Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-15
SUNDAY...".....".JANUARY Il, 1888
Tho Blair Blll-A Warning.

OF them made by opponents OF that
measure. The bill has passed the Senate
80 often, and it is so certain it will be
passed again, that It's friends do not feel
that it stands in need of any support IN
the form of speeches. In fact, when
Attorney General GARLAND, Judge
GEORGE Of Mississippi, Senator Ed
HUNDs, and nearly all the best lawyers
in the Senate, have again aud again
pronounced the bill constitutional, i
does seem inexcusable for such men as
Wilson OF Maryland and GRAY OF
Delaware TO consume the time OF the
Senate in making arguments upon that
point.
To argue that the BLAIR bill is uncon-
stitutional when every State i'll the
Northwest, if not every one in the
West, has been made rich by do
nations of land granted 10y Con-
gress for pubhc-school purposes, would
seem 10 be locking the stable door
after the horse is stolen Millions OF
acres Of tie public lands coded to
the United States by the State of Nir-
ginia have been given to the western
States to I've used il the cause of educa-
ton but it would be unconstitutional to
give little money to Virginia for ex-
actly the same purpose Virginia now has
two institutions of learning OF high grade
which owe their existence to the bounty
of the Federal Government but 1t
would be unconstitutional 10 use any Of
the funds OF the Federal Government
in building up the schools attended by
the poorer classes! Congress can cOusti-
nationally appropriate money to relieve
the sufferers from the overflow of the
Mississippi river, but it cannot constitu-
tionally appropriate money to the pub
lie schools attended by the children Of
those same sufferers! Congress distri-
butes annually thousands of dollars
worth of seeds to the farmers. but It can
not contribute any money to the public
schools where the pupils are taught how
those seeds can be most proiita
bly, used. Congress has appropriated
Thousands OF dollars to support IL
brary for the use Of its own members, but
cannot appropriate any money to be used
in educating the Door children OF the
land Congress appropriates money to
he used in observing eclipscs of the sun.
but cannot appropriate any to be used
in teaching the children of the country
what an eclipse of the sun is Con-
gress appropriated few years ago
money TO be used in observing the
transit of Venus, but it cannot ap-
propriate money to be employed
in teaching the public school pupils
what is meant by the words transit
ofVenus. Congress appropriates money
to prevent the spread OF diseases amongst
cattle, but it cannot appropriate any to
prevent the spread of ignorance amongst
human beings Congress appropriates
money to be used in informing the pub
lie what sort of weather is to be ex-
pected from day to day, but cannot APP
propriate any to be used in informing the
rising generation how UNCLE SANS Off
GERS find out what sort of weather is to
be expected. Congress appropriates
money to be expended in experiments in
making sugar out of sorghum, but 1t can
not appropriate any to be expended an
experiments in teaching children to read
and write. We might extend this con-
trast almost indefinitely; but We for
bear.
Whatever the Democrats in other
States or in Congress may do or say
upon this subject, the Democrats of Vir-
ginia are in honor bound to do all they
can to secure Federal aid to the public
school system OF this State. We notice
with regret that several Democratic pa
pers have since the last election changed
their tune entirely. What are the
pledges of a party worth if they are
to be considered as binding only during
the campaign preceding the election
What a mockery would be tho adoption
Of platform this year if We are not to
consider ourselves bound by the pro-
misses We made in the platform Of last
year Why the Republican speakers
would run our speakers from the stump.
We could not possibly answer the charge
which would surely be brought against
us, that all our professions and pledges
had been made for the sole purpose OF
catching votes, and were not intended to
be redeemed or carried out.
Pray, read the solemn pledge that we
made in the Roam, Ike platform, and !
which enabled us to defeat MALONE last /
November by very, very small majority |
OF the popular vote. We pledged our
selves a. IOilOWs:
Sixth. The Democratic party founded 1
aud organized the public-school system /
OF Virginia, and has adopted every mea-
sure which has been passed 10 secure its
efficiency, and We pledge the party TO its
continued support until every child in
the Commonwealth, of whatever race or
color, may secure the benefits Of free
education, and We earnestly advocate lib
ersl appropriations by the Federal Gov
srnment out Of tho national revenue in
aid Of the education OF the children Of
the several States in proportion TO il
Iiteracy in accordance with the pro-
visions Of the Blair bill or some better
measure.
In the Roanoke convention were hum
ireds Of lawyers; and some OF the sblest
lawyers in Virginis were
here. Not one of them raised the point
II unconstitutiopality against that resolu-
len. II is too late to do it now That