Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-05


over $4,000 and IT is confidently eX-
pected that over s., 900 will be realized.
G..
Observer and the Blair school Eli.
TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
"Observer seems so stirred ND by
&C. s" article in tho Dispatch Of the
2Sth in reference to his of the 18th that
we are tempted to abuse the courtesy of
your columns again if you will allow us
TO do so.
"Observer" saws he learned by ga
positive affirmation of the Washingt n
Post that ii the Blair school bill passed
Congress the President would veto it, "
and 40 in kindness TO him lie thought
to admonish him as to the sentiment of
the people of the South with reference to
the Blair bill.
just 50. What we characterized as
unfortunate and in bad taste in COB
servers article was this very potent ad-
monition TO the President to consider
we'll the consequences of the veto to
him, since it would lose him the support
of Virginia and North Carolina in the
next election for President, and they
were necessary TO secure his reelection.
This view of the matter was rather more
than an effort to enlighten the President
on the consttutionality or eXpediency OF
the measure observer had so much at
heart and so "C.," looking ut it
figuratively, conceived there was some
thing like bomb behind this admoni
ton, since the popular method OF
moving great men Is to resort to some
such vigorous measure. We did not
have fear for the Presidents safety ON
the score of the bomb, and can but be-
lieye that "Obscrver" is as good a cltl-
zen as sc. )" but we feared the President
might not know us as well as we know
each other, and feared more-we feared
that the public might distrust the
integrity OF the Presidents views in APP
proval of the bill after the prediction of
the serious consequences OF veto to
himself.
Now the great treasure of the people
in the veto or approval Of the President
of any bill is in his sincere and indie
pendent opinion OF the propriety aud
constitutionality of it. This is what the
Constitution provided it for, and any
thing that We may do calculated to
swerve him from this great duty is
grave wrong 10 the whole country as
well as against the virtue, dignity, and
honor of the Chief Magistrate of the
nation.
We may discuss the value or constitu-
tionality of proposed measures, but not
infringe upon the privileges or duty of
those who are to bear the responsibility
of their approval or rejection as law Of
the country. The Judge should hear
and consider the arguments of counsel
on both sides, but 1t would not do for
either of them TO say il your Honor
should decide against Us you will never
be elected Judge again.
This is all we aimed to impress upon
"Observer and as to our being OBJ !
posed to the Blair bill we confess our
selves amenable to the charge, and we
would gladly if we could prevent by /
every legal means Blair and his followers
from ever getting the milk out OF that |
s77, 900, 600 cocosnut.
Food and raiment and home and hap |
piness are far more Indispensable to man |
than education, which like flowers that |
the women decorate their persons with |
become mighty common as they become |
universal and as they are discovered in |
needful circumstances to be OF neither
utility or sustenance. Education, it is
true, Of primary and simple character
is within the reach Of every child without
the aid OF Government; and so far as the
motive of learning is happiness, We may
affirm that the contest between knowledge /
and ignorance for the greatest hap
piness will be endless. II no
more people are to be born We
might afford to experiment on those
we now have. But We are brought |
into the world in ignorance, and there
fore we may take credit for what we shall |
do for ourselves, and as our actual wants |
and experiences OF life are the most use
full as well as the most successful teach |
ers, we need not so much distrust the |
providence and wisdom Of God in his |
allOtments 10 man. We cannot afford to |
make knowledge common, for it would |
then have to 60 without compensation, |
and ignorance would then look TO be |
bliss. The Blair bill will attempt to stuff |
into idly-disposed whites and blacks the |
elegances Of belle-letter scholarship, |
while they need rather the stimulus to
work than the tastes Tor fancy and enjoy |
ments. Education lessons the inciina-
ton to work and trains our tastes for
other enjoyments than that of procuring |
bread by the sweat of the brow.
We are exposing ourselves to denuD-
citation. Well, let it be the poor over
labored son OF toll will in the end cleave /
to our views, for il is not the rich alone /
that will educate his child but the tax |
for it will come home TO him and will |
increase his burthen, and bis educated |
child will be returned to him ignorant Of
work and of sympathy with him, too, in |
a great measure, and their association
will not be the happiest. The parents |
will need his help. and he will be untu-
tored to that. An to be schoolmarms |
and professors they will do, but the |
country will not want 40, 600, coo OF them
in hurry. II will want workers, though,
and 10000, 600 OF honest workers can
always find happiness in work and rest
from their toll in the sound sleep OF q
quiet conscience.
1.-THE poor ye will always have With
you," and education will not make us
rich, for the rich are getting poor aud
the poor getting rich
The great troubleof this day and gene
ration is that so many politicians and
writers have gone apparently crazy on