Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-08-08

R&8 9D8ss&3a&s
Let % examine nov, q little close.
j.. some Of The special features of tie
bill. and The consequence that weuld
Sssalt from its ssactmsnt.
II 10 argued By CONS. who woald
opposs haadisa over the central Of
Tie scheols 10 The General Govern.
nsni; asd sho yet favor this measure.
that it simpsy provides for gift to
the States Of the money. leaving The
entire control Of the schools where 10
10 now. In the hands Of the Slater. A
little reflection will show the error Of
this orinios. The bill ID Q grasp al
National control, and once enacted.
and accepted BY The Stsssr. they win
have parted with their bold upon The
schools, which will be ss completely
ct the mercy Of the national legisl. !.
tuTs. AZ II . revelation had swertswsy
the Constitution. and Congress had o.
sumed the omnipoteDcs Of The British
Parliament.
The statement mly seem bcid one.
but it il substantisted by facts. The
bill conss to us with money 10 one
hand, aad the conditions that are tie
price Of is acceptance in the other.
Now, what are these conditions |?
They snm up The concession Of u .
principle that the national govern
meat has the right TO lesislats for tie
public schools. and that being con
cedsd. all is granted. The 9th ese.
tioa of the bill provides "ThAt in
struction in the common schools re.
csiv:ng this money. shall include read
ing. writing. geography. history. ari,h.
mstic," &c., and that "copies of the
books used in the schools shall be filed
With the Secretary Of The Interior"
Nov this 10 apparently an innocent
provision. bat wha: is the principle
involved? That Congress has the
right 10 prescribe the course Of in.
struo.ion in the public schools. Il 10
evident. without argument, that il
Congress has the right to prescribe
the teaching Of geography. il hes an
equal right 10 prescribe Greek. Ifh
has the right 10 say that history shall
be taught, it has the right 10 say what
history; and. 10 general. if The right 10
dictate part Of the course Of instrue.
ton be conced d, along with il goes
the entire responsibility Of its control.
To strengthen this. add The enactment
Of the last section Of the bill that,
"The power to alter, amend, or repeal
this oct 10 hereby reserved" and ii
cannot be denied that power 10 grant.
ed 10 amend that AS history and BIS
geography and CO arithmetic shall be
used, nor &hat. under what may be its
future provisions. we may some day
ftd ourselves a. heirle.. as toe con-
quered French provinces whose Ian.
guage Is even interlicted 70 them in
their scnuols, in order that with it
they may put off the old love Of sae:s
native land, and come more readily
int reconciliation with their German
iords AID masters.
But argument 10 not necessary, Mr..
President, to establish the truth Of
what have said on this point; The
acknowledgements Of The friends Of The
messure are conclusive as to ills mis.
chievous tendency. The Senate Con.
,aittee Of the 49th COng,ess, in their
favorable report on the bill thus state
the underlying principle upon which
this legislation ia attempted. Oar
leading proposition. say they. 'is
that the general government possaa.
ses the power, and hes imposed upon
itself TIE duty. o! educating the PEG.
pie Of the Uui,ed States whenever, for
any reason, these people are asGcien.
in THAI degree Of education. which e
essential TO the d:sch4:S" Ct their
duty ~ eitizeIs, either Of ths United
States. or Of the State in hhich they
chance % reside. The right
toeducs,e tie children Throughout. he
nation is the hight 10 prestrye ihs
govsspmsht AID ths n&tioa. That
right cannot be csr.ai.ed. {, is geo.
graphically co extensive xith tLe iu
riedissioa OF tie govern meat iteslf."
And Senator Shetman follows in ID
same lipe> ME- @yp: "Ths Umtsd
Staiss. wLsu it appropriate mossy.
selects an agent to disaG,se :his mon-
sy Ct ia own. and nay nske eoudi
iions. /: the Ua;te5 States have The
right 10 appropriate the money. thsy
have the right TO say ssIon what con-
ditions i shsiI be expended. e tbsy
s.y We will give aid TO the Soattsr1