Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-09-27

county, Pa
We invite the attention Of our readers, to
Tie following extract from the Memphis School
Report. The arguments advanced, admit Of
an extended application, and 10 view Of opin-
iqus we have lately heard expressed BY citi-
zens of this county, we deem ,hem particular,
y apprcpriase for this locality.
We occasionally meet intelligent men 10 our
own city, who seriously question the justice
and expedieuey OF those laws which impose
tax upon .he property of one man to educate
The children of another. No man presumes to
doubt the policy of that system of taxation
which Is essential for the adnini stration of the
cEiminal justice Of the country, and which
keeps IN employment police force to guard
it's life and property Of the citizen in the broad
light Of day, and through the still watches Of
tie night And yet, is DOT the policy, which
through tie Conservative Influences of educa-
tIoB anticipates and preUenfs crime, wiser and
more economical tbaa the one which waits for
its commission, elects aud dlacards the NOR
al forces OF society, and then iucurs an snor-
NOUS annual outlay by resorting TO the to rrors
Of the code and the penitentiary for its pun
7S6ment aud correctona Is it not better to
build sehool-houSes IN every ward of our city,
aud place there sentihels of truth aud kuowlA
edge, who, by early. constant, and Wholesome
discipline, will prepare the minds of our youth
for the useful and honorable employments of
LIE, and rouse their natures to generous and
heroic self-saeri6oe 10 the race of vfrtuous con
duet, than TO station police man in every
nook and alley, and adorn our squares With
houses of reform aud fine specimens of prison
architecture! Our school teachers will con-
stitute moral police stronger than all the
myrmldons of the law. We are not so roman.
tic as to suppose that e3ueluou will altogether
arrest ths march OF crime, but that /, will be
greatly diminished, as the moral aud inlellect-
mai tone of the community is raised, no longer
adnnts of question among the most eniiehten-
ed teachers and Legislators. In this connec, |
ton, we will introduce brief extract from
recent school report of the Board of Edaea.
ton of Chicago:
eIn lS47, ,l22 persons were convicted Of
crime 10 the several counties of The State Of
New York. OF these only six were reported
we'll educated, and only twenty two as Lay- /
ing common school education. In 1913.
1915 persons we're returned as criminals 10 |
the same State. OF these ten we're reported
as having good education, and ouly TWENTY
three as haeing received the advantages of CON- /
mon schools. For nine consecutive years. IN :
the same State, from 1910 to 1S49, Inclusive. I
q ,949 persons were returned as having been !
convicted OF crime; and of these, I28 were /
swell edueated;' one-half cf the remainder I
could only read and write: and the tai pc1, |
1912 were entirely destitute of auy educaA !
tion whatever Tie same is true cf other |
States, and the history of criminals, wherever
touEd, presents The same lark picture for our
consideration"
1t Is moi our desire to enter u2on the 5roard /
aud beaten field of argument upon this cues /
ton. But We know that insiduous efforts have
been made, and will continue to be made. to /
break down the tree school system; and it be, |
hooyes every friend of that system to have |
constant and vigilant oye to its stability and |
support. Frea schools wiib us have become |
daily necessity, ADD, 10 spite of occasiona. |
clamor, are deeply lntsrwoven with the hopes /
and sympathies of large portion of the CONS
niunity. Nearly FIVE hundred children are ed |
ucated from year to year in these schools. |
which, but for them, would receive no educa. |
tlon at all. Let us suppose five hundred hu. |
man beings thrown annually upon society With |
out single idea derived directly from book
or newspaper, and many of these without
the advantages of home discipline, and that
too IN popular representative governmeaf.- |
Can 1t be the interest and policy of our citi- I
zens to encourage such a condition of things, |
aud to deny the boon Of knowledge to 50 large
number of those growing up in our midsta
ln reading over some of the New Yo;k
school reports, We lately met with speech Of
the Hon. VIM, w. Campbell, Judge of the
Superior Court, delivered on the occasion Of |
an inauguration Of school building in one Of
The words OF toe city, from which Wa give the
following extract: /
SIN country like ours the cause Of educa-
tion is OF vital interest. The spirit of our in
situations makes every man q ruler. Oues-
tions affecting government, and individuals.
and communities, are brought directly before
him for his deJlsion. In the exercise Of his
power as freeman, in the use of bis elective
franchise, be disposes of peace and Of war:
overturus one psrty and sets up another, sua
thus aids In directing and controlling the march
OF empire. lie becomes thus all powerful
for good or for evil. He may not WELD the
sword, but he wieds the greater power the
power which directs aud governs the sword.
The halloi which he holds in his hand falls il
is said
'tas still