Evening star., 1901-05-11

Mr. Bryan. in this weeks Commoner. in
dorses in the following words Senator
Daniels objection to the proposition to
limit the negro school fund in Virginia to
the amount of taxes paid by negroes:
The question raised is one of very
rious impOrtance-of far greater impor-
tariCe than the educational qualification
which has been adopted In some of the
states An educational qualification, how
ever objectionable il may seem at the
time. is only a temporary barrier, for with
n proper school system the franchise is
soon within the reach of all; but to dis
franchise the negro by an educational
qualification and then deny him the means
OF getting an education is much more
serious matter.
while it may seem a hardship for the
white people to bear 50 large a share as
they do of the expenses of instruction for
colored children. they find some recon-
p nSc in the fact that they own large
share of the taxable property. In no state
of the Union is there an attempt to make
each family or class pay for its own edu-
cation In every community the expense
p of public schools is paid by general taxa
tion
Very often large taxpayers have few
children or none at all. but they are COM
PEELED to contribute to the support of
schools because every citizen of COM
munity is interested III the education of
all the members of the community. Life
and property are more secure and exist
people are developed in mind and char
acter."
This is a clear and generous statement
of the question. and it will be read with
interest by the people to whom it is ad-
dressed. Virginia has twice supported Mr..
Bryan for President, and there has been
no evidence since her last expression of
preference for him of any change in her
feelings. So far as known he still enjoys
her confidence: and in alliance thus with
her senior senator in advocacy of a mat
ter of such great local Importance it is to
be expected that his words will have much
weight
1t will be observed that in his reference
Il an educational qualification for the suf-
frage Mr.. Bryan speaks a little guardedy.
He does not say in many words that
h. approves of the policy but soothes
those affected by it with the reminder
that the barrier thus erected can be
but temporary in country where edu-
cation is general. About that matter it
was but natural for Mr.. Bryan to be diplo-
matte. He well understands that the edu-
cationa1 qualification prescribed in several
Of the southern states is drawn to
initiate almost exclusively against the
negroes. and that it has twice been ap-
piled in his behalf. The south is still his
stronghold and if he is to try for the
presidency a third time he cannot afford
to offend the south At the same time
open Endorsement of an educated suf-
frage in a country where the per cent of
HiiteFacy Is by means small and where
the newly arrived foreign vote is large.
might be nl-advised in the leader of a
great party
But upon the question of education, pure
and simple, and the duty of citizens with
property to contribute literally to the sup
port of schools Mr.. Bryan is outspoken
and eminently right. On that issue he is
in touch with the best sentiment of the
country. If he could muster the following
for any other issue for which he stands
that ne can for free schools for white and
black. and enough of them to insure every
child in the land a fair chance to acquire
an education. nothing could keep him out
of the White House. Fortunately for the
country. however, the issue of popular
education is every party's issue, and no
leader could hope to appropriate it to his
own or his party's exclusive use