The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-20
WHY NOT FOR ALL TIMEf

Az The APPgAL said on Tuesday, when our
special correspondents dispatch containing the
text OF the propo .ed tpheans) amendment was
published. II WA never contemplated by any Of the
| Democratic friends Of the Blair bill that federal
aid TO education wns 10 DO considered anything
more than timely and Temporary help ~
the south In the education Of tho negro and
the reduction Of Ia burdens Of llltcmcy. To take
a step beyond that aud made federal aid cons,l
tuional obligation Is to fix the feature that Is most
objectionable TO opposing Democrats and make IL
still moro so. Constitutional interference under
any plea, and oven IN homeopathic doses. Is a
thing TO he fought, and right from the shoulder by
every Democrat In the Union" and It Is already
| being NO fought --MdHphiS Appeal
This Is an admission thai permanent fed
eral aid 10 tho States would be unconstitu-
tional, and that 10 engraft that obligation in
the constitution, Is proposed by Mr.. Phelan,
would be Ia put into the constitution an in
correct aud undcmocratic principle, TnE
ArPEAL is correct on both propositions,
though not touching on tho direct,
odious interference In the States
management and control Of the
funds contemplated by tho Blair bill.
But II permanent aid, even by constitu-
tional amendment, be unsound In princi-
ple-and II Island II permanent aid through
congressional action would be unoonstitu-
tional, how can the 'timely and temporary
help favored by THH ArrEAL be considered
CONSTITUTIONAL II constitutional for the
eight years named In the bill, why not for all
time2-Liitie Rock Gascfie.
Our esteemed contemporary has got
things very much mixed in its comments
upon tbs APPEALS condemnation Of
Phelan's proposed amendment. II FEEDER
al aid TO education was made permanent
by constitutional amendment II would
certainly then DO constitutional. To that
TnE ArrrAL is utterly opposed because
education Is n local, State obligation, one
Of the economies OF the State that from
the inception Of the Federal Constitution
has been iealously guarded by the States,
and, as Jcnersonian Democratic organ.
we could not consent 10 anything that in
the least degree infringcd upon any
States rights, no matter what the pro-
tense OF what the benefit 30
be derived. But this does not
prevent us from saying all the good words
We can in favor Of the Blair bill. which
intends nothing more than such aid as the
National Government has already given
TO all the States 10 hclp In
tho establishment and maintenance
Of agricultural and mechanical colleges
and in tho land grants and divisions Of
money for the same purpose by which
nearly all Of the States have prodted. A
State, though every man In II was Demo-
crat, can take national mid for education
without any Infringement Of the
canons OF tho party or In the
least trcnching upon States rights,
but Il could not rs consistently consent TO
an amendment 10 the Federal Constitu.
ton that would make that aid permanent
and thus open way for such liberal In
terprctations and constructions" M would
in time oycrslaugh all the rights
the States havo in educational
matters and cndangcr their educational
systems. The Federal government may
give us money to be disburscd by State
agents, but VIC are opposed TO any Federal
officer coming with such aid TO dictate It's
distribution, or oven suggest Is applica-
ton.