Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-02-06
TnE BLAIR EDUoArIorAL BILL.

THE BLAIR KDUCATIONAL BILL.
The New Hampshire senator Adj
dresses the Senate In Advocacy of
Hts Passage.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Sat 2 o'clock the
bill to aid in the establishment and tempora-
~ support of common schools was taken up
az the unfinished business, and Mr.. Blair
proceeded to address the senate In advocacy
of it.
The education of the children of the re-
public was, he said, the condition of its life.
At the present time there were within the
United States 100000 children of school
age that were not enrolled in the schools and
for whom there was no accommodation what
ever provided in existing school structures.
It would require 120, 900 school buildings to
supply that accommodation. That was to
say at present within the republic (Which
could not live unless its citizenship
was intelligent) one-third of the children
were growing up without means of educa-
ton. If the required school buildings were
to cost on an average $500, the total cost
would be $50, 100000. Where that money
was to come from he did not know. Three
times, he said, had a like bill passed the sem
ate. Four times prior to this session had the
committee on education and labor reported 1t
and argued 1t upon the attention of the sem
ate and of the country. Again that commits
tee had reported 1t and brought it to this
great tribunal, where the opinion of the
country was to be expressed and where, he
trusted, its final passage would be secured.
During all these years the bill had failed.
It had passed the senate three
times by great majorities and had
had in fha nd cd
had even consideration there. The
committee had brought 1t here once more in
the belief that now the time had come for its
passage in both houses and its approval by
the executive. It was not q question be-
tween parties; it was simply question be-
tween this great. magnificent, all powerful
nation and its children. It was a measure
without which the great constitutional amend
ments (since the wary were but trash and
dross. No matter what might be In the COM
stitution and laws, If there was not intelli-
gence in the sovereignty of the country the
people might as well live under despotism, or
worse. Without education, without the en-
actment of such q law as was proposed, the
great amendments to the constitution were
all but "'leather and prunella."
Mr.. Blair went on to speak Of the general
approval given to the bill from all sections
of the country, and asserted that it was an
the United States. MI. Blair temporarily
yielded the floor to Mr.. Sherman, who, from
the committee on foreign relations, reported
the following joint resolution, which was
placed on the calendar:
Resolved, That the United States Of America con-
graduates the people Of Brazil on their just and
peaceful assumption of the powers, duties and re-
sponsibilities Of self-government based upon the
@ Of s oe
This Joint resolution is reported as SUBJ
stitute for that of Mr.. Morgan, introduced on
the 18th of December, and referred to the
committee on foreign relations. It omits the
words Expressed in their reputation of
monarchic rule" It also admits several para
graphs declaring the recognition Of the Unit
ed States of Brazil as a lawful and rightful
government, and directing the president to
require the people and officers of the United
States to recognize the flag Of the United
States of Brazil as the flag of a free sovereign
and independent state.
Mr.. Blair resumed his argument in support
of the educational bill, which he declared
was in all its features such as had COM
mended itself to the judgment of the prssi-
dent of the United States. There were, he
said, three principal questions in relation to
the bill:
First-Was it constitutional
Second-Was it necessarys
Third-Had the nation the moneys
As to the first question, it might as well
be put in this form: Is it constitutional fol
the constitution to exist, or Is the constitu.
ton itself constitutional!
Mr.. Blair went on to quote extracts from
speeches of senators lat former sessions) in
favor of the bill. Among those from whose
speeches he quoted was President Cher
senator) Harrison. to the effect that he sin.
oerely trusted that federal aid would bt
extended to the states in the matter of fret
common schools. Mr.. Blair considered him.
self as justified by all these authorities II
claiming that the constitutionality of thu
bill was beyond question. Mr.. Blair yielded
the aoor for a motion to proceed to executive
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