River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-02-02
National Aid for Common Schools--lts Nee,
Objections Answered.
MARY II. HUNT .

Continued
The Southern Opposer-ordinarily
has but two objections:
First: at proposes federal dictation
over schools in the state"
Horrible! to the Southern heart
that has bled to the death for states
rights.)
Answer-If our Southern friend
would only read the bill he would see
that it proposes no such thing, but
that the money for disbursement is to
be put into the hands of local authori-
ties who must apply this money for
school uses under the school laws OF
the state receiving it.
Second -"It is unconstitutional. y!
Answer-The Constitution specifies
that 1.-The Congress shall have power
to pay and collect taxes. duties, imposts
and excuses, to pay the debts and pro-
vide for the common defense and gen.
eral welfare of the United States. -
When this question has been under
debate in the United States senate
senators, alike from North and South,
who are recognized as great authori
ties on constitutional questions, have
declared ut is constitutional.
Senator Lamar of Mississippi said
Il have no doubt of the constitutional
authority of Congress to press this
measure. In my opinion it is the first
step this Government has ever taken
toward the solution of what is called
the Grace problem.
Senator Brown of Georgia said
''Slaves were made freemen and citi
zens, with all the rights of citizens, as
a necessity of the Union. If it was
right to make these people citizens
and do not question it now-then it j:
right to qualify them as citizens, and
to do that you have~to educate them
and l say the people of the whole
Union are alike interested in thi:
question.
Except Texas, there are none of the
Southern States to-day in any thing
like a reasonably good condition tC
meet this responsibility. 1t is the duty
of each of the states to contribute
her part through the treasury of the
Union to the education and enlighten
ment of this population"
Senator Edmunds, of Vermont, said
Il do not think there is any constitu.
tiOnal difficulty in this bill.
1t is perfectly plain to my mind,
with great respect to those who think
otherwise, that the constitutional
power of Congress, to devote money
in the treasury to this object is perfect
ly clear"
Senator George. of Mississippi, said;
THAT Congress may make gifts to
states in aid of common-school and
also of university education is too well
settled to admit of controversy. This
has been the practice from the earliest
period of our history. This practice
also settles that education of the people
is in the category of the general wei.
fare of the United States
Senator Garland, of Arkansas, said
q do not require any amendment to
the old constitution to do this
Referring to the gifts to Western
States of land FOR public schools. the
Senator said: "If you could grant land
worth dollar and a quarter an acre,
you could grant the dollar and a quar-
ter ia money. So that no fine-spun
theory can bring an argument to show
distinction in the power to make the
grant as between money and land
To these might be added the equally
strong assertions of Senator Evarts, of
New York, Senator Hoar, of Massa-
chusetts, and others.
Our Nation is one. Six million illit.
crates is the balance of political power
that may decide any national election
if managed and concentrated by politi.
clans for unwise ends. Therefore for
1.-The common defense" against such
dangers. we claim that if moneys in
the National Treasury, the results of
taxes and duties levied, are expended
to educate this ignorant host, it is Just
what the Constitution specifies. 1t is
an expenditure for ''the common de-
Tense and general welfare of the
United States"
The Constitutional objection is in
most cases only an excuse. The best
lawyers in the country declare it to be
constitutional.
We repeat Senator Garland's ques-
ton: IF it is constitutional for Con-
gress to give land at 81 Is per acre for
schools in the states, as they have done,
how is it unconstitutional to give the
.25 in money!
A population of six million Hitter
ates, an increase of two millions in ten
years. who of course have not money
enough among themselves to furnish
their own schools, flor poverty is the
result of ignorance,) and an ann al
surplus in the National Treasury
such people Of over 500, 000, 600, is
condition of things more BETTING an
unlimited monarchy than Republic.
THAT our government exists for the
individual is one of our axioms.
Then let us disburse from its burst
ing treasury enough money. 1.-THE
peoples money! to give the blessings
of education to the otherwise neglected
ck ildren of our people.
..shall the palace car of our civiliza-
ton be derailed by the dark train Of
illiteracY with which it is coupled!''