The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-07-02

means-and what are the means resort
ed to in this casei As might have oeeh
expected, a combination Of the e1frem'
lists of both the great political parties;
Actuated by an inordipate self-wiii ana
self. conceit on the one hand, and oy an
in tense hatred of our pubic school sys-
tenn on the other, we now see suese IVY
| factions of extremists. WORKING snoul-
der to shoulder for what Intention
aIly, OF unintentionally, 1t matters not
| which, to abolish our pubic schools, IL
ia AGAINST such combination that L
would now put the public on its guard.
Some of the leaders are known. Their
names should be given, and the unsus.
Meeting community would be surprised
to find among them those who have
hitherto, and will again be, applicants
for public faver, and who would ex.
ceedingly regret to have it understood
that they are in any degree hostile TO
our public schools. You will know o
man of this class by the ear mark. Ii
you hear one say, II am in favor OF pub
lie schools for the poor"-this is the ear
mark. Note that man. He Is one o,
them. Our public schools are lntenGee
neither for the rich nor the poor, exciu-
sively, bnt for the masses-for aifali he
Now, if it is the will of the public to
abolish these schools, let it be done by
the public at large, and upon fair no.
tice. Then there will be an end Of all
controversy. Let it be done in an open.
manly way, and not by a system OF
sapping and mining, arhich 'rould first
d,cGrf and then strangle them. Dwarf
them by aboIishing the City Superin-
tendency, or by placing it in the hands
of ignorant and incompetent men.
Strange them by legislative enactment,
engineered through by few indiyld'
uals, not only without the consent, but
without the kRowlcdge of the public.
Preposterous as it may seem, this is the
way in which such things are sometimes
done by bad men; and We are not ~,
norant of their devices.
II is plain to be seen that the elements
OF destruction to our public school sys-
TEN are among us. 1t behooves, there
fore, every friend of popular education
to be on the alert. There has beeS TOO
much apathy and indifference IN the
community on this subject. Even the
clergy, with very few EXCEPTIONS re-
get TO say it--have been criminaily IN
different. I say this to their shame;
and sincerely hope that they may see
their error, and be induced to pursue q
different course. If our public school
are not in all respects what they should
be, go to work and make them such;
but, for Gods sake, do not crush them
out by indifference.
Not wishing to intrude further on
your space, at present, must beg your
indulgence, in furnishing you, rs l pro
pose, with MI article setting forth the
argument in favor of the city Superin.
tendency, as it now exists; aud should
any one desire to reply to this, or TIE
subsequent article, Unjust ask as an act
of simple justiee, that he be required
to come out under his own signature.
We always like to lock an antagonist in
the face, to SEQ whether he be true
man or not. Besides, it is time that
these Sdppes and miners were brought
to the light; for men love darkness
rather than light, because their deeds
are evil.
JAS. Ii. MCMECHEN.