Changes

During late 1882 and early January 1883, Blair added an amendment to the [[Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act]] that prohibited hiring habitual drunkards to federal government positions, reflecting his effort to combat [[alcohol]] abuse.<ref>''Henry W. Blair's Campaign to Reform America'', p. 143.</ref> However, he did not vote on the final passage of the Pendleton Act.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/47-2/s646 TO PASS S. 133.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved November 26, 2021.</ref>

During late 1882 and early January 1883, Blair added an amendment to the [[Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act]] that prohibited hiring habitual drunkards to federal government positions, reflecting his effort to combat [[alcohol]] abuse.<ref>''Henry W. Blair's Campaign to Reform America'', p. 143.</ref> However, he did not vote on the final passage of the Pendleton Act.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/47-2/s646 TO PASS S. 133.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved November 26, 2021.</ref>

Sen. Blair chaired the Committee on Education and Labor, where he renewed efforts to provide federal aid to public schools.<ref name=britannicabio/> Despite previous successful passage of such measures in the chamber, an effort in 1890 resulted in failure.<ref name=harpweek/> Unlike other Half-Breeds like [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] and [[William A. Wheeler]] who coldly turned their backs on Southern blacks, Blair viewed the defeat of his education bill in addition to the Lodge Federal Elections Bill of 1890 (introduced by [[Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr.]]) to constitute a betrayal of Republican Party principles.<ref>''Henry W. Blair's Campaign to Reform America'', p. 178–79.</ref> He wrote to renowned black leader [[Frederick Douglass]]:

Sen. Blair chaired the Committee on Education and Labor, where he renewed efforts to provide federal aid to public schools.<ref name=britannicabio/> Despite previous successful passage of such measures in the chamber, an effort in 1890 resulted in failure.<ref name=harpweek/> Unlike other Half-Breeds like [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] and [[William A. Wheeler]] who coldly turned their backs on Southern blacks, Blair viewed the defeat of his education bill in addition to the Lodge Federal Elections Bill of 1890 (introduced by [[Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr.]]) to constitute a betrayal of Republican Party principles.<ref>''Henry W. Blair's Campaign to Reform America'', p. 178–79.</ref> He wrote to renowned black leader [[Frederick Douglass]]:

{{cquote|It must, I think, have become evident to all that there must be a return to the fundamental issues which stir the heart and touch the life of the Republic or there is nothing except assured defeat for us next autumn.|||Blair in a letter to Douglass}}

{{cquote|It must, I think, have become evident to all that there must be a return to the fundamental issues which stir the heart and touch the life of the Republic or there is nothing except assured defeat for us next autumn.|||Blair in a letter to Douglass}}