The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-02-05
Mr.. Jay ON Blair's Educational
Project.

Hr0Jecr.
New York Star. Jan, II, 1870.
Tne strongest argument in fayol
of the Blair Educational bill that ha'
ever been made is embodied in tn,
letter f Mr.. John Jay to The Star
Our correspondent reasons with
much ingenuity, az well as great force
and from Republican or Fedora.
listic standpoint his plea Is convin.
cling. Indeed, if we were to admit
the soundness of the premises thai
underlie his discussion of the subject
we would be compelled ID accept his
conclusions. Its because The Star
differs as does one pole from the other
with the theory of American institu,
tions accepted by the distinguished
Union Lacquer that his mastery pre-
sentation of. great question fails to
command this journals assent.
The permissive or optional feature
of the Blair bill, on which Mr.. Jay
laws great stress, is delusive. It is
not to be expected that if money put
into the United States Treasury by
all the taxpayers Of the country il to
be distributed amolng States on a
fixed scale, any State will decline to
receive its share. do so- would be
for the tate in effect 10 impose double
burdens upon its citizens for the benz
efis ofthose of other commonwealths.
The question at,lssue is not whether
the acceptance of Federal educational
gratuities shall be optional or force,
but whether they shall be given at all
The cry Of "nn dictation to the South
must not close our ears to the claims
of those who paw Federal taxes in
every section nor to the voices of the
Farthers Of the Repabiic that warn
US against the fatal tendencies OF en-
eryating paternalism in central ad
ministration. @- .
The precedent Of the establishment
Of the United States Deposit Fund
is not opposite to the present situation.
In so far as it bears upon it at all, il
tells ag iinst the Blair scheme, not for
l.. That disposition OF Treasury sur
plus was FIR relief to the Federal
Government from the dauger invoIv-
ed in carrying an accumulation ofI
unneeded funds. The transaction
was temporary exped:ent to do
away with surplus, not the laying
of foundation for a new system in |
volying great outlay and long contin-
ued taxation. Nor is there parallel
ism b the proposed educational sys-
TEN and tax in the grants of public
lands owned by the Government
through other title than that acquir.
I'd by levying contributions on pro |
petty in 'ustries or commerce. Tue
lands or their proc eds have not been
taken from one section to be giyer
TO the people of another, but they
have been devoted to tue egeneral good
by facilitating the development Of
terrific y hY its residents. Neither
Is illustration Of this discussion to he
Ileduced from the history Of great ed
uca!i NAL funds donated by private
individuals, inasmuch as the money
devoted 10 those foundations was the
unrestricted property Of the donors TO
dispose Of as they saw fit; while the
point nov in controversy is precisely
The alleged legal and moral right oi
ieneral Government 10 give its money
10 State schools, and beyond that the
Inclination or disiDcliration of the
people as to taxation Tor that perpose.i
The citations Of Southern opinions
oresented by Mr.. Jay go to show
hat the Blair scheme has made some
Roadway among representative men,
ont they do not prove that the South
,rn States are generally in favor of IL,
,r that Northern objection to the
appropriation of national
'esourcrs TO local benefit is Northern
lictation TO The South. Ii might as
veil be said that the objection Of one
to the proposed employ.
nent of corporate property for the
Idyantage Of another stockholder
vas iictation" to be resented. L
BY far the strongest feature ia Mr..
lays paper is the argument drawn
rom the obligation Of the United
States 10 the element Of Southern
1t enfranchised. We must
sserve for other occasion our criti-
cism on tde claim that such duty can
properly he discharged in the way
Ierator Blair proposes; and, indeed,
Is impracticable in this article to
10 more than merely 10 indicate the {
'ositions hereafter 20 be assumed In
discussing the propositions 40 adroitlyI
nd forcibly advanced BY Ma. Jay.