Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-06-25

vur W asnInguon Uorrespondence..Mfn |
~ y" !" Replied to.
@ is''.'a wAs&acros, d. J., june sth. :
DEAR SIs:--I have no disposition for con-
troversy and will not allow myself to be drawn
into one; but; as in the attempt made in the
MiNNEsor1AN on theSd inst. to enter q /" coun-
ter protest" against the arguments Of my let-
ter published the day previous, I am placed
in false position, Twill simply rcstate some
Of the points, perhaps with greater perspi-
Guilty. @D'
AS a.leading fact, and to which all the SUBJ
Jsequent argument referred, I stated that the
country wants bread; that prices are exhorb-
Iitant at the starvation point; and coupled
with this another fact, that of late years sup
plies diminish, while taxes, foIies, crimes,
poverty, and misery increase. 10 r.
These facts the writer does not, cannot pro-
test against, as facts. s.
also stated it as . strange paradox, invol-
wing mysterious solutions, than an agricultu-
raj country; country whose entire national
wealth is based upon the yield Of the soil.
should be out out ofbread; and that now
when the European marketsmake demand,
our graineries are empty like the foolish vir-
gins we stand with no oil IN our lamps; with
| nothing to divert the streams of gold which
flow from us to the miserable toy shops Of
Europe; that we fling away our wealth, to
satify our pride.
These facts the writer fails to appreciate,
and they escape without protest
stated, and am prepared to repeat, that
Agriculture has been neglected, abused, and
dishonored by the government; and that it
has declined in consequence. That while
millions are bestowed annually upon Naval
and Military schools; upon architecture and
mechanics, and upon commerce; Agriculture
is not even officially recognized by the United
States Senate!
This fact is not denied; and but badly
apologised for.
l asserted that the political power Of the
country was in dangerous and violent hands
that we are under the rule Of demagogues and
party tyrants; who have conspired to drive
out of Congress, moderate, conservative
peace-loving men, and substitute in their plact
turbulent, ignorant factionists. To this he re
plies by misstating facts; that Farmers fough
the battles, but did not manage the councils
of the revolution.
asserted that the very intellectual training
of our youth had passed under the yoke o
political demagogueism; that political despe
radoes had taken possession of the Free
School system and prostituted it to the bases
of party purposes; and that after all ou
staggering and boasting, the system of com
mon schools amounted to little more than fol
ly and fummery.
| To illustrate great principle in education
and life, I cited the example Of Franklin, an
stated what religiously believed, that ther
is more of the material in his life, to make u
J good men, than is to be found in all the nor
sense of modern Fancy Schools"
Unfortunately the critic also cites Franklin
to make him destroy his own testimony, b
= culling from his biography, and holding up IT
, the admiration of Young America," sue
faulty incidents of his life, as Franklin hin
. self condemned and regretted.
e But worse than even this, is the writer's a
tempt to throw disrespect upon what he iron
caly styles the "good old ways" He tel
: us, without qualification, that our revolution
r airy fathers were so deficient in learning, tn:
Y jefferson and Franklin without the aid of til
+ printer were incapable of drafting correctl
! the Declaration of Independence.
e 1t is hard to read such strange assertic
+ and keep COOL Who was the printer? VIII
Q priIteS's devil corrected the voluminous co
. respondence of Gen. Washington WI
y furnished up the elegant and classic writing
o of Mr. jefferson? Who manufactured Il
: ten large volumes of Franklin9 And y
: these great authors were forced to call on Il
Il printer to help out with the Declaration
s Independence!
He says my example of franklin is fault
4 because he was great only by comparison.-
h He was the only man who could write a 6. rea
n able article;' and had no competitors in tin
when only the high born and wealthy we
educated.
What! Was Washington when going
= the Old Field School," or following the plov
/, or carrying the surveyors chain; or goi,
y first to the western wilderness, wealthy
g Was Franklin with his penny loaf under h
!, arm, or toiling at the press, and living up1
- two shillings week, high born and wealthy
a Was John Adams, "poor and friendless,
\ wealthy or Patrick Henry; or John Ha
cock the merchant or Alex. Hamilton t
merchants clerk and charity scholar, high bo
- and wealthy?
It Who was Francis Hopkinson, the author
l. the rallying songs and satires of the revol
% tiong Was the author of the "N
:, Roef." the " Battle ef kegs," no competit
+ of Franklins Where was Robert Treat Pain
h the poet, who, for his Inrention Of Letters
1t received in l775, 81 800; orhis" 4Ruling Pa
~ ~ sions, in 1897, 81 200; and for :" Adanas a,
of Liberty" in 1898, $3.50; over eleven dolla
u line.
e e'e What! no scholars in those days to jos'
II II Franklin? Who wrote the treasury repor
\. of Robert Morris? The Federalist? Or wi
ct pronounced the orations of Patrick Henry
1t In Gods name, and in the name of that no
4. commandment which enjoins it OF eve
lg chrlstian to ''i."nr his father" let us have
e more such sacrilege.
| assert again, and will stand by Il