Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-06-03
Mistakes.

| Mr.. Editor:-"To err is human" AL
! people are liable to err both rs indivi,lu'
ais, and rs corporate bodies. And in {
free country like ours, the privilege o
criticism upon things said and done. Is
universally considered right, provided
this exercise originates in aud is the can
did Development of true catholic spirit
In our opinion. the last Legislature OF oul
State, made % sad mistake in its revision
! of our "School Laws" We were out oil
the State when the bill was passed upon
the subject OF Education. On our way
home, we met with man in the cars
who informed us Of the passing OF the
bill, and mentioned SOME OF its pro.
visions. On having heard his report
we Immediately replied, THAT won't
work any how" Wo felt ut the time
that the legislators had transcribed the
limits of the proper authority rs repre-
sentativcs of Republican form of gov
ernmcnt, and our belief in it has been
growing stronger ever since. We will
here insert one item in the bill
They Chat is tho experimenting
School Committee shall employ teach
ers for the several districts in town. and
notify the several School.agcnts, OF the
teachers employed, anil the compensation
agreed 10 be paid
This in our view. is peculiar language,
and tells of very peculiar doctrine. We
probably should not notice the doctrine
here taught. did we 1.-Two under mon
archial form Of government. where the
power Of control is in the hands of n low.
But where, rs in our Republic, it is in the
hands of the many, we some how cannot
keep silent.
The districts in the several towns OF
the State are corporate bodies. These
have been corporated in accordance with
the will and decision of the State govern
mcnt And they are empowered to act
freely in all matters which apPcrtain to
their internal structure, and their best
good, while they are perfectly loyal to
the general government. These districts
embrace all the peoplo in the State, the
public men rs well rs the private men,
In very many of these districts, there are
private citizens rs intelligent and rs well
educated. and are possessed Of rs great
ability to decide what had better be done
aud what had better not be done in the
cause OF education. rs many III public
life. SO these men in public liio should
consider mauy in private life rs their
equals in intelligence and in ability to do
well, rather than interiors. Each school
district has yearly, n certain amount Of
money to be expended for the education
of children, and the great thingis TO have
il spent TO the best advantage. As each
district is composed Of men of intell.
genco, il is reasonable to believe that they
know best how to spend the money 10
good advantage. This questioning their
ability thus to act, by au external power,
and employing foreign agents. TO spend
their money for them against their wish
or request, is, in our view, bad business,
that should not be tolerated Should the
districts generally, or a bare majority be-
come dissatisfied with the spending Of
their money, by agents. chosen By them
selves, and request the general govern
mcnt, TO devise some new plan by which
the money might be more proftably used.
then would be the fit time for the gen.
cral government to act. But while the
several districts of intelligent men are
quite we'll satisfied with thuir long es-
tablished customs, it, in our view, is not
well for any foreign power to interfere,
and break up their arrangements.
In our town there are some five hun.
dred voters, and among these five hun
bred, we are of the opinion, that fifty
could not be found who would sanction
this act of the last leg islature. As good,
loyal citizens. let us bear il in good grace,
until it shall be changed. which doubtless
will be done in less than year.
ID. GARLAND.
Bethel, May 3lst, 1870.