The
bill meets with considerable opposition
on the Democratic side of the Senate,
the principal argument used by its
opponents being its unconstitutionality.
This, however, is specious argument,
when it is remembered that Attorney
General Garland and Associate Supreme
Justice Lamar, give it their hearty
concurrence. The bill is also supported
by Senator Hampton, and no n is more
heartily in sympathy with its provis-
ions than Ex-Governor Thompson, who,
when State Superintendent of Education,
appeared before the Congressional Com
mittee Of education, and in advocacy of
the measure said: :
"First. That the State of South Carroll
ma is now doing all in her power for pub
lie education.
Secondly. That it is impossible in her
impoverished condition for her to furnish
the means of education to the masses of
the children; and
Thirdly. That the aid we ask for, if
granted at all, should be granted imme-
diately."
The Richmond Dispatch quotes with
hearty commentator the remark of the
Memphis Ara1anche that, eff national aid
to common schools encourages mendican-
cy, State, county and city aid must do the
same thing, because the anne people who
pay the local taxes pay the national taxes"
The Danville Register says thereupon:
"Certainly they do, but the trouble is
that, in the South, the white people have
to bear the burden of educating the ma
toms wards, and we think it is high time
that those who emancipated the negro
were contributing something toward his
education. The Blair bill must pass"
The Dispatch closes the argument thus:
Eyes, as in substance we have said hereto
fore, whenever you hear a man say that
the Blair bill is a bill to promote mendi-
cancy. you may set it down that he be-
lieves the public school system promotes
mendicancy."
The editor of the Carolina Spartan, him
self an earnest supporter ofthe bill, sounds
the keynote of the opposition in the fol-
lowing paragraph:
"There seems to be little doubt as to the
educational bill passing the United States
Senate, but its opponents hope to smother
it to death in the House committee. The
opposition comes from two sources. Those
who believe that public money should be
used only for governmental purposes op-
pose the measure, saying that if you appro-
pirate money for education, you have a
right to take it for any other purpose.
Some of these same men are in favor of
fostering ~monopolies, voting large land
grants to railroads and otherwise enrich
ing the few at the expense of the many.
In the South there is a large number of
persons opposed to education at the ex-
pense of the State, believing that the par
ent who is unwilling or unable to educate
his children should have no help. They
believe that ignorant, uneducated people
make the best laborers, and that when the
spelling book is put into the hand of
a negro, a field hand is spoiled. From
these two classes comes the opposition to
the Blair BILL"