Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-18
THE EDUCATIONAL BILL

THE EDUCATIONAL BILL.
We have not raised objection to the
Blair educational bill on the ground that
1t may be unconstitutional. 1t is within
the constitutional powers of Congress to
disburse portion Of the surpla for ed
ucational purposes. Senator Vest urges that
the bill conflicts with the Federal Consti-
tuition, but that question can be safely left
to the tribunals appointed to determine it.
If the promotion of popular intelligence
is not for the general welfare" then there
is very little that Congress can do in the
direction Of the general welfare"
1t does seem TO us that the establish
ment of postal service for the people, the
regulation of commerce, and like provis-
ions for the comfort, convenience and gen
eral welfare of the people, are not superior
to the promotion of knowledge among Nae
people. Ii the Government may, as it
does, aid astronomical science, foster all
kinds of scientific research, fit out geo
graphical expeditions, maintain metero-
logical service, establish and support
library, print and circulate books and
pamphlets upon educational and industrial
topics, support educational, agricultural
and chronological bureaus, and pay statis-
ticians to collect data for them, it may APP
propriate money directly to aid the educa-
tional labors of the several States.
But the ground Of the Reconnaissance
objection to the bill has been based wholly
upon its uneconomic features, and the in
volved question of its policy. Because it
will tend to destroy self-reliance, and dis
courage self-helpfulness upon the part of
the people Of the States, we hold it to be
unwise. While the Federal Government
may therefore give attention in general
way to the education of the people, it
ought not to do anything in the way of
supporting common schools that will cause
the people to lean upon it, to depend upon
1T for that which they should provide for
themselves The bill proposes to set aside
~ tNNNfNNb AOlAi biiN NhtIdi lIGdSuTN 10
be distributed among the States, to be APP
piled to the building up of the free
schools and the decrease of illiteracv
Now 1t is not only the province, but the
duty of each State, indeed its pledge made
upon admission, to maintain a system of
free schools. To usurp that function in
any degree will just that much relieve
the State from an exercise essential, as we
view it, to their well-being and the indie
pendence of the people. 1t is said, how
ever, that some of the States, having been
impoverished by the civil war, are unable
to maintain a common school system at
that level of efficiency that will give the
freedman full opportunity to gain COM
mon school education, and therefore it is
the part of wisdom to render
such States Federal aid. But that
the scheme may not be local
and restricted in its operations and thus
open to still more serious objection, the
distribution, it is proposed, shall be
among all the States, those not needy
as well as those that are finan-
cially depressed. 1t has also been argued
that as the safety of the Republic depends
upon the intelligence of the voters, it is
wise to provide for the education of those
who are to WELD the ballot. 1t has also
been urged that as the South has not re-
ceived great land grants in aid of its
school funds, it is but justice to give it
something in the nature of an equivalent.
But all these reasons, and they are not
without force, do not Overcome the GRAVITY
of the objections a,reanv sa,,s.t
heve that however desirable it is to aid
Southern educational systems there is too
grave danger in the method proposed to
warrant the experiment. 1t has been
demonstrated since the bill was first pro-
posed some six years ago, that the South
Is able to build up its school funds. In
every State Of the South educational funds
have augmented largely, and the common
school system been steadily advanced,
and the people do not complain Nat they
have been heavily taxed for the purpose.
In fact the Southern States of the Union
have demonstrated that they do
not need aid; that they are can
able in their self-helpfullness that
the voters can be educated by local effort,
and therefore to prevent its exercise would. |
instead OF being charitable, prove detri-
mental to the people General Butler. of
South Carolina, in discussing the question
has said:
We ought to pause and reflect, for ar that in
throwing TINS large amount of money into tIE
States YOU win check the effort in ths ata
70 develop their own eonmon-school system in
their own way. Why Mr. President tI ~ =. -
no success IN life comparable to the success
which attends individual effort none 81 endrrr
ing, none so satisfactory. l would THEREFOR
be very cautious before / would spnrnnriats
money and put 1t with the States, the effect of /
which am afraid, would be. among Others tn |
induce q very great many men who are nov |
ca nestly struggling TO hui d up their own local
institutions TO put their hands IN their pockets
and say: THE General Government is going Ia |
educate every bodS-what Is the use of any man
paying taxes for educationg
Hr. Reagan, of Texas, has also voiced the
sentiment of his State by saying:
Many have looked to Government did as the
only relief. long had that feeling, but since |