The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-07-26
From the Evansville voIx.oore.

From the Evansville volksbote.
"The Journal asks the citizens of this
county, if they are willing to contribute
one-ha,f their school revenue for the educi-
ton of children in other counties? We are
almost induced by this question to believe
that the Journal plays the hypocrite, when
l. sings songs of praises-as il often does
Tor the Free School system. If such
county shall not assist in educating the
children of poor county, then no rich man
ought to be made to pay for the education
OF the poor children of this township or
neighborhood; aud then there Is an end 10
the support of the Free School system by
taxation. TO use such arguments for new
constitution, looks very suspicious.
There may be plausibility in the above
article when clothed in good German phrase
ology, bA it is very sophistical, in plain
English: There are no analogies in the
comparison. There are, in fact, no such
things as poor counties. Counties, like
farms, are divisions of territories and lands,
and in the State are very nearly equal in ex-
tent and natural resources; among them the
elements of wealth Are pretty equally dis
tributed; the chief difference between them
is in the moral resources of the population
the riches enterprise and industry create, and
the poverty which the lack of them entail.
This county, the smallest in territory, with
the most ungenerous soil, is made TO pay in
efeemosynary contributions one-half of her
school revenues-preserved by the care and
created by the industry and Enterprise of
her citizens-to the education of children OF
the slothful and indolent of other counties,
more blessed by nature, perhaps, than our
selves.
Would it be just and right that in a
neighborhood of adjoining farms, of nearly
equal extent and intrinsic value, that the
industrious and thrifty proprietors of few
should be made to give a part of the hard
earnings Of their labor and study to school
the children of their idle and improyident
neighbors, whose lands were as broad and
rich as theirs? Would it be wise and equit.
able 10 restrict the intelligent and progress
sve men in such a neighborhood To the
same wretched system of education for theiI
children as that provided by their ignorant
and idle neighbors, as Indifferent, perhaps
to moral and intellectual culture as to the
cultivation of their lands. Must the man
of progress, of enterprise, and intelligence
be chained to the lazy aud thriftless drone,
and move only as he moves? Would not q
law that allowed each citizen to provide
only for the same amount of education oil
his children as his neighbors thought proper
TO give theirs, be considered arbitrary and
tyranical. Is it not equally wrong to re.
strict towns and counties to one system
and allow them to have no better, though
they pay for it themselves The State
should provide for the education of children
10 the extent of her ability, bat she has no
right to restrict towns, cities, and counties
from doing whatever else they may elect to
do for themselves by taxation. 1t is unjust
also, to take the funds raised in one county
for specific purpose, and give it to Others
who have no Just elai@ e i6tngs Upon GsSft one
county only, ought TO have speedy reyis.
ion and change.