The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-04-21
Communicated.
Common Schools.

The excellence OF this system is proven
by indubitable facts. Why dispute the
combined evidences of life? We do not
believe that schools specially doctrinaI
can be Of the highest advantage. Insti-
tutions that were good centuries ago, may
| not be good now. Reason seeks net to
| perpetuate old methods, but to discover
| new principles. It is Ignorance that says
with lazy reverence upon ancient forms.
Sad to say, the world has been accustom-
ed to hug old mummies with wild ffen-
zy. But to expect a higher civilization
to conform to lower, is as unreasonable
as to expect giant to wear the clothes
Of his infancy.
There is a class of persons in our coun-
try that would be glad to have Common
Schools superseded by doctrinal schools,
but thanks to lar Of Intelligence that
class is in desirable minority. Such
|supercedence would re.ins tate aristocracy
and bring back the times when hats OF
'feudal cut" were worn. The age, de-
manding a new order Of things, is casting
off casts, and heraldic titles.
Superstition is the mother of misery.
Milky credulity quickly c1rl!es in the
heated shalloWness OF spooney brains
But elevated piety disdains rigid exclu-
siveness; it takes broad and generous
views. Hostility to common schools be-
speaks a lack of knowledge, or a whimsi-
cal religiosity. Our age. with all its i'm
pcrfections. is looking towards the grand
democracy Of justice, and those harmo-
NOUS relations that constitute the super
latiye condition of our race.
The common school system has its sup
port inathe splendid generosity and the
intelligence Of christendom it is beau
tlfal principle blossoming on the old ex-
perienees Of the mighty past.
Whilst the ages have wrought ont this
great scheme for humanity, it remains
for small communities to make the ap-
plication. In fact, its application rises
into the dignity Of an art. Thus only
can be realized the inestimable beauties
of the grand conception. The system be-
ing given, the matter becomes p question
n
OF ingenious manipulation 1t is true,
that within the latitude which hes between
theory and practice, are many ruins; but
the ruins Of the world have been its best
teachers. To expect a new community
to have the best of schools would be as
ABSURD as to expect an untaught rustic to
be able to rival the wonderful creations
Of the old masters. Whilst initiating the
Madonna, he would paint caricature. -
Communities, as well as individuals must
be taught. They must have experience
to guide their action To learn the art
of high action requires the sweat OF years,
The first effort of community is ike a
door swinging upon rusty hinges, and
thus producing a noisy fracas. A French
proverb goes, te premier pas, qui coute.
This is an inexorable law of lite; but it
has NO terrors for the intelligent observer.
Degencres ani1nos tjnror arg,at. The
faithful ones Of the Mussulmen were able
to reach Paradise by crossing an abyss
upon the edge Of scinlitar.
The day Of miracles is past. No Atlas
now bears the world upon his shoulders.
The individual does not make tue age SO
much as the age, the individual Shakes
peare did not make his age, but his age,
Shakespeare. Ii is the law of growing
civilization to produce ft representative
If in some indirection. by far ancestral
forces, an enthusiast Of phlilanthrophy
Is thrown upon stagnant community,
his efforts are practically lost, like con-
tinental river which reaches no sea. An
intellectual Hercules might raise pillars
of wisdom, like the mythic Hercules who
raised Calpe and Ceuta to guard the stor-
led waters of Gibraltar. But such isola-
ted efforts would remain as the everlast-
ing monuments of bootless love. There
would be no bread and butter--no brains
accruing. Individual efforts to be avail
ing must be based upon the underlying
interest of the people Luther would
have Remained the unhistoric monk Of
Wuertemberg, had it not baen fc- the
long preparation OF favorable anteceC ents.
The reform dates back as far as the Divine
! Comedy, for VIC read that Dante in his
journey through he'll saw Cardinals there.
The human mind is such that resolve
is of little worth, unless it comes from a
perpetual force. Statutes have force on.
! ly as they are the expression Of the popu-
lar will. Statutes, il not such an ex-
preston, are nullity, Regulations 10 a
school lose much OF their force, if not
sustained by the active favor Of the dis
trict. Public interest, then. is the fun
damental principle Of good public schools,
| \ ct many perSous ignoring the fact that
what is valuable must be gained by hon
est toll, are like sicllly nerve in mon
strous pustule, doing jerking and imp0-
tent violence There are persons, whose
irascible laZiness and selfish incompetency
only adds to the general discomfort; and
often like owls they prolong through the
night dismal ditties OF complaint. No
reform can be effected in such mean
way. A community is responsible for
the character of its schools; but it may
be assured there is-no Christ to save
against It's will.
First let the bull be struck between the
/ horns and then. if ynn nleasn 1rn,1 n, q Z