Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-01-14
BLAIR EDUCATIONAL BILL.


In the Senate recently Senator Vest,
speaking in opposition TO the educa-
tional bill, said II he was called upon
60 frame a title for it he would call il
San act to erect u monument to the
memory of Alexander Hamilton and
20 encourage mendicancy in the south.
erp states" He was not surprised
that the Republican members warmly
supported it. When suffrage was
given to the ignorant negroes OF the
south it was with the firm belief Oh
the part Of the Republicans that ii
would give them political supremacy
in the southern states. A great deal
was heard now OF magnanimlty aud
generosity on the part Of Republicans
who supported the pending bill, bu,
yet when. rs the result Of giving sui
frage to the ignorant negroes, a warm
of white c~arpetbsggers, like vultures,
swept down On that unfortunate re-
giou, and when sovereign states lay
PROSTATE and writhing at the feet OF
those sdveDturers, there was no gym
psthy with them on the part Of the
Republican leaders in the presence Of
that ghAstly spectacle. He expressed
his surprise and regret that Demo
cratic senator's who had given then
lives TO an eloquent defense Of q stricI
construction OF the constitution and vi
the Jeff.rsonian doctrine, and that all
powers Of appropriation were given t.
Congress under the express Tor neces.
sarily implied guarantee Of the consti.
tuition, were now found to have sur
rendered all the landmarks Of their
party. In the presence of the grea
temptation In the proposed law. If
the dead were permitted TO take any
interest In the affairs Of the living,
what, he asked, must be the surprise
OF the majestic spirit OF John c. CAL
houn, when he saw his former follow
ers, the strict c~onstruciivn.st ana
states rights Democrats Of the south,
yelling in both HOUSES OF Congress fCr
the old flag and an appropriation? In
his judgment, the enactment Of the
pending bill would be a greater calan.
ity to the southern people than war,
pestilence and famine. II IL were not
for the money temptation 10 the bill II
would stand no more chance OF the
votes Of Democratic senators than a
donation 10 the devil In a Christian
congregation. The bill breatbed the
spirit Of Capitalization and psternal
government in every section and line;
II should bring JOY aud unlimited sat-
isfaction TO the bosom Of every true
federalist. He believed ia universal
education and would be glad il svery
ohild in the United States were taught
to read and write, but that was not all
OF education. The highest education
was that which taught self.respect and
self.reliance and individual iudepend-
ence. Without 1t individuals aud
communities must deteriorate. Thi,
measure was intended to destroy the
common school system OF the state
and put upon 1t the stamp Of fedora
authority. To accept money undeI
the terms OF the bill wouiu bs TO sur
render all that made state authority
respectable. IL this bill becomes +,
law, it will be by southern votes In
this Senate and in the other House Of
Congress. But there Is one place Of
refuge still left ia the constituion-th,
brave and honest man who Is now
President Of this republic. Unless be
Is false 10 the principles of Lis Who'll,
life and OF the great party which
elected him, he will interpose his IKE
eutive veto In the path OF this most
abominable and un' Democratic meas,
ure.