The Evansville daily journal., 1858-03-26
(For the Journal.
"Consistency IL a Jewell

Consistency IL Jewell
Before the Charter Election, it was asserted
on the streets and other places, by some of
our New Charter men, that the city could,
with equal propriety, and for the same rea-
sons, board and lodge the children of our
citizens as to educate them at the public ex-
pense; and the money appropriated to the
support of schools was as illegally appropri-
ated, as it would be to feed and cloth them.
Now, when offices are to be lost or won, the
same men are most ardent advocates for
raising money and giving it to the schools.
Such sudden changes of opinion are suspic-
ious. The people are not simple enough, to
be gulled by such false and hypocritical pre-
tences. These lovers of Office can't pull the
woolFover the eyes of voters so easily as they
imagine, nor can PLAIN honest men be Jug
gled out of their votes by the pretended ne
cessity of harmonizing the party. If the
Democrats are all in favor Of supporting the
Free Schools, so are their opponen, and
there is therefore no breach in either party to
heal; for the support of tie Schools is the
only issue. If there be not some ulterior OBJ
ject to gain, there is no occasion for any
division among citizens OF all shades of po-
litical opinions. This extreme anxiety about
the harmony of the party shows there is a
difference of opinion greater than appears
upon the face of the pleadings. i asked one
of these New Charter converts, if he was in
favor of Free Schools? He answered yes,
but not as they are now constituted. What
plan would he adopt, i asked. He replied,
he saw no necessity of supporting Schools at
the public expense to educate the children OF
men who were able to school their own fami-
lies. He would establsi. public schools for
the poor children of men who could not pay
the tuition of their own offspring. He
would establish Charity Schools, whose in
mates would be classed by themselves and
wear the badge of "Charity Scholars"
asked him how many laboring men, with
any self respect, or affection for their chill
dren, would degrade them by sending them
to such school, and allow them to become
objects of contempt and derision to theil
richer companions.
This man is a Lecompton Democrat and 6
most voeiferous advocate just now, of wha
he calls Common Schools" But his opin-
ion and mine differ very much in regard t,
, what our Public Schools should bc--an,
there may be greater difference in the i1ea
of these pretended friends and the real sup
porters of the schools than many OF. US sup
pose. Let us know what they really meal
by supporting the Free Schools! Their Ere
Schools and ours may be very different iDsti
tutions.
The only safety to the schools is in I'll
election of men to our council whose opinion
are fully known and have been well tested
i, Let us take only those who were warm sup
porters of the Old Charter fitlalt any refer
ence to their political sent b; we don
=, care whether they are Repuf1 1caslSor Demo
I, Gratis. But apply the test to every sandidat
! for councilman, and learn whether he ha
supported or opposed the Old Charter; if Il
has opposed it, let us "spot" him, whateve
his present professions may be. Don't pu
G any faith in new converts, who have bee
suddenly changed by the approach of ne,
: election. The managers of the Apollo Ha
meeting were gall New Charter men, fe'
!, weeks ago; but they are strenuous advocate
D of the Old cue just now. But the Glove
foot is very visible. One ardent Lecomp
ton Democrat declares his intention to SUP
port rabid Know Nothing in his ward, be
e cause he was disposed to be liberal; but thi
= Know Nothing candidate is a strenuous OF
ponent of the Old Charter, and Free Schools
!, he is therefore the favorite of the Lecompto
leaders.
These straws show how the wind blows
:. When the leader who tells you in the san
- breath that the only enthusiasm he ever fe
:. - was in favor of popular education in FRI
- Schools, and then says he is going to vo
1 ,s for their bitterest opponent, think there
- reason to dstrust his sincerity.
n MARBLE HALL.