Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-08-03
For the "DemOcrdt and Sentinel" "
ffgsS,s Editors -

lcalOusly watch over thelr rights ana prlVlle-
ges Every encroachment upon their liberties
should be met at the threshold and manfully
resisted When an attempt is made to inter
fere with our rights, the aggressor should be
informed. that while acting within his own
proper sphere cur laws viii protect him He
may even be given to know that, SO far as his
individual affairs are concerned, our laws will
permit him to pursue course that may in
the end lead to incalculable mischief to him
self; yet so lon as his ruinious policy effects
not his neighbor, he will be permitted to pur-
sue that course But the instant he does an
act that effects injuriously his neighbor, or in
any way interferes with the rights of his neigh
Dor, that instant he should be adnlonished
that the interests of his fellow citizen must
not be forgotten or overlooked in the pursuit
of that which is merely intended to benefit "a
particular individual. The sane rule viii ap-
ply to any class of people and to all associa-
tions In fact this is the rule upon which is
based the Law of Nations, ard thus is recog-
nized that universal rule of right by which
we are taught, that if we become members of
society, we must yield TO municipal authority
certain natural rights The rule that natqht
makes right, gives way to another rule by
which we, as members of society, delegate to
a few, the guardianship of our affairs COM
munity, at the same time holding our agents
responsible for any abuse of the power We de-
legate to them.
Some twenty years ago the citizens Of our
Commonwealth, in Their wisdom, established
a system of Common Schools not at that time
it is true system absolute in every district
throughout the state, but since that time by
amendment it has become SO. The friends of
education, it is also true, have met opposition
from certain portions of the state.
From selfish motives and from false ideas
of economy, the citizens of certain districts,
refused to accept this system. Now, however,
since by statute of the land, the Common
School system ''is deemed taken and held to
be adopted according to the provisions of this
act (the act of Sth May 1S54). in all the coun-
ties of this commonwealth or which shall
hereafter be erected, matters seem to have
taken different turn. The real enemies.
and olIosa 60 bv Gared-most lie lear
ed, because more vigilent and more bigotted-
have been compelled to ''show hands" Here
tofore it has been gravely asserted that .'all
the opposition to our Common School System
comes from the Dutch districts Look at
Berks" Opposition from men actuated by
selfish feelings may have been as much felt In
''Berks" in any other county, and
instance Becks merely as a locality or county,
not that she is deserving of the charge of open
hostility to our School system from deadly,
deep-seated hatred to all enlightenment of
the masses, but merely because many of her
citizens think more of saving money than of
educating their children While all this is
admitted it is nevertheless true, there are
many citizens scattered throughout Pennsyl-
vania, both native and adopted. aetuated by
feelings other than mere sordidness, that
bitterly oppose our system of Common Schools;
portion because the Bible is permitted to be
read in certain schools; and another portion
because the Bible is not recognized as a school
book and read in every district; while still
other portions virtually oppose the system by
the establishment of Sectarian or Parochial
schools.
We at all times bow with Difference to the
| opinion of our religious friends. The estab-
| lishment of a Sectarian or Parochial School is
right all religious denominations have-a
! right with which, when exercised, the state
cannot interfere. Many who support such
schools insist. that, so long as any body or So
ciety of men having established and continue
to sustain Sectarian School, yet while they
| freely pay their school-tax the Common
School system, instead of being injured, is
benefited because "a portion of our youth
being thus drawn from our crowded schools,
enables our School Directors to reduce the
number of schools and increase the number
of months they shall be kept open"
a greater error in judgment could not be
imagined for while it is admitted that the
number of scholars is reduced, it is neverthe-
less true that the rate of assessment Will in
variably be reduced to keep open such number
of schools, and only such number, as is sup
posed will accommodate the pupils attending
for, say nine months in year Gnore than
ten months the law will not allow Is it
not evident then, that the organization of Sec
tartan Schools, instead of benefting the Com
mon School system has tendency to iniure
that system and bring it into disrepute Add
to this, that there are many, very many good
citizens, in fact the very props of society,
that doubt the propriety of sending to Secta-
rian School, who under the operation of the
Sectarian rule would be compelled to send
their children to such schools or permit them
| to grow up in ignorance.
Take the case of a sparsely settled district
a majority of the children are sent to Secta-
rian Schools leaving, say halfa dozen, whose
parents wish to send to Common School
These parents are informed by the Directors
| that it is deemed improvident to keep open a
School for so small number, but that thew
will be permitted to send to another district
the School-house in which district is distant
say four miles. Would not such parents viz
tually be deprived of the benefits of our Com
mon School System, compelled to send to a
Sectarian School, or suffer their offspring 10
grow up in ignorance?