Year: 1876

Especial Correspondence Of the Republican,


NORTHERN POLITICS.


The School Qucstlon and the Greenbsch
! BOSTON, June 23 1876.


1t is now we'll understood by all political


observers, that the approaching presidential


election will be greatly influenced by the
| greenback issue on the one hand, and by
| the school question on the other. The rela.


tion of this school question to Southern re.
construction has not been considered in the
| light which it deserves. It has been treated


heretofore as purely Northern question,


Examined closely this school-issue in
| Northern politics will be found to possess
very important relations to the great race.
problem, which civilization is working
out at the South. The question, there
fore, possesses q two-fold interest for
Southern Republicans. It is interest
ing because Of its probable effect on the
popular vote in the approaching election.


1t is also interesting because of it's indirect
relations to Southern society. While it is
needless, possibly, for some reasons to re-
cur to the Southern question az connected
with the school iseue, it is important for
other reasons that this reference should be
made. Nor can this reference be made too
| often. This is 60 because. if the majority
of the white people OF tho North have
! ceased on their part to take any special in
terest in what effects the social culture and
political rights of the emancipated race,
the negro himself can not be expected to
share in this Indifference. He must con-
tinue to be profoundly interested in what
concerns himself Nor does the interest in
the future of the ntgro end with himself.
The Confederate leaders fully understand
the Importance of the negro - political
force in the affairs of this nation. The
monarchical party here and in the Old
World is watching this great game Of po-
itical chess, and understands the position
and value of the black knight a. it bears
on the Union queen. Not only this, but
have positive reasons for believing that the
Catholic party in America and abroad is
not an Indifferent spectator of the Same
imperial game. Il


l. What, then, is the school question and
how does it affect Southern reconstruction


g What votes will this school issue in
fuence ct the South in the approaching
election9


The school question, as represented by
Governor Hayes, of Ohio, is the leading
feature of Protestant policy" in repub-
lican America to-day, - it is in the Protes-
tant empire of Germany. 1t will affect
most virtually the future of the negro, in
so far Is it will aid in keeping the Repub-
lican party in power, in keeping alive public
interest ut the South in the cause of gen.
eral education, and in 90 far also as it may
lead finally to . governmental system of
education, under which the rising genera
tion of the emancipsted race will receive
important opportunities tor mental cul.
ture outside of local State action at the
South and notwithstanding local Southern
prejudice.


Under the educational policy fo, the
emancipated people (which the common
school question at the South as q political
issue must necessarily terminate) We fnd
two other influences; both of great practi-
cal Importance to South ern society. These
Influences are also identified with the ks-
publican party and its supporters. One is
the question Of civil service -eform. The
other the policy known as the homestead
farm policy, or small farms for the people.
Under civil service reform q growing i'm
pulse would be given to the spirit Of edu-
cation among the youth of the emancipated
race, because under this rule of appoint
ment to public office the door would be
opened to merit, and merit alone. Through
that door the dusky sons and daughters of
Africa could enter every department of the
federal administration in defiance of race
prejudice. This fact would stimulate the
educational ambition of the race, especially
in attaining the higher qualifications of
schcl arship. Under the homestead farm
policy the negro would be put in the way
of providing for the education Of his own
children by his own labor. In word, this
homestead farm policy, by helping the man
help himself, would prove . many-sided
educational force, experimenting all others.


This brief outline of the relations of the
school question in American politice, as
these affects the South, will serve to show
that it possesses vital connection with all
that affects Southern reconstruction. Like
the hub of a wheel, this school question
holds number Of spokes, and these spokes
again are found to be bound together by q
ring of influences co-extensive with the
boundaries Of the Union itself.


The greenback issue, as a Confederate
Democratic issue, is too well understood by
your readers to require explanation.


Both OF these issues (the school question
and the greenback issue possess strong
hold upon the feelings and interests and
convictions of the Western people. As be-
tween the two, the Western vote will be
given in all probability to the party which
stands for the common school. The Con-
federate-Democratic leaders will, a. mat
ter OF course, GEEK to neutralize the force of
the school question, while giving promi-
nence to the greenback issue. Naturally
their first step will be to secure q presi-
Dental ticket at St. Louis which will be
equally acceptable to the West, if possible.
on both of these popular issues.


The next step (such q presidential ticket
having been securely will be to concentrate
public interest on the financial issue. How
far this Confederate Democratic policy can
hA made aucnesafnl ramaina fo ha aoon Rnf