Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-03
Observation-Disclosures 3, 1888.
The Blair Bill.

The Blair Bill.
There are some things that can be
killed off 10y the use OF a word or
phrase. but the public-school systems oil
the various States of this Union are not
among those things. 1t is too late III
the day to attempt TO prejudice the pub
lie mind against public schools. They
have been tried for 50 long a period III
,he northern and northwestern States,
and have proved so efficient IN abolish
ing illiteracy, and consequently so popu-
lar. that n candidate for office seeking
popular favor would as soon come out IN
favor of abolishing Sunday as IN favor
of abolishing the public-school system
In Virginia, and indeed in all the
southern States, the question of the es-
adjustment of public-school systems has
been complicated with the problem Of
the best plan of treating the negro. The
public schools have had to contend not
only with the opposition that was natural
everywhere, but with an opposition based
upon dissemination to lie taxed for the
education Of an inferior race. The
poverty of the southern people has, too,
been a weight upon the shoulders OF the
public-school system which could not
easily be overestimated The sparseness OF
the population in many neighborhoods
has been an additional obstruction IN the
way leading towards the general educa-
ton of the children OF the South. In
fact we suppose that nowhere else IN the
world have public schools been lnsti-
tuted under circumstances so uniayor-
able as those under which the friends oil
universal education have labored IN the
States of this Union having a large
negro population.
The work was difficult of performances
but it has been done, or Is being done.
In this city there is nothing that can
compete with the public schools for
popular favor. Enemies of the system
are still to be found, but they are so few
compared with the friends, supporters,
and patrons Of that system that they are
now seldom on never heard from.
As consequence of the popularity OF
the public-school system the BLAIR bill
has become a fayorite scheme with the
parents in the southern States. 1t pro
poses to divide among the several States
in proportion to the illiteracy IN them
some seventy-odd millions of dollars.
1t proposes in q word to put the pub
lic-schools-especially those OF the
Soulh-upon sure foundation. But this
bounty will be distributed for few
years only 1t is not intended to be
permanent fund for the several States tC
draw upon, but a temporary assistance
1t is in word bill providing that the
Federal Government shall put its shoul
der to the wheel long enough, and only
long enough, to get the vehicle out OF the
mud and start il of on n good, levelroad
This is the bill which its enemies pro
pose TO kill OF with phrase. Ii IS, the!
say, bill to promote mendicancy.
And vet the men in the North who thu
dub IT profess to be devoted friends o
the public school system. We doubt tn,
sincerity Of any man protesting to b
friendly ~ jic schools who thu
characteria, .he BLAIR bill for if tina
is a bill to promote mendicancy. all law
establishing schools at the expense OF tn
general public are laws to promote men
delaney. There is no room for two opin
ions on this point. Either the BLAIR bil
is not bill to promote mendicancy o
else the public.school laws OF all tn
States, North and South are laws to pro
mote mendicaney.
The BLAIR bill is soon TO come up TO
discussion and action in Congress
Those who consider public-school law
laws 10 promote mendicancy will oppos
that bill. Those whe are of the contrar
opinion will support it. The large mum
Der OF the southern senators who have a
different times voted for one and anothe
Of the BLAIR bills ought TO be suilicien
10 open the eyes OF our representative
in the other house of Congress to tn
fact that the people stand at the back c
the BLAIR bill. 1t is not their right {
conform their action TO the wishes of an
Government official, high or low, but
is their duty 70 do their part in securin
aid for the southern schools and Il
the rest take care Of itself.
will not suffice TO say that Nj
CLEVELAND is not friendly to the bill
That is his affair. II be is afforded a
opportunity y sign it and fails to do 81
he will, if he is renomiDated for Pres
dent, have TO account TO the people fC
that failure. He does not ask Congrei
10 share in his responsibility. Indeed
so far as we know, he has never a
tempted TO persuade anybody to vol
against the BLAIR bill. Let Congrel
do its duty. and We shall see what "
shall see.
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