Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27
The Couusy supcrintenaency.


The Counsy onPcrintenaency.
The most important election BY all odds in
which this county has any direct interest =
to be held next April, to fill the above named
office. The office is new and peculiar one.
1t las for its field department which over
rides all merely pecuniary or Political ques-
ton 1t concerns the sound and thorough
education of the entire youth of the country.
Our school System is AS it stands merely
skeletnn-a barren frame work. The sinew
and muscle, the fresh blood, the life Of the
system, these lie in the ability and energy of
its officers to pour into it, with full or scanty
measure, as their energy and ability are largo
or small. The County SUPPLEMENTARY is
the brain Of that systematic Office Is like
no other. 1t has been compared by tho dis
tinguisl,cd State Superintendent Of another
State to the Office Of the Pre-ide nt-Judge,
and was well said to be equal to 1t, both in
dignity and responsibility. A man Of very
ordinary capacity and integrity can I'll any
other county Office well. But such man in
this Office will make most miserable and
signal failure. -
Good common sense and honesty will fit
any man for the Office Of Register, Clerk,
Representative, Senator, Assessor, &c. -
Something more is wanting for Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction. That de-
lnands, first, warm, whcle-souled, unself,h
energy second, a large and liberal mind !,
third, thorough and finished education {;
fourth, a sound and rugged constitution. able
to stand the winds aud SHOWS and heat Of
our open prairics, and to travel by night and
day in all directions over the county.
A m Of the former character might ex-
anime the teachers and walk through the
school-heuses Of the count, for fifty years,
and not benefit them the least iota. A man
of the latter character would teach and re-
form by a single glance and a single word,
and DO more good in an hours visit than the
other in weeks.
Another fact. The school tax is the only
tax which is paid directly back again to
the cit liens. Its fruits fall at the doorstep
of every cottage. All other taxes benefit us
Indirectly, and many times very indirectly
indeed this directly and Immediately. The
County Superintendency is an office estab-
lshed to see tn at this tax is well and faith
fully applied; that our teachers earn their
salaries, and that our children are souEdly
and thoroughly instructed.
Now, then, we want man who is able,
willing, and anxious to perform this oversight
we'll, and reform our schools; who will do
it from love for the work aud not from q
lore for the salary.
We think, therefore, that no man who
seeks the Office or electioneers for it should
DO entrusted with it, for that is prima: faci.
evidence that it is the poils, and not the pub
lie good tohich he is seeking. We advise,
then, our citizens to keep themselves un-
;'ledged, look for the best man in their midst
whether he is candidate or not, and attend
the contention on Saturday neat and nomi-
nate him. Among the names suggested be-
sides those already announced we have heard
those Of Jacob Butler, ESQ.,, John A. Parvin,
Geo. W. Van Horne, and Frederic Stone
Look among these and among other,.-
Choose the most liberal, best educated, most
energetic and ablest man who will take the
office, prsferring those who do not to those
who do seek the Office nominate and elect
him, and we predict that our common schools
will treble their usefulness in the first year
of his service.