The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-01-18
TO NE CONTINUED.
Free Public Schools.

Mr.. Enron: Several very importan, ques.
tons appeared in the lust issue Of the JOURNAL,
relative to the Free Schools in your county.
in which desire was cvnccd 10 know why
it was that the schools were not in operation.
And always feeling deep interest in public
education, my attention Was at once attracted ;
and, think, if mistake not, can give a,
east some reasons Why there is such apathy
and delay in matter Of such unparalleled
interest to the people. For We discover the
same want of interest and energy in notion
upon this subject in some parts Of our own
county, and VIC must say that in almost every
instance Of tho kind the difficulty lies in the
fact that this important business has been
committed into the hands Of inefficient and
nom entcrprising men, or men who in princi-
pic arc opposed TO the system Of public and
universal education altogether. This, We
say, is true in tho majority Of cases, at lcas,
so far as they have como under our obser.
vation.
In 1856, if mistake not, the Court Of this
county ordered an election to be held by the
pcople, TO decide whether they wished To in
troducc a system Of Free Schools in the
County or not, and it was decided in the
affirmative by over q two-thirds vote. But
what was the result? After the people had
given such m unqualified and overwhelming
expression in favor Of the schools, it still re.
mained with the County Court, to carry out
their wishes, 10 order the dstricting Of the
county and the lcvying Of o tax, 80 that it
nigh, 20 into successful operation.
But strange to sny, in this cour, were found
men who, Notwithstanding they we're acting
under the obligations Of IN oath to sec TINT
the provisions Of the laws werc complied
with, disregarded the wishes Of the people,
and treated their voice ut the polls with con &.
tempt, or as though it had been mere farce
or sham Now why wus this &? Simply be-.
cause these men were set Of petty tyrants,
and in principle opposed to popular education.
The majority Of them belonged to that class
who voted for the ordinance Of secession, and
no marvel that they thus tramplcd upon tho
earnest solicitations Of tho masses Of the
people. nv. D., = 20. ? 81.
And may not the lcthary and inaction
that develops itself in many sections now.
upon TINS suo)ect1 DC trHceQ 70 me same
cause? Itell yon that there is still fearful
amount Of latent opposition to our system Of
Public Schools; but opposition to them they
know would be unpopular if it were known,
hence policy suggests the proprie,y of these
men conc ling their real sentiments.
But again man mny have no objections
TO the system, and indeed may be friend to
it, and yet at tho same time may wnnt that
deep-felt interest that would prompt him 10
wave every other consideration and move
with energy aud alacrity, so Us to put the
whole machinery into motion at once.
Mny this not be the cnusc Of tho delay Of
which the people now complaint How i'm
portant and necessary, therefore, thar this
great work in which such vast interests arc
involved, should be putinto the hands of those
WHOSE whole souls are taken up in the work,
and who possess some experimental knowl.
edge in tho workings Of the system. Tho
happiness and prosperity Of our children, and
tho future destinies Of this great nation, with
out doubt, will be just what our. systems Of
Public Education will mako them. This is
tho great lever by which we as great people
ore to DO elevated 10 greatness, To power, and
to happiness. Let the people see TO it that
these great interests be committed to the
hands Of the right kind Of men. ". W Il.
Hartford City, Jds. LID, 1855