The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-02-28
Rducatron and Federal Aid.

A crude opinion has been frequently
expressed by some school superintend-
ents ana other advocates of psternalism
in government that ":he rural States
cannot supply an adequate education
without Federal aid This notion
arises out Of mass of misconceptions
concerning the power and functions Of
the Federal Government. 1t assumes
that the Federal Government occupie 8
toward the States and the people the re-
lation OF a wealthy parent upon whose
bounty they exist, when. Ia fact, the
Federal Government Is wholly depend
ent upon the people for its support.
Every dollar in the National Treasury
is drained from the earnings Of the
people.
This notion that "the rurs! States"
cannot provide for the education of
their children without FEEDER ] aid''
also rests upon a false assumption con-
cerning the superior wealth OF the few
States in which the bulk of the import
duties and internal revenue is collect
ed. The importers of New York do
rot pay the duties on imports collected
10 thai State. bnt the payment is made
by consumers throughout The country.
y do the people of Illinois pay the
large amount of internal revenue col
lected from the distillers Of that Slate.
Kansas, Maine and Iowa pay their full
share. notwithstanding their prohibito-
~ liquor laws. Rural Kentucky is
quite as able as urban New York and
Massachusetts TO provide for educa-
ton.
There is not a rural State in the
Union so poor as TO require Federal
aid" for purposes of education. What
is needed by all the States, and by the
weakest most of all, is that the heavy
hand of the Federal Government should
be taken of them. They would then
be amply able 10 take care of themselves.
The excessive revenues collected from
necessaries OF living and poured into the
national Treasury would. II remitted,
amount 20 more than enough in the
poorest ; -ates to enable the State Gov
eminent 10 maintain lIbe:al systt ms of
public education.
II this enormous Treasury surplus
did not exist the Federal Government
would have neither the means nor the
disposition to appropriate moneys TO
tbe States for school purposes. Ilstead
ot intermeddliDg with what belongs TO
the States and the people, the Govern
mept at Washington would coniDe it
self 10 its Legitimate functions. With
the national Treasury empty, as it
should be, ard revenues reduced to the
needs of economical administration.
Senator Blair himself would hardly pro-
pose 10 increase the duties on coal. iron
ore. salt, lum Der, wool, clothing, blank
cts, tin-piate and other articles in order
TO gIanI Federal aid TO the rural States
for education. The answer would be
that the States, to which the duty be-
longs, could much more economically
raise ard administer the taxes necessa-
~ for the support of their public
schools.
The presence % vast Treasury sur
Plus ard the dread of rsduc ng tariff
burdens have chiefly contributed to the
Prevailing cobfusioa OF ideas concern J.
ing the relations Of the Federal Govern
ment 10 the States and the psople. But
for the Treasury surplus, and the policy
which maintains II, the BiaiT Educa-
1 tlonal bill would never have been heard
/ of.-Phild. Record.