The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-18

81
men who first suggested it. 1t was, he be-
hsved, tho first measure OF general and
comprehensive legislation since the un-
happy period of war which the
members of the great political organization
that had IN the main controlled tie legisla-
tion of the country had proposed TO apply
70 the solution OF those questions which
were an aftermath of the bloc iy struggle.
HLIBERALITY A MISTAKE.
In his Judgment there was not an illiberal
word or an iliiberal law on the statute book
of the United States that was not a pro-
found mistake of craftsmanship. He did
not believe that there was single dis
franchisement, single penalty, a single
harsh word in the laws of the
United States since tie last gun fred at
Appomattox that had not retarded, instead
or aiding the process Of healing
and reconstruction that had been at
work. He did net disbelieve the s.atement Of
the senator from OHIO (Mr. Sherman) the
other day-that in the heart of the northern
people there y as generosity and magnam-
ity. The difference between tie great regi-
ments Of people Hho inhabt Gne
American republic was not the
difference of iutu tion, but a differ
ence of local surroundings. He saw in
the Blair bill, not bayOnets, not banners,
but he saw in it an appropriation for edu-
cation, and some very powerful and funda-
mental considerations would have TO stand
In his path before he ever voted against
any well devised measure for education.
DIxIE's EXPENDITURE.
The southern states. Mr. Daniels said, had
been doing their full duty in the matter of
educa zion, aud had, since 1870, spent $685.
OOG,00O, taken out of the pockets Of the peo-
pie, for the purposes Of education. His own
state had been fourth in the lisJ in the mag
nitude of its donations and appropriations.
Mr.. Morgan asked Mr.. Daniel whether
he desired to increase the taxation on the
people Of Virginia by the amount appro-
priated under the Blair bill.
Mr.. Daniel replied that he did not wish
to increase that taxation in the form in
which it had been drawn from the people.
There were two ways, be said, Of dealing
with every subject. Ore was that of deal
ing witch it in an abstract way, and of
imagining idle things which might possibly
come TO pass. The other was to take things
as they were found and try to make the
best OF them.
AN ASSURANCE TO THE SOUTH.
The bill would be, he said. an assurance
to the people of the south that the federal
congress held them and their situation in
cOnsiderate remembrance. 1t would be an
indication to the colored people of the south
that those who preached generosity were
willing to practice it. The condition Of the
state of Virginia had been described by his
colleague. Mr.. Barbour). He did not con-
slider that that condition was at all peculiar
to Virginia. 1t was one that was shared in
by almostevery common wealth in America.
There was a certain degree and character
of prosperity in Virginia, but it was not a
prosperity that spread itself with an equal
hand all over the commonwealth. The ag-
ricultural interests of the state we're deeply
depressed. He did not attribute it in any
degree whatever to any inferiority on the
part of the people, but TO conditions ttat
applied in every part of the United States
and that were working out their results in
the north, south, east, and west.
AGRICULTURAL DEcADENCE ELSEWHERE.
In this connection he read ex-
tracts from an article in the New York
Times of Saturday showing agricultural
decadence in New Jersey and Ohio, and he
referred also to like decadence in the New
England states. He put the question
whether the agricultural classes desired the
passage Of the bill, and said that they did.
They were under weight of taxa
ton, not only in Virginia but
in other states, which they could but ill bear
under the crcums .ances of their situation.
priation from the federal treasury that
would give enlarged school accomm odations
and that would carry school houses-as
King Alfred carried justice-to every mans
door. They would receive the bill in the
spirit in which it was rendered.
A CROSS FIRE.
Mr.. Daniel, proceeding to discuss some
constitutional points in connection with the
bill, was asked various questions by, and
received various suggestions from Messrs.
Harris, Morgan, Reagan, Coke and Faulk-
ner; but he declared, in reply to their objec-
tions, that he could not see any substantial
difference between the power of the federal
government to takea piece of land and give
it away for educational purposes and
power to take money out of the treasury
with the same object. While the rec of
knowledge was not the tree of life, it would
be found that the most Enlightened nations
had the highest moral ideas, and that the
most enlightened men were the men who
had the highest character. It was not the
education of the school room alone that was
to be depended upon. 1t was the educa-
ton of society, the education of history,
the education of tradition. BuG all that
came more easily when the book served as
guide to 1T. While he sometimes felt ap-
palled as he stood before the problem which
the south had to deal with, he saw that in
this mea 'ure they were drifting toward the
light. He would deal with it as a snip
wrecked sailor, landing in the night time
and seeing through the murky sky a taper
cleaning in the distance. just as surely as
that sailor would rise up and travel toward
the light so, in this case there was light in a
dark place, AID, for himself he would say,
Let it shine"
MoRGAN'S OPPOSITION.
Mr.. Morgan opposed the bill He said
that he had had opportunity on three pre-
vious occasions of discussing it IN ertenso.
and he had no disposition to add anything
to what he had heretofore submitted to the
Senate. The bill, he said, was a bill for
taxation and for double taxation, its
object and purpose being to
compel certain states of the union to
tax themselves more than they were
now doing for the benefit of public
education. He did not like the idea
of congress forcing the people of
Alabama to tax themselves (as they
would have to do at the close of the term of
the billy $4,000, 600 year for public schools
VIII IN they did not now spend more than
$500, 900 year for all the expenditures of
her state government
Mr.. Hawley obtained the floor to speak
against the bill, but not desiring to go on
this evening the bill went over till to-mor-
row, Mr.. Eyarts stating that Il was his pur-
pose to speak for the bill Wednesday.
On motion of Mr.. Hale the urgent de-
ficiency bin was taken up, and number Of
amendments reported by the COMMITTEES on
appropriations were agreed TO. Several
,.s-t. y .4ofat