Dodge City times., 1889-12-05

that they consider whether a record
might not be kept in each bureau in all
those elements that are covered by the
terms "faithfulness and efficiency and a
rating made showing the relative merits
of the clerks of each class, this rating to
be regarded as a test of meriting promo
tiOn.
have also suggested to the postmaster
general that he adopt one plan by which
he can, upon the basis of the reports to
the department, and of frequent inspec-
tion, indicate the relative merit of post
masters of each class, these to be appro-
priately indicated in the official register
and report of the departments. That a
great stimulus would thus be given to the
whole service, do not doubt, and such a
record would be the best defence against
removals from office.
| EDUCATION.
The interest of the general government
in the education of the people found an
early expression not only in the thought
full and sometimes warning utterances of
our ablest statesmen, but in liberal ap-
propriatiOns from the common resources
for the support of education in the new
states. No one will deny that it is one of
the grandest national concerns that those
| who hold the ultimate control of all pub
lie affairs, should have the necessary in
telligence to wisely direct and determine
them. National attention to education
al affairs has. heretofore, taken
the form of land grants and in that form
the constitutional power of congress to
promote the education of the people is
not seriously questioned. do not think
it can be successfully questioned, when
the form is changed to that of a 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 slaves,
the bestOwal of the suffrage
which soon followed and the
impairment of the ability of the states,
where these new citizens were chiefly
| found to adequately provide educational
| facilities, presented not only exceptional
but unexampled conditions. That the
situation has been much ameliorated
there is no doubt Already ability and
| interest of the states have increased, but
| great work remains to be done and l
think the general government should
lend its aid. As the suggestion of a ma
| tiOnal grant in aid of education grows
| chiefly out of the conditions and needs
of the emancipated slave and his de-
scendants, the relation should as far as
possible, while necessarily proceeding
! 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 peO-
pie of the states should be enlisted and
that the methods adopted should be such
as to stimulate and not to supplant local
taxation for school purposes. As one
congress cannot bind succeeding one in
| such a 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, it will on the one hand give
the local authorities opportunity to make
the use of the first years allowance, and
on the other deliver them from the temp
tation to unduly postpone the assump-
tion of the whole burden themselves.
THE RACE PROBLEM.
The colored people did not intrude
themselves upon us. They were brought
here in chains and held in the communi-
ties where they are now chiefly
found by cruel slave code.
Happily for both races they
are now free They have from a stand
point of ignorance and poverty which
| was our shame, not theirs, made remark
able advances in education and in the ac
QUESTION of property. They have as a
people shown themselves to be friendly
| and faithful towards the white race under
| temptations of tremendous strength. They
have their representatives in the national
cemeteries where a grateful government
has gathered the ashes of those who died
in its defense. They have furnished to our
regular rarmyregiments that have won high
praise from their commanding officers for
their courage and soldierly qualities, and
| for fidelity to the enlistment and the oath
in civil life. They are the tOilers of their
communities, making their full contrib
utions to the widening streams CT pros
perity which the communities are receiv-
ing. Their sudden withdrawal would
stop production, and bring disorder on the
household generally. They do not desire
to quit their homes and their employers,
resent the interference of the emigration
agent, who seeks 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, deprived of
any effective exercise of their political
rights and of many of their civil rights.
The wrong does not expend itself upon
those whose votes are suppressed. Every
constituency in the union is wronged. 1t
has been the hope of every patriot that
sense of justice and of 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
a right to ask whether they are at work
upon it. Do they suggest any solution
when and under what condition is the
black man to have a free ballot? 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 government was intended to secure
for the electors to be restored? This gen
Grafton should courageOusly face these
grave questions and not leave them as a
heritage of woe to the next. The consul
tatiOn should proceed with candOr, calm
ness and great patience upon the lines of
justice and humanity, not of prejudice
and cruelty. No question in our country
can be at rest save upon the firm base of
Justice and of the law. / earnestly invoke
the attention of congress to the consider
o%sDv Of xx-ifhir, ifs uoll-