New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-20
OPPOSITION TO TIE BLAIR BILL

sTROusLY UNJUST TO THE NORTH.
WAsHIvGToN Jan 10 tSpeca'.-A strong un-
dercurrcnt OF feeling adverse to the Blair Educa-
tional bill is beginning to set In among both
Republicans and Democrats in the Senate. IL
may not be strong enough to defeat the passage
OF the bill but it is strong enough to cause serious
concern to the friends OF the measure. There IS
but little doubt in the minds Of men who have
an opportunity for knowing the facts that If
the fate Of the bill depended entirely upon the
individual Judgment of Senators, Il would speedily
he consigned to the waste basket But so many
State Legislatures have passed resolutions direct
ing their Senators to support the bill, that the
better judgement of the latter has been made
to Weld in an astonishingly large number OF
instances to the necessity of obeyins Instructions
The assertion made in the course Of debate upon
the strength of carefully compiled statistics that
illitcracv has been the increase in certain parts
of the country not withstandihs the extension
Of school facilities has not been successfully con-
troverted by Mr.. Blair. As panacea therefore
for thc ills of illiteracy his bill would not seem
to move in the right direction -,
There are stronger grounds however, wlcn t NIX
votes in favor Of the bill They admit that ~
is largely sentiment which has entered into The the
consideration and discussion OF the measure; ne
argument that the Republican party by freeing
the slave and putting the ballot In his mana also
morally bound itself to educate him TO that point
where he could cast il ntelig"nty is a tbat tSa
South has been impoverished by the war ana
cannot carry the burden of this additional rcSpon-
sihility Of educating the chattels converted by
the sword into frecmen, is conceded to have some
scmbance of Justice in it, though is not 1orgotth
that the South has rrOspered materially ana de-
yeloped its resources wonderfully WITH the
last twenty wears since the abolition OF slavery.
and principally also because of it. The main OBJ
lection to the bill remains. that il appropriates the
money according TO illiteracy but distributes IL
according 10 the number OF children OF certain
school age That such scheme is monstrouSly
favorable TO the South and equally unluSt TO the
North is obvious The great ratio OF lllteracV
in the South is due to the large number or negroes
formerly slaves who by reason of their age ar
precludcd from deriving any dement's through Ihis
bill White and black children are put on an
equal footing, and hence the argument ABOUT 1he
moral obligation Of the Republican nartv to eau
cate the freedman cannot be successfully emnioveu
If the bill appropriated as well as dlstrbu'ed
the money according to the number OF children
Of certain school age there would be less hesl-
tation the part Of Republican senators Oh, III
that case Northern States would divide the money
on an equitable basis with the South and TINS Is
what Southern Senator's do not desire;
From present indications the discussion OF ,he
bill may drag along for another week or poss!oiv
more According to Mr. BlaiT's statement " is
10 be brought TO vote in the Senate tins week
but such statement must be taken VIII uu'
TIE EXCUSE FOR SENATOR BROWNS HOBBY
THE NOBLE RECORD OF THE SECOND DISTRICT OF
GEORGIA, WHERE THE SENATOR RFsIhfs'
WAsHINGTON. Jan. ! o (Specdn-Senator Brown
recent speech in favor of abolishing the Inter
nal Revenue system attracts attention to some
remarkable facts shown In the reports OF the
Internal Revenue Commissioners office. Senator
Brown first introduced a bill TO abolish Internal
Revenue in 1888 Ever since the subject has
been hobby with him. The report OF the Internal
Revenue Commissioners covering the period from
June 80. 1881 to November ss2 shows that Of
1471 arrests in the United States for violation
of the Internal Revenue laws, 1,075 were in the
State of Georgia. 069 being in the Second District
IN which the Senator resides. OF Boo Illicit
stills seized i'm the course OF the same period 20
were in the State Of Georgia ZIG being In The
Second District in which the Senator resides. vi
fonr officers and employees killed in the enforcement
of Internal Revenue laws, in the course OF the same
period two were killed in the Second Dlstrlct OF
Georgia in which the Senator lives VI loo
| Springfield carbines necessary In the hahas OF
Collectors and others for the enforcement, OF lne
internal Revenue laws. II were used III une oi'1 =
OF georgia, 90 having been sent 10 Vhe oo0oh"
District III which the Senator resides -
The total quantity Of distilled spirits returned
as produced in the Second Georgia District ~ ] ssI
was $3.50 gallons, while In the Fifth ILLINOIS,
District "a, DOL ,24Y were produced, and not q
man placed under arrest, only six Illicit stills
! The state of affairs then existing in the Second
| Georgia District in which the Senator resides
has not improved. The latest report Of the Com
missioners of Internal Revenue shows facts almost
! as damaging. No wonder then that Mr.. !'-~-'- y.
voice is raised In the United States Senat" d. 10 '