New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-19
THE BLAIR BILL.
AN ARGUMENT IN IT'S FAVOR BY THE HON.
JOHN JAY.
rrs BEARINGS on THE CoLoRED RACE THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE HONOR AND

The following letter on the Blair Educational
hill has been addressed by the Hon. John Jay 10
Senators Evarts and Hiscock;
Dear sirs: The resolutions unanimously adopteo py
tbc Union League Club Of this city (ocobcr 49, lo0'
rendorsing their report and resolutions OF fcorurs'
1889 in favor Of the Blair Educational b anu whi''
wore transmitted to you under the signature OF pcs
dent Chauncey NJ Dcpew for presentation 70 inc
Senate advised you Of the deep and continued III
terest with which that body regard the bill TO wmch
the recent debates In the Senate nave acucu ID ~
and increased significance. ON these aulci poi''''
especially in their bearing upon the honor statesman
shin and future Of the Republican party, beg leave
respectfully to submit few thoughts which have Dceh
suggested in large part by the recent speeches OF
Southern Senators, among whom may particularly
name Senators Higgins, Of Delaware; Barbour, OF
Virginia George. Of Mississippi; Jones, OF Arkansas
md Daniel, OF Virginia
The bill when first introduced seemed TO COMMAND
general assent from both parties and sections as ho
fitting and essential completion by the Nation OF u'
work Of emancipation and enfranchismen by giving u
the children of frt Omen the elementary cducauoh
10 which We hold every child who is to bc an American
SOVEREIGN entitled matter Of justice 10 hinSeh
and 10 the state. The antagonism 1t awaRcAcn caho
partly from the preiudices cngendcred oy s'aVerS,
but chiefly from the opponents OF our common so'oi
system and the combined force OF these elements Oh
opposition with the disFeputablc methods resoroo I'd
for the smothcrng in the House bill which had three
times passed the Senate, has for years prolonged mo
contest: and tho recent Senate debates nave 'ienH
defined the issues now involved in the passage OF the
BILL 70 which the Republican party Is sacFcdN pieuScu
Tho issues thus defined inclndc net merely inc P''''
ton whether the cooycd people of the South snail
be educated by the Southern states assisted by Ma
tional aid brt whether those states will consent TO
educate them to the extent of their ability without
such aid so that refusal to give tho South small
portion Of that National aid of which, as given III
land the Northern states have had more IMAM eieNch
times as much as the southern states Is likely 10 dc
.rive tho blacks of all education whatever ana
this at q moment when the race question looms up
so formidably and O Southern Senator asks with "
significance that adds to the responsibility OF our
action After all, not education ana inc system
of free schools the most reasonable solution OF the
negro problemf, Then the passage of the bill IN
wolves the question whether the South shall De eN-
cuded from their equal rights with the North In the
National aid to education, exclusion that 'wouHi
not tend to perfect the National harmony which VIC
all desire; and whether the public school system uhcr
the control Of the States and assisted by the Nation
shall be established throughout The South ana Decome
throughout rne Republic a bond of union ana tho
guarantee of republican government; or whether the
school system so long and tenderly cherished ana
strengthened by the National Government. in accord
with the policy of fathers shall now be aoandoned
at a moment when it is essential to our SAFETY, ana
when 1t Is most fercely assailed being what the
Republican National Convention at Cincinnati declared
It to be--"the bulwark of the American Republic
When we remember that the Republican party Is dis
tnctively pledged beth TO National aid in the education
of the South, and TO the public school system OF the
States Il Is easy to understand the anxiety OF lnteul
gent and thoughtful Republicans that no shadow shall
be cast upon their good faith One persistent answer
to the bill has been that tho southern States were able
to educate without assistance all their inerates, white
and black. matter which the Senators Of southern
States reasonably assumed 10 be proper judges
than Northern editors; but their Willingness TO bear
the burden to the extent Of their ability has AWAY
been assumed and Senator Barbour frankly advises
US that their disposition bear it alone is In doubt
In his speech the 9th of March he said:
want gentlemen on the other side of this Chamber
to take notice that there Is feeling getting abroad
with people that if the National Government does
not take any interest IA the eoucatlon anu improve
OF the illteratc colorcd children there no good
reason why white people should tax themselves
to The extent they doing educate in their midst,
in their communities class Of people VINO 90 not
of the Southern people. and who more apt in the
elections to side against them and vote with the man
We that this elias, Of people are rot able t.
make any contribution to the tax fnnd II their re
q Us. Is It not expecting more than The average hu
many will bear tist we shall 60 on and tax ourselves
support unadod this cOlOred class this uncducetcd
class, this, as II WERE alien class 70 Us. at our expe
and that yon mon Of the North and West should not
regard il as your daty 10 assist!
After rcmarling that the negroes had been hereto
fore represented claimed the wards q the Nation
and that they should be 50 regarded and provided for by
the Federal Government senator Barbour said
upon Us. as yon emancpaicd the cooTei people and
made their children voters ~ the conNry there u an
Scip 10 contrte 70 tn. edncaon Of those people and
to cit them Tor the conduct Of The Government
1t is not surprising TIA; the Southern spirit
should be Justly aroused at the attempt 70 exclude
the Southern states from their fair share Of National
aid to education the series Of historical msstate-
rnents sophisIns and failaces which have been so
happily and completely exposed. The bill was repre-
scented as the crude production Of an unaccustoned
hand in fragrant violation OF the Constitution. with no
warrant legislative judicial and precedent In the
history Of the Republic it urged that this novel
offer Of aid by the Nation to the south was an aron
to State pride and personal manness that the accept
ance of such aid would authorize tie NatQpa Gov
ernment to trampc on their ancient rights and to
transfer the control Of the State schools 10 central
pateina despotlsm at Washington. That the bill,
ignoring the principle of sehep (Which 1t expressly
recognized and encouraged, and giving dole OF
charity TO the southern states would lead those states
TO relax all exertions Of their and to look to tho
Nation for permanent support; and so the bill, by eX-
tngushng State pride and reducing the states 70 the
position Of paupers would destroy the schools ana
promote mcudicancy. dclusive speciousness was
given TO such arguments when put forth with a
sembance Of sincerity and authority as coming FROM
devoted advocates Of the public school system who
were grcved and saGGcncd the danger to the system
in the Southern states by giving National aid which
would surely promote mendicancy and wcahcn and
psupcrizc the states. senator Higgins on the 10Th
of March, thus referred to this pretcice:
1t is urged that If YOU undertake 10 help the South
you destroy their spirit that you axe away from inc
natural force: that what they should depend on Is self
help. ana that If this Is done YOU viii cmsscuate the
South Of is strength and vgOr. ls th3t true. Mr.
PRESIDENT Will the experience of this country bear
II QUIT VIII the universal experience OF the NORTH
It s urged that this bill is u9constItuiional That
Is seriously urged in the fare Of the fact Of the sue
cessvc and continuous steps taken by this Govern
mcnt from time prior 10 It's origin. from The North
western ordinance Of 1877 10 the present time in thC
granting Of public lands and the proceeds Of public
lands 10 the states Of the West from time t.
As the result OF those grants have the splendid
school fund of the Northwest. II this sclficlp 81
the people Is destroyed BY outside aid then ASK any
gentlemen from those States who viii vote aganS
the bill that groandstc begin by being consistent
and advocate IN their States the surrender OF all tos
proceeds back TO the General Government 10 escape
the pcrnicious results that came from the gIsnt'
which have been made 10 them. Then they will b'
cnnsistonf.