Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-02-03
FRIDAY MORNING. FEB. 8. 1858
THE HOME view OF IT.

THE HOME view OF II.
We received some weeks ago brochure,
printed and sent out by the New York
"'Evening Post'' Company, entitled "a
Bill to Prevent Mendicancy." 1t is well
prepared argument. bristling with sup
porting statements against the Blair
Educational bill, or any other form of
National aid to State education, and is
published as sort of campaign document
to operate on this Congress. The matter
had already appeared as editorial in the
"Post, " which is an extremely low tariff
paper. Its proposition IN the main, and
in condensed English, is that the United
States having, in addition to the illiterate
population already existing in the South.
as in other States, in 1861, unloaded on it
an addition of millions of not only Hitter
ate, but absolutely ignorant people which
it did not do with the other States that
came out of the war-should now refuse to
aid in making intelligent citizens of them.
And for the reasons that these States are
able to do the work, are becoming more
able every year, and that the acceptance
of Federal aid would be demoralizing to
the people of the South! Since the appear
Virginia papers are weakening on the
Blair bill question; but, wisely avoiding
such reasons for their dissent as are given
In this pamphlet, Seek refuge in that Oft
laid ghost-the nconstitutlonality of the
grant
The argument-the uncontrovertible ar
gument for the Blair bill, is to be seen not
In the cities of the South, but every morD-
ing over her county roads. There, trudging
sometimes miles to school which only
keeps open five months in the year, which
is taught by an ill-pald teacher, and with
poor equipments, may be seen the children
of the poor. Their fathers pay not only
for their education at the public schools by
their taxes, but they also pay nearly all
that is paid for the education of the ILL
terates that the United States unloaded on
them. The county schools fall far short
in number and quality of what the public
school system ought to give, but the
trouble is the white taxpayer cannot carry
double and make speed. He is taxed for
two sets of schools-his own and those of
the other race. In the States in which
the Evening Post" chiefly circulates,
everybody takes hand at paying taxes
1t is not so at the South.
The examples published of prominent
in ha 70 no
Blair bill, are far from indicating the abil-
ity of the States to give good system of
public schools. Kentucky which made
money by the civil war; Maryland which
is in like case; Texas which has public
lands that give it so large school fund,
its people don't know what to do with it;
the Western States whose magnificent
public schools were bought and paid for
with government lands-and the Bourbon
element of some of the other States who
never saw. and whose children have never
seen the inside of public school-have no
interest in Federal aid to education. Nor
are they interested in the struggles of the
poorer States and people to educate what
the National government has put upon
them to be educated.
But the United States itself is not In
that disinterested condition. The signs of
the times tell all thinking men that the
illiterate classes of America want educa-
tion and want it quickly. 1t is more for
the existence of the Republic that educa-
tlou Of illiterates is needed than fer the
existence of the States. If the Nation
chooses to listen to those theorists. who,
from lofty height and far off latitude
prove with exactness that the illiterates
of the Southern States are disappearing,
instead of holding their own and pushing
into the activity of communal life, it is its
own concern. The South, which by fate
aud fortune has been doomed to furnish so
large portion Of that iliiteracy has given
it warning in time. 1t has said to the
country we cannot train Ghis illiteracy 10
understand the Republic, without help
Already, armed with the ballot, it is decld-
ing the great questions of the country :,
soon in its restless ignorance it will be
originating questions for itself. We
can't draw it's fangs by taking the ballot
from it, nor are We rich enough to teach
it how to use it. Already it has scented
the wild unrest and chaotic ideas of the
times. 1t has been our task to hold it; it
will soon be yours. If you will not under
stand the situation; if you cannot be
aroused from your complacent self-delu-
sion that this illiteracy is fast being edu-
Gated for citizenship then you will be
awakened when it plunges into the nation
al arena maddened by imaginary oppres-
sion and led by the demagogues who teach
ito them. AS you will not be persuaded
to use the wealth of the Nation on it now.
you will have to use the force of the Nation
on it then. In all the history of the world
illiteracy has been the mother of violence,
and this country cannot expect to bs an
exception.
Virginia through the answering utter
anees of both her political parties has been
the staunch friend of that bill to pro-
mote mendicancy." She will continue to
be. She is its friend because it is the true
friend of the American Republic, it's great
ness and it's existence. She is it's friend
because she knows from experience, sad,
wearisome and costly experience how
much 1t is needed. And she is its friend
because she believes that for Nation to
neglect so great a Der centaye of ignorance