The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-06-27
For the Express.
Public Schools.

For the Express.
Public Schools.
ask the privilege Of submitting in this way
TO the public mind, a few reflections OH the sub
EJsct OF Public Schools. The mind of the PEG
pie may be said to be awake to this great mat
ter OF tho education of the rising generation
That no scheme for the accom- lishment of tn,
purpose will suit the minds Of all, is to be ex
|pected,-we must therefore unite upon such
plan as will command the assent of the ma lori
~. But some are opposed to the adoption Of
ANY system whatevcr,-and the sole ground Of
their opposition IS to be found in their unwil
llngness to be taxed. OF course this obi lection
must be standing one with those who max,
|it:-ifit is good this year, it will be good TWEEN
|ty-hve years hence, and forever; and SUCH M
doubt, is the secret feeling of those who put il
1T will therefore be for the people Il
determine whether such policy shall DO adopt
lea. But If the vote ofthe 18th, which was pass
lea by an overwhelming ma ority, stands, as
have no doubt it will; the system thus far la.
been adopted. .
And why should they depart from it? have
no nigh eulogium to pass upon the incompara
bic benefits of education, and especially upor
such system as will secure those benefits Il
|ali' and exclude none:--if they are not under
stood from the natural reason of the thing, M
arguments will avail to make them understood
| have been astonished at the indifference ant
tine opposition which prevail in relation to thi!
Subject among many, from whom better thing.
might have been expected. Sometimes strong
love OF gain blinds men to their true interests
l know not what would produce stronger ten
dency to enhance the property interests ane
the commercial prosperity of the place, thar
the establishment Of a good school system. Lie,
no man smile at this statement, however &C
|comPlished and sagacious he may deem him
|self to be as business. man. Such is the pro
|gress Of society, and such the expansion of the
public mind at large, that men with familie.
Twill not settle in the midst of a community
which is known to be opposed to education a,
"a public enterprise. Esta blish the school sys
tenn which is now before the people, or some
;one like it, and il would be the browning glory
of your City;-that fact alone would induce
scores and hundreds of men of means to settle
among US, who would purchase your real EST ate,
who would buy your goods, and employ you,
thus your population would
be increased, as also your wealth-individnally
and in the aggregate-and your ability to pro
mote public improvements, with diminished
burdens in the way of taxation. 1t may be said
that our community, in pecunlary point OF
taxation. answer. the way to become strong,
is to be duly public spirited. Moreover, the
tax imposed is a moderate one; and the obiec.
ton comes chiefly from those who are most q.
bic TO pay. Perhaps it may be said that this
is natural. ! answer, if it is natural, it is moi
reasonable. 1t is as much burden for the poor
man, worth but one hundrd dollars, to pay a
tax Of twenty. five cents, as it is for him who is
worth one thousand dollars, to pay two dollars
and half. Besides, we must make beginning
and it had as we'll be now as ever. No great
enterprise ever was, or ever will be, started
without opPostion;--there are always the sus.
picious and the fearful, who can not see the ad
vantages of an enterprise until successful oper.
alton has slcnced their hostility, and relieved
them Of their responsibility.
But some who profess to be in ia vor of prima
ry schools are opposed to the system which EN-.
braces the feature of instruction in some Of the
higher branches. 1t has been holly denounced
as plan to favor the rich at the expense OF
the poor--to erect, with the peoples money, a
splendid house for the pssse by to gaze at-'sa
fraud upon the people," Were these sentiments
well judged?--Havc they any kinship to the
truth? How can that be fraud upon tho PEG
,ple, which the people alone can do? Some.
times the people are de frauded by their agents.
when they are compelled to use them. But
when they act directly for themselves, I do
mot believe they need the warning voice Of
self-constituted guardians.
1t has been SAID that no school is needed for
instruction in the higher brInches-that it's
benefits would not be reached by the ma iority.
N mistake is greater than this. The public
fund will be applied as far as it will 60, to i'm
part instruction in that department, and the
remainder will have to BE made up by private
subscriptions, or in other words, by tuition
fees, just as in the private schools. Is it true
that men in moderate circumstances do not
wish to give their children an education which
shall fit them to take their proper places in
life as business men? think it requires great
presumption TO suppose that the enterprsing
and practical men of our city do not appreci
ate the advantages Of an education in some of
the higher branches l do not mean, as ha s.
been vainly supposed, the Greek and Hebrew;
but do mean something like perfect know
ledge Of our mother tongue; knowledge oil
bookkeeping, of the prnci pies of geometry :.
without which one can not be perfect archi
tect or surveyor; and also knowledge of his
tory. No man can fail to see the advantages
of these things for his children, though he may
mot have been blessed with them himself. A
System of primary instruction is indispcnsa BILE,
but without the other feature it will fall far
short Of the public necessities, and as believe
the public demands. Let no one believe that
"a more favorable time will ever come:-thcrc
is now an interest awake. which, if opposed
and suppressed, can not be aroused again for
long years to come. 1t is the part of wisdom
to secure advantages, while they lie within
our reach. 1t is no small matter to have a..
reused the public mind upon this subject if il,
into apathy, the very fact of failure,
will be standing and strong argument against
removing the attempt. Establish the system.
and venture the prediction that it will not,
have been in operation one year, before every
opposer will be ashamed to be remembered as
such, and every neutral who is now afraid to-
meet his responsibility, will be ashamed of his
neutrality. We live in an age Of progress:-
the people under stand their interests, and this
is the peoples business-the efforts of Their
friends they will not fail to appreciate, and
tine rem aindcr thoy will appreciate too.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
A friend has furnished US the following
letter for publication. 1t speaks in proper
terms of the shameful violation of plghted
faith, as practiced by the whig party since
they have attained TO power. 49,. t..
1t is dated at. ..s.-~ .. ..~. ...s
81 /