Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-03-25
DEATH OF THE BLAIR BILL.

I VI 49, S@--A~-N
THE following comments from
the St. Paul Pioneer Pres fairly
illustrate the feeling with which the
Intelligent and independent news
papers Of the country, republican
as well as democratic. have received
| the news Of the defeat Of the noted
educational bill, introduced into the
Senate by Senator Blair, Of New
Hsmpshire:
"AIl honor to the Senate Of the
United States, which has at last given
its ouietus to the pernicious bill OF
Senator Blair for national aid TO educs-
ton; and all honor TO the Northwest
ern senators by whose vote the ofens-
i've and dangerous measure was
killed At last. II is eight years now
since this most Questionable PROPOSE
ton first came before the country. 1t
drew It's strength at that time from
the consideration OF the then recent
census returns Il lSSO, showing the
prevaleIice Of lllteutcy, especially
among the freedmen Of the Southern
States. There were many men in Con-
sress from the North who honestly be-
lieyed it 10 be their duty TO contribute To
The cost OF the great work that the
emancipation Of the negro hascast up
on the South. There were many men
from the South who grasped eagerly
AZ the offered subsidy from the federal
treasury. As a rule, their public
schools were poorly conducted and
supported. They had not the SPLEEN
did system that spread from New Eng
land all over the Northern states. and
they had not the public spirit and will
lnguess TO sacrifice FOR educational
ends that would enable them 10 initiate
it. The great danger Of a centraliza-
ton OF power, Inever 30 imminent as
when it was proposed TO turn our
schools over to federal control, was
lightly thought OF. Had Il not been
for the principle OF distribution accord
ing 10 illiteracy, which the introducer
insisted upon retaining, and which Of
fered practically the largest subsidy TO
the community that had done least
for itself, it is probable that the bill
would have become law. As it was,
the escape was a narrow one"
Just prior to the vote which killed
the bill an interesting debate &C.
Cured. Senator Bate Of Tennessee
opposed the bill because, in his
opinion, it led the people to rely
on the Federal treasury for the sup
port ard management Of the public
schools. Continuing he said:
''The head OF the Interior Depart
psr;ment would dispense national
funds under national laws, and having
the keys Of 100, 100 schoolhouses hang
ing at his girdle, that girdle would
become as potent in politics as the
scepire of any crowned head. The I
school patronage would DO. used in 1
political campaigns Of partisan dema- I
gogues. The tendency OF the bill was I
dangerous. 1t fascinated and /
but it destroyed. It wooed 1
to destruction, as siren OF Capri. 1t |
would lead to despotism- It was a
dagger behind q smile, a serpent 4
coiled beneath the rose"
Senator Edmunds favored the (
bill, and declared there was no 1
moral nor legal objection to It in the .
Constitution. twill he remembered 4
in Utah that this statesman has for /
some years maintained the position
that s'for twenty years there has
been no constitution of the United |
States except the public opinion of
the American people" Such are
his own words.
Senator Hawley Of Connecticut
made an argument in opposition to
the bill. Following are some Of the
points he made:
"He prophesied that II the bill be-
came a law, It was not merely ST.
DJO.OJO that it would cost. 1t would
cost hundreds OF millions, and would
20 on for fifty years, unless the bill
became so odious that an extra session
would have TO be called 10 repeal il.
The bill was against the spirit OF
States rights. He did not want TO have
he secretary OF the national board OF
education sent into his State. The town
and school boards were
,apable of taking care Of the schools,
md he wanted the national govern
nvnt to keep its hands off,"
Thirty-one Senators voted in IA
7or of the bill, Of whom only eight
we're democrats. Thirty-seven
senators voted against the bill, Of
whom twenty are democrats. Sena-
or Blair changed his vote that he
night move to reconsider.
The vote was close, the bill being
defeated by a majority Of five; and
n view of the growth Of the "new
Z" "a change may coon
axe place in the Senate that will
everse the tide Of its favor.