Amador weekly ledger., 1857-12-26
Politics in Schools.


Clinton, and which, we are advised from vari-
ons sources, was largely attended by the citi-
zens of that place and vicinity. 1t would be
a matter of supererrogation to say that as
the conductors of public journal, we are
more than gratilied to be thus sustained in a
controversy, by the people most Immediately
interested, best acquainted with all the facts,
and therefore best able to judge of and de-
termine the real merits of the case.
The controversy has been productive of
considerable feeling in some quarters, but all
who have observed our course will bear testi-
mony that we have not been vindictive, nei-
ther have we sought to stir up local anmosi-
ties among the people of Clinton. Our course
has been directly the opposite while we have
battled for the right, and shall continue to
do so, it does not follow as part of our duty
to abuse and denounce those who may differ
from us in opinion
In the first place, Mr.. Parsons School Ex-
hibition took place at Clinton. One of the
most respectable citizens of that place wrote
to us letter. and forwarded by Browns Ex-
press, stating that Mr.. Parsons had "played
the killing of Keatng by Herbert, as scritten
bv the Black Republicans" (Ihe statement
which has been put forth that this letter was
written or made up in the Ledger Office is
miserable faIsehood, coming from miserably
contemplate sonrce.) We thereupon con-
demned the Introduction of politics into
schools, and maintained that it was improper,
in bad taste, and an innovation upon the
rights and principles of Democrats who had
literally lent their aid (many of them with
out child to send in support of the school.
Mr.. Parsons was excused as far as possible
it was not charged upon him that he had
brought out the play with the deliberate in
tcntion Of producing political effect; yet Mr..
p. and his friends, not satisfied to have their
fault thus passed over, take umbrage, and in
high dudgeon hold a prirdte indignation
meeting" pass resolutions write letters, etc
in short, force The issue. Now they have an
opportunity to stop and contemplate the re-
suit of their own act.
The idea entertained by some, or pretend
ed to be entertained, to the effect that the
acting of the play was not calculated to
produce political or partizan feeling, is COM
pletely exploded by the fact that it did create
feeling, which has been so manifested as not
to be misunderstood Moreover, the citizens
of Clinton, who were present at the Exhibit
ton, and acquainted with all the crcumstan-
ces, are certainly capable of Judging whether
play is political in its tendencies. As to
feeling about the matter, the Black Republi-
cans have their full share Of it-they are cha
grined, if they did but knOw their own feel
ngs, to think that they have been detected
in their attempt to connect Republicanism
with School Exhibition. Whether the at
tempt was studied, or simply intuitiye and
therefore in one sense not exactly intentional,
we shall not now stop to inquire. In this
connexion it may not be improper to refer to
the fact that whenever Democrat happens
to get into controversy or argument with a
Black Republican, one of the first things is
for the latter to upbraid the former with the
"killing of Kcating by Herbert;" and yet,
forsooth, they don't mean to create political
or partizan feeling when they introduce it in
schools As has already been stated, we
have never been the defenders of Herbert :;
but we protest that the Democratic party
must not be held responsible for the crime Of
an individual. Especially do we protest
that the Republicans shall not carry it SO far
as to introduce it in schools.
The Black Republicans have held up their
hands with badly assumed astonishment be-
cause we have asserted that this is not the
only instance of the introduction of politics
into schools. Why is it that they fear to
show their hands in this matter? Their min
listers preach Black Repubicanism from the
pulpit, and they say that is right now if it
is right to preach Republieansm from the
pulpit it is also right to teach it in schools,
and that man who approves of the one and
not of the other is a hypocrite and full of de-
ceit. 1t may not be profitable to go into a
further discussion Of this part of the subject,
just now but we reiterate that the Democ-