The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-02-27

PART FIRST.

oono~A Oa1o0s0Ss - Soons proper 70 Cali otten'
ton to some Of the sxtravsgsnt deings Of the
boards Of education Of the last two years, that
the people may zee to it, that the next election
shall result in the choice Of Directors Who will
prsstice the nost rigid economy in the manage.
ment Of our school finances. There 10 NO pre-
priety or justice in having public schools that
cost any considerable sum Of money. A mo.
nsnts reflection will satisfy any prudent
maa Of the correctness Of this assertion. How is
the money raised By taxAtio., of course. What
10 the RESULT Why, the rich man with few chill.
dreu. sometimes, BY the unkiad decree Of hsav.
On, with none, must pay more than the poor ma.
with houseful Of them. That wealthy citizens
should have to pay anything towards the edues-
ton of their poor neiyhhors children. il unjust,
clearly unjust, especially in free country where
they staud pay only what they please and for
what they please; but, that they should be tax.
cd to support what some are pleased to term arst
class public schools for the education of the shil-
drsn of all Glasses and conditions OF life, 10 SIMPLY
outrageous. True, many communities tolerate
this practice, even advocate it, and would not
give it up though the heavens should fall their
wealthy citizens favor it and insist that it pays
- moro monsyed investments BY improving the
character and standing Of their cities, aud nduo.
ing industrious, e.terprisiny men 10 csus aad
settle with them. Rockford, Aseora, Blooming.
ton, and many other towns have pursusd this
policy. But such communities have little Of the
Intelligence ami prssoience that have ever been
N hap ~ - >hn~lA H.
slow to copy after them in their foolish and OF.
psasive notions The truth is, the lion in the path
| ofour citys Advancement in wealth and popula-
ton istAxatiou, especially, taxation to maintain
public schools. Taxation to free bridges il all
right for, Of our entsrprisiug and far.sesng
| merchants wisely remarked, at recent citize.s'
meeting: 1--WE can get along without schools,
but we cannot get along without trade Trade
makes our wealthy men at least, il Ads made
some Of them; and We alp know, that enc man,
made rich BY trade. particularly, il he has bee.
made rich suddsnly, is OF more consequence in =
| community than . thoasaud poor sues He gives
W policies and plona and, in general, exercises
over the rest Of Us less favored, sort Of kindly.
philanthropic sslf-coastitlted guardianship.
Then, let Us have trade; BY oil nssns lot rs have
trade, Whatever taxation it may involve, that it
may make some OF our rich citizens richer. Trade
viii do it, for trade lays the many under contri-
button to enrich the few. Lot ~ get along with.
out schools" or, 1t most, with cheap schools fer
the iniquitous schools take part Of the profits Of
virtuous trade and give il back to the children
Of the many.
farmer in . usighboriag town has besa 70
successfsl in eulsvatng his laads that no il able
70 sell ont and moro 70 city 70 give his chill
drsn bsttsr educational advaatagss One Of our
public spirited citizens meets hia at his farm
house. and the following eolloquy takes place, II
.n thinking Of ceiling ~ farm and nsving to
Ottawa Al dcsifoas q q Wing ny children Bet
| :sr advantages than are to be found here Your
schools are said 10 have been muoh Improved
during the past two years. How isit?~ "Wsll,
I have heard that the schools are Improved, but
have not been in them 10 ~. One thing, hsw.
ever. is certain; they are costing altogether toe
much money, aad We are going to elect Board
| Of Education in few weeks that will manage
them moro economically. We have discussed the
N after Of schools good deal lately, and We are
determined that people shall not DO driven from
settling in Ottawa by this enormous school tax.
Why, last year, on my house and grounds that
oost me but little moro than 1000 dollars, paid
eighteen dollars school tax, and hsve not child
to send to school," Now, this farmer will doubt
less sell bic farm tomorrow, come into Ottawa
aext day and purchase house. so rs t. DO sure
to be settled and ready to send his children into
sohool Ut the commencement Of the first term UNI
der economical management II va had had no
public schools TO impose taxation on as, he wosld
probably have been with nv before.
Bat DO not think it policy, just now
t. advocate the doing away with our public
schools altogether Probably We cannot bring
our people up to that point at present possibly,
70 shall never Be able 70 Dc 90. Many, otherwise
we'll meaning citizens, really believe or. at least
Seem TO, that public schools are public blessings
But if We can only make them believe that the
sohOsls are costing TOO much money, that they
can 10 carried On for considerably lsss. VI shall
eject tho asxt most desirabls result for surely,
cheap sohosls xrs next to no schools NJ oil. Can
We make the people believe this? I hope an
net over ssnyuins. VT shs prospect, just nov
certainly sssms quite aaAtsrias. Several Of eur
prominsat aea II wealth ~ shosssd - the ex-
penss Of oar schools, and are working With
quiet bat sasnsse and psssistsnts seal 10 psstiiy
Tho evil. They win exert -sreat inAusnoe, lot