Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-13
TO THE PEOPLE.
An AupcaI on Behalf OF the Public
schools of the Cigy

schools of the city.
FF1Iow-CITIZENs The education of the
youth of our city is not only a necessity
but duty we owe to posterity. The ad-
vantapes of education are so generally ad-
mitted and so universally acknowledged
that it would be awork of supererogation on
our part to advert to them in this com
munication. Our public school system
founded by a Hume, and so munifcently
fostered and encouraged by the generosity
of a Hynes. a Howard and other noble
spirits. is in danger of suspension and dis
organization for the want of money to con-
tinue it. The financial disasters of our
municipality. anG the present embarrassed
condition of our city treasury are too well
known to you to need recital. Your City
Cour,cil with commendable unanimity,
which did credit alike to their heads and
hearts. have levied tax of two dollars per
tho sand on the assessed value OF your
Droperty. The Mayor of the city, keep
mo step to the music of progress,
has approved the bill, and 1t IS now the
law of the city Under the ordinary pro
cass Of collection, the product of this levy
cannot be realized before the list OF July.
Our necessities are immediate and press
ING. And we therefore appeal to You to
nav your school taxes in advance to the
city Treasurer at once. Delay will be dan
ferrous to the morale of the schools. We
have had much talk on this subject; we
now call for action, prompt action on your
part. The action Of your County Court
IN ievying the tax for school purposes, is
# itself a guarantee that the children
of all colors, sexes and conditions, viii here
after be educated at the expense of the
public. And we unhesitatingly declare
IN our opinion the city will not be re-
CURED to make another levy after this fOI
the benefit of the Public Schools. That
duty will be performed solely, and alone
by the County Court We are too prone
10 look upon this as tax rather than as &
necessary expense. and we believe that in
the event of the suspension of our Pub
lie Schools, the cost of education
through private channels will be
double the amount proposed under
the present regime. And we al
know that the moral effect abroad
of a suspension of the schools would bt
detrimental to our prosperity as city
We need population because population Il
wealth, and wealth brings prosperity, anC
this its natural fruits, happiness and peace,
Who that Is able, would not pay hberally
for the pleasure Of seeing the smiling faces
and happy hearts of the glad children a
they wend their way each morning TO on
public schools to meet their classmate
and teachers, and TO prepare themselves
for future usefulness and renOwn. Con
trast this condition with the suspension O
the schools with the evils ofidleness, vice
dissipation. loss of time, want of c!IltupI
and refinement, and We know you will no
hesitate one moment 10 pay your tax II
advance. Little children, when you g
home AT night, cut this communication on
of the paper and as you climb your parents
knee the enved kiss 20 share impress
upon theirmInds the Importance of paying
promptly, and that money spent in you
behalf is money saved. Wealth ma
vanish, but education never can be lost
And now, fellow-citizens, we make a las
appeal to You. If the schools aIe sus
pended. the fault is yours, not ours. Tn
way has been laid down VIII you trave
it, or not In the name of our materia
interests in the name of prospcrita; i
the name of progress; in the name of civ
ilzation; in the name of the dear chi
dren. we conjure YOU not to allow thes
vast hives of moral and intellectuf
LIGHT TO he left silent and dark. The
stand not on the order Of paying, but pa
at once.
JAMES WHTTwoRTH, President.
GEORGE S. KINNEY,
j. /. WEAKLY,
i. Q. GRIFFITH,
CHARLES RICH,
G. X. WINSTON,
ISAAC PAUL,
4. G. ADAMS,
JOHN J. MCCAIN.