Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-03-25
FREE SCHOOLS.

At the late charter election in the city of
| Detroit, the question of free schools was made
the principle if not the only issue. The
election resulted in the choice of officers in
favor of making the public schools of the
city free to all disposed to avail themselves OF
their advantages. This result is truly graft
flying, not merely because the children ofo
city are to have the benefits of an education
but because it is one Of the many indications
of the spirit of trne progress, which is being
infused into the body of the people. The
education of the masses is the surest guar
antee we can have of the permanency OF our
| free institutions. The youth of our country
Will be educated omewhere-either in our
schools, thereby to become useful and influ-
entail members of society, or elsewhere to
grow up in Ignorance and vice. and thereby
to become living pests to the community in
which they live, and prospective candidates
for the poor house and prison. In view of
this, We believe that the principle that prop
erty should be taxed for the support of free
cchools to be correct one. Many can seek
to become educated who would otherwise be
entirely precluded. When education is uni
|
become more capable Of intelligentlr exerc-
sing the rights and franchises guaranteed
them by the constitution. They better per
form the duties they owe to each other as
members of the same body polite. The
laws are better understood and respected
As knowledge increases, virtue will increase.
The greatest incentives to wrong doing will
be taken away, and our taxes for the support
of crime and pauperism will be diminished.
There lie no prouder page upon the history
of these northwestern states than that upon
which--by the ordinance of 1797-it was
enacted that religion, morality and knowledge
being necessary to good government and the
happiness of mankind, schools and the means
of education shall forever be encouraged
1t was happy thought-may they ever oct
in accordance with it.
In respect to the issue made at the election
in the city of Detroit, referred to in the above
article the Buffalo Republic" gives the fol-
lowing particulars:
"The causes which led to this result are
these: the catholics, as such, used their in
tluence to procure democratic nominations
which would favor division of the Com
mon, School Fund, between Catholics and
Protestants, thus to establish sectarian sys-
TEN Of education. This project received the
countenance of Bishop LEFEvRE, and the
whole force of his Influence was brought to
bear i'll its favor.
The citizens who were opposed to the es-
adjustment of the sectarian school system,
rallied their forces without respect of party
and nominated an independent tickle. This
ticket embraced several of the candidates on
the regular democratic ticket, who were known
to be opposed to the Bishops project; and
several of the independents were Catholics,
who were too thoroughly American in their
affections and principles, to fall i'll with the
| sectarian proposition. We learn that there
were but two or three wings on the whole
ticket; but were supported by the wings gen.
orally, as they made separate nominations
We must say that We are glad Of this result,
and hope to see the same whenever and where
yer religious bigotry shall presume to show
its cloven foot in this country. Nor do we
care what sect it is that makes the attempt
to procure exclusive legislation in its favor.
We would oppse it under any name or guise
whatever"