The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-01-05
GOV. TAYLOR ON THE BLAIR BILL.
Address HseGore the SIate Com
VenIIon az Couniy SHperin.
tendentS, Dec. =, ISS7.

oSV uPoH thlS hsPPS HOVNh6 vi uuI
county superintend4nts, whose OBJ
iect is the elevation Of the standard of
education within our borders. You
are engaged in experimenting a work
which must bring great results-re-
suits which will determine our char.
acter and destiny as people.
Gentlemen of the convention, are
you aware that Tennessee occupies the
first place among all the Southern
states in reference to graded schools,
high schools, colleges and universities?
But with all the great institutions
which are the glory of the State, there
is yet sad deficiency in our educa-
tional system. We must have more
extended system of public free schools
There are thousands OF children in the
state who, by reason of poverty, are
hopelessly debarred from the advanta-
ges afford by the town and city schools
and colleges. 1t is most especially for
these that entertain the greatest So
licitude.
We are astonished and humiliated
when we hear the statement from the
lips OF the Superintendent of Public
instruction, Hon. Frank M. Smith,
that there are now two thousand mis-.
erable old log school houses in the
state of Tennessee! | desire to STE
them forever abolished and demolish.
ed and replaced with beautiful and
comfortable modern buildings, suplt-
ed with trained and efficient teachers
For this have lnhored snd hoped
and for this | will never cease To work
until it is accomplished. There are
some of you present who are doubtless
trembling for fear that | will mention
the Blair Bill" in connection with
the free schools. Let me at once re.
move your quaking Tears by declar.
ing here and now that am not, and
never WAS, in favor of that terribl,
Blair Bill. But said in my message
to the Legislature, and lrepeat it now
that if after the General Government
shall have discharged all its current
Obligations aud met every demand,-
if after this, there still remains " SUI.
plus OF money in the treasury not ap
plicAble TO the national debt because
not yet due, then, said. the apprn
prlat.on of such surplus for education
al purposes, stripped and freed from
every possible condition Of Federal
supervision or control, would be an in
estimable blessing to the children
Of the State. | said, in substance, and
say now, that such surplus, under
such circumstances, and unburdened
with conditions prejudicial to the 10.
cal government OF the states, could
not flow back to the people Ito whom
it belongs) through better channel
than the school room. want to be-
understood, we do not want federal
aid to educate unless it appropriated
to the state of Tennessee to be used
under her own laws without any fed
eral control whatever. We want it, as
we received it fifty years ago, when
old Hickory Jackson was president Of
the United States. | emphasize thps e
remarks on this question because
have been SO previously misunder-
stood.
In conclusion, gentlemen of the con.
vention, permit me to say that my only
motive in all that have said and done,
has been to promote the happiness Of
the people and the prosperity Of the
state.
Ideclsre to you that there is a glo.
rious future for Tennessee. Her tinan.
cial condition to-day is better than it
has been for thirty years. Tennessee
banks are sustaining the credit oi
Tennessee. Within the short period
of eighteen months to come we will be
able to meet promptly our semi-annu,
al payments of the interest on oul
state debt, and will be accumulating a
surplus for the liquidation of the debt
ITSELF and we will therefore begin
to be more able to build up our sys
tenn Of public schools without any ne
cessity for Federal aid or any other
aid whatsoever
Ithank you for your kind attentior
and trust that your meeting will bt
not only pleasant but profitable.
This was heartily cheered, and tht
following resolution was offered by
Prof. Frank Goodman and unani
mously adopted:
Resolved, That tins convention
heartily appreciates the effnrts of ou
worthy Governor Hon. Robert L. Tay
, lor, in behalf of the educational inter
ests OF the State,
THO Janrh,or IS n, , ~