Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-12-13


appropriations from the common resources
for the support of education in the new
states No one will deny that it is of the
gravest national concern That he who had
the ultimate control of all public affairs
shoull have the necessary intelligence, and
wisely to direct and drte mine them.
Natl nal aid to education has heretofore
taken the form of land grants, and in that
form the constitutional power of congress to
promote the education of people is not seri-
ousy questioned. do not think it can be
successfully questioned when the form is
changed to that of Il direct grant of money
from the public treasury. Such aid should
be, as it always has been, suggested by some
exceptional conditions.
The sudden emancipation of the slaves of
the SOUTH the bestowal of the suffrage which
soon followed and the improvement of the
ability of the states where these new citizens
were chiefly found to adequately provide
educational facilities presented not only
eXceptional but unexampied conditions.
1t is essential, if much GOOD is to be accom-
plished, that the sympathy and active inter
est of the people of the United States should
be enlisted and the methods adopted should
be such to stimulate and not supplant
local taxation for school purposes As one
congress cannot bind a cceeling one in
such case, and the effort must in some
degree be experimental. | recommend that
any appropriation made for this purpose be
SO limited in annual amount. and as to the
time over which it is to extend as well on
tue one hand, give the local school author-
ties opportunity to make the best use of the
first years allowance and on the other de-
iv er them from the temptation to unduly
postpone the assumption of the whole burden
themselves.
Rights of Colored People.
The colored people did not ntrude them
selves upon us: they were brought here in
chains and held in the communities where
they are now chiefly found by cruel slave
code. Happily for both races they are now
free. They have from standpoint of ignor-
ance and poverty, which was our shame not
theirs, made remarkable advances in educa-
ton and III the acquis ion of property. They
have. as people, shown themselves to be
friendly and faithful toward the white race,
and under temptations of tremendous
strength. They have their representatives.
i'll the national cemeteries. where a grateful
government has gathered the ASHES of those
who died in its defence They have furn-
ished to our regular army regiments that
have won nigh lrdsA from their command
inc officers for courage and soltlierly quail
ties and for fidelity to the enlistment of it.
In civil life they are now the toilers of
their communities making their full cOntrl-
button to the wild ming streams Of prosperity
which those communities are receiving.
Their sudden withdrawal would stop prOduc-
ton and bring disorder into the household as
well as the shop. Generally they do not de
sire to quit their homes and their employers
resent the interference of the immigration
agents VINO seek 10 stimulate Sucn ucSiTe.
bus, notwithstanding all this, i'll many parts
of our country where the colored population
is large, the people of that race are by vari-
Gus devices deprived of any effective eXer-
else of their political rights and of many of
their civil rights. The wrong does not eX-
pend itself upon those whose votes are sup
pressed Every constituency in the Union
is wronged. 1t has been the hope of every
patriot that a sense of justice and respect for
the law would work gradual cure of these
fragrant evils.
Surely no one supposes that the present
can be accepted as a permanent condition If
it is said that these communities must work
out this problem for themselves, we have
right to ask whether they are at work on tf
Do they suggest any solution! When, and
under what conditions. is the black nan to
have a free balloti When is he in fact, to
have those full civil rights which have
long been his in law! When is that equality
of influence which our form of government
was intended to secure to the electors to be
restored! This generation should courageous
ly face these grave questions, and not leave
them as a heritage of woe to the next. The
consultation should proceed with candor,
calmness and great patience, upon the lines
of justice and humanity, not of prejudice and
cruelty. No question IN our country can be
at rest, except upon the firm base of justice
and of the law.
l earnestly invoke the attention of con-
gress to the consideration of such measures
within its well-defined constitutional powers
as will secure to all our people a free exer-
else of the right of suffrage and every other
civil right under the constitution and laws
of the United States. No evil, however de-
plorable. can justify the assumption either
on the part of the executive or of congress.
of powers not granted but botn will he
highly blamabe if all the powers granted are
not wisely bat firmly used to correct this
evil. The power to take the whole direction
and control of the election OF membes Of the
house of representatives is clearly given to
the general government.
partial and qualified supervision Of these
elections is now provided for by law. ami in
my opinion this daw may be so sire i!,lened
and extended as to secure, on the Whoie, b L
ter results than can be attained by law
taking all the process OF all such elections
into federal control The colored man should
be protected in all of his relations To the
federal government, whether as lit .ant.
juror or witness in our courts, as an elector
for members of congress or as peaceful
traveller upon our interstate railways.
Merchant Marine Service.
There is nothing more justly humiliating
to the national pride and nothing more hurt
full To the national prosperity than the infer
iority of our merchant marine, conpar d
with that of other nations whose general re-
sources, wealth and a.cast lines do not sug
gest any reason for their supremacy on the
sea- 1t was not always so, and our people
are agreed, think, that it shall not continue
to be So 1t is not possible in this commune
cation to discuss the causes of the decay of
our shipping interests or the differing meth
dds by which it is proposed to restore them
The statement of a few well authenticated
facts and some general suggestions as to leg
islation is all that is practicable.
That the great steamship lines sailing
under the flags of England, France, Ger
many, Spain and Italy, and engaged in for
egn commerce, were promoted and have
since been and now are literally aided by
grants of public money in one form or an