Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-06

A Liberal and Progressive Policy Favored
National Aid to Education

MISCELLANEOUS.
Liberal and Progressive Policy Favored |
National Aid to Edu cation.
The interest of the general government in the |
education of the people found an early expression
not only in the thoughtful and sometimes warning
utteranCes of our abest statesmen, but in liberal
appropriations from the common resources for the
support of educarion in the new states. No one
VIII deny that II is OF the grayest national concern
that those who hold the ultimate control of all
public affairs should have the necessary intelli-
gence wisely to direct and determine them. Ma
tIonal aid TO education has heretofore taken
the form of land grants and that form the con-
power of congress to promote the edu-
cation of people is not seriously questioned. | do
not think ii can be successfully questioned when
the form is changed TO that of direct grant of
money from the public treasury. Such aid should
be as 1t always has been, suggested by some eN-
conditions. The sudden emancipation
suffrage which soon followed, and the
impairment of the ability of the states where these
new citizens were chiefly found, to be adequately
provided with educational facilities presented not
only an exceptional, but unexampled condition.
That the situation has been much ameliorated,
there Is no doubt The ability and interest of the
mains TO be done, and think the general govern
ment should lend its aid. As the suggestion of
out of conditions and needs of the emancipated
slave and his descendants the relief should, far
as possible, while necessarily proc" ling upon
some general lines, be applied to the need that
suggested it. 1t is essential, if much good
is to be accomplished, that the sympathy
and active interest of the people of the states
should be enlisted, and that the methods adopted
should be such to stimulate and not 10 supplant
local taxation for school purposes. As one con
gress cannot bind succeeding one in such case,
and as the efforts must i'll some degree he expert
mental, recommend that any appropriation for
this purpose be so limited in annual amount and
as to the time over which it is, to
extend, will on the one hand give the local
school authorities opportunity To make the best
use of the first years allowance, and on the other
deliver from the temptation to unduly postpone
the assumption of the whole burden themselves.
A Plea for the Colored Man.
The colored people did not intrude themselves
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
standpoint of ignorance and poverty, which was
our shame, not theirs, made remarkable advances
in education and in the acquisition of property.
They have, as people, shown themselves TO be
friendly and faithful toward the white race under
temptations of tremendous strength They have
their representatives i'll the national cemeteries,
ashes of those who lied in its defense.
They have furnished 10 our regular
army regiments that have won high
praise for their commanding officers for courage
and soldlery qualities, and for fidelity to the en-
istment oath. In civil life they the toilers of
their communities, making their full contributions
communities are receiving. Their sudden with
drawal would stop production and bring disorder
y.
quit their homes, And their employers resent
the interference of the emigration agents
who seek to stimulate such desire;
but notwithstanding all this, in many parts of our
country where the COlored population is large, the
people of that race are by various devices de
Priyed of any effective exercise of
their political rights, and of many of
their civil rights. The wrong does not eXpend IT.
self upon those whose votes suppressed.
Every constituency in the Union is wronged. 1t
mas been the hope of every patriot that sense of
Justice and of respect for the law would work q
gradual cure of these fragrant evils. Surely no one
supposes that the present can be accepted
as permanent condition. If it is
said that these communities must work
out OF this problem for themselves we have
right TO ask whether they are at work upon II. DO
they suggest any solution: When and under what
conditions is the black man to have free ballotg
When Is he in fact, to have those full civil rights,
which have so long been his in law. When is
that equality of influence which our form of gov
eminent was intended to secure to the electors to
be restored! This generation should courageously
face these grave questions and not leave them as
heritage of woe to the next The
consultation should proceed with candor,
justice and humanity, not of prejudice and cruel
ty. No question in our country can be al rest eX-
Cept upon the firm base of justice and of the law
earnestly invoke the attention of congress to the
of such measures within its well de
fined constitutional power, as Will secure TO all
our people free exercise of the right of suffrage
and every other civil right under The constitutions
and laws of the United states. 10 evil, however
depIorable, can Justify the assumption, either on
the part of the executive of congress, OF powers
not granted, but both will be highly blamabie if
all the powers granted are not wisely but firmly
used to correct these evils.
Federal Control of Elections Sanctioned.
The power to the whole direction and control Of
the election of members of the house of represent
atives is clearly given to the general government
A partial and qualified supervision OF these cleo
tons is provided for by law, and in my opin-
ion, this law may be strengthened and extended
as to secure on the whole better results than can
be attained by law taking all the processes of
such election into federal control The colored
man should be protected in all OF his relations 10
the federal government, whether as nugant, juror
or witness in courts, an elector of members
of congress, or as peaceful traveller on our inter-
state railways.
Subsidies Should be Granted.
There is nothing more Justly humiliating to the
national pride and nothing more harmful TO the
national prosperity than the interority OF our
merchant marine compared with that of other
nations whose general resources OF wealth and
coast lines do not suggest any reason for their
on the sea. 1t was not always so, ana
our people are agreed, think, that 1t shall not
continue to be 1t is not possible in this com
munication to discuss the causes of the decay of
our shipping interests or the differing methods
by which il is proposed to restore them. The
of "A few we'll authenticated facts and
some general suggestions as to leglsla-
ton is all that is RractcaO ailr that und iae
the flags of England, France, Germany, Spain and
Italy, and engaged in foreign commerce were
promoted and have since been, and now are lib |
orally aided by grants of public money. in one |
form another, Is generally known. That the |
American lines of steamships have been abandon |
ed bv us to an unequal contest with the aided lines
Of other nations until they have been Withdrawn
or in the few cases where they still maintained
are subject to serious disadvantages is matter of
common knowledge. The present situation Is such |
that travellers and merchandise find Liverpool often
a necessary intermediate port between New y ork |
and some Of the South American capitals. The |
fact that some of the delegates from South Amer |
lean states the conference of American nations
now in session at Washington reached our shores |
BY reversing that line of travel is very conclusive
of the need of such conference and very suggest
i've the first and most necessary step in the d.
rection OF fuller and more beneficial Intercourse
with nations that are now our nelghbors nol only
upon the lines of latitude but upon the lines OF |
established commercial intercourse.
o ur Ocean Mail Service Should be Aided. |
/ recommend that such appropriations be made |
for ocean mail service in American steamships |
between our ports and those OF central and south !
America. China, Japan and the important Islands |
in both of the great oceans a. VIII be literally re
for the service rendered, as Will en- |
courage the establishment and IN some lair degree /
aouaIfze the chances of American steamship lines
in the competition which they must meet That |
he American states lying south OF US will cor /
daily cooperate in establishing and maintaining
such lines Of steamships their principal ports |
10 not doubt.
Il Naval Reserve Should be Provided
We should also make provision for naval re-
serve, to consist of such merchant ships of Amert-
an construction and OF speciiled tonnage ana i
speed. a. the owners will consent to place at the
l-e OF the government in case OF need. a. armed /
cruisers England has adopted this policy, and as
result can upon necessity al once place
upon her naval list. some Of the fastest steam !
ships in TIE world 4 proper supervision OF the |
of such vessels would make their =
into effective ships OF war very easy.
Am an Advocate of Economy
10 our national expenditures but it i misuse of
terms TO make this word describe 8 policy that |
EithhsldS an expenditure for the purpose Of sx-
IN ding our foreign commerce. The enlargement
and Improvement OF orr merchant marine; the |
Development OF a sufficient body Of trained Amer
can seaFnen. the promotion Of rapid and regular 4
mail communication between the ports Of other
and our own; and the adaptation OF 1
arg- and swift american merchant steamships TO /
naval Use in t M of var, are public purposes
# the highest co-E,erE- The enlarged participation
.: oar people in the carrying trade. the new and
increased markets that viii b. opened for Che pro
iuetS OF oar farms and factories. the fuller and
better eanpioxaIe OF OR mechanics which VIII !
result from s LIBERAL promotion Of Cur foreign
commerce. insure the widest possible diffusion Of
eenefi1s 70 Ill the sites aBG to all our people
Everything l. most 3ropfriOus for the present In
Of d LIBERAL and progressive policy upon
.his subject and should enter upon Il with
prom tnes- and decision
The legislation which | haye suggested il Il
sincerely believed. will promote the peace and i
honor Of cur country and the prosperity and -ecu-
mtg Of The people. invoke The diiyear snd ser1-
sz. attention Of congress the consideration OF
hes and such other measures a. may be present