Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-02-15
Communicated
Compulsory Education ReJoinder.


toned and gentlemanly discussion OF
important questions. This is not SO
much for love of controversy, per Sc,
as it is desire inwrought in my ma
ture to defend what | may regard as
truth In the abstract, or as right and
proper in the execution, from the at
tacks of error. This sort of warfare
is always going on with moro or less
acrimony, and | find it impossible to
stand idly by and not make myselfn
partisan. Such case is never cor
rectly understood, and though it is
sure TO keep one constantly embroil-
ed in personal offense, it is rarely in
deed graced with cheap apprecia-
ton. coming from those even whom
such would serve.
On the contrary, it is the easiest
possible thing in our social and polit-
ical relations for one to play "Jack
Bunsby," and watch the scud of I'll
political clouds and the drift of the
sea-rubbish, 10 determine the direc-
ton OF the rising wind and tide, and
SO shape his course for smooth sail
ing and snug harbor. It's passing
easy and popular TO indulge in non
partisan, loose and equivocal decla-
nation touching any matter IN con-
troversy of doubtful issue, and to
pronounce for the winning side with
intense zeal, and great show of Fall
stattian wounds after the controversy
shall have been settled. As a people,
we are given to the selection of our
statesmen and lesser functionaries
from this emasculated class but
am fully persuaded that in doing so
we do our best TO breed race of
time servers, and to libel representa-
tive government.
Yoar correspondents-NOrh and
| ". Y. NormaI-in commenting upon
my article copied from the State
Journal, certainly come within the
rule of gentlemanIy propriety alluded
to, and their performances are not
without considerable merit. If their
arguments were conclusive, ! would
not thus again challenge their atten-
ton. We differ, it seems, only as &c
the means proper to be used to &C.
complish the end mutually desired
viz the highest possible standard
and the most widely diffused scope
Of popular education. They favor
compassion and Jrutum fulmen to al
; delinquents, while would rely upon
measures of suggestion and pecunia
ry encouragement by the State
combined with o judicious use Of the
moral and intellectual forces applied
to that fountain of all power in oul
| land-public sentiment. This leads
f me TO brief chapter onJ esuitism and
Fanaticism.
The Jesuits are accused OF main
tanning, that any means whatever
may OF right be resorted to to glorify
God, and to promote the welfare O
3 the True church and the fanatics
3 both religious and political, are dis
3 posed to look only at the peculiar
9 object of their zeal, entirely over
. looking the obstacles which may in
3 tervene between them and the &C
3 complishment of their object. There
B Is but shade of difference between
. these two classes Of men both are
8 unsound and vastly troublesome, il
not actually dangerous, rs an element
D Of force, IN any State. Be their OBJ.
iect a railroad to the moon, to be
3 built by means not their own or the
) bringing of all the world to the be
lief and observance of one religious
formula or the use of compulsory
appliances to make horse drink, no
lens voLenS, when led to water, yor
shall make them see or comprehend
the force of no obstacle, whatever
which you may point out to them al
being in their way. For instance
{ you modestly suggest some little dit
ticultles about foundation and the
laws of gravitation or the relentless
force of religious prejudice or tina
) a horse has will of his own as wei
: as man, and promise you you shall
be laughed at for your pains. Gu
upon your whims and shallow plead
ings We understand this thing
I Drive on the team
!, My next inquiry relates to anC
supplements the principal suggestion
OF my former article, viz: That tn
; proposed application Of the compulsor,
processes to certain deIinquentS IN edu
cdti0nal matters, c0atemptdteS a use o.
POtCer, ae,0 and un,CdrrdntdbLe undei
our theory Of government. Should VIZ
admit that the power clearly existed
and that it could be legitimately ex
ercised in this direction, there would
then arise the question of policy
: about which radical differences
would make contest. But, there is a
just and we'll defined limit to legisla-
tive authority, which ought to be un-
derstood and accepted by all good
citizens. What and where is this
line and does compulsory education
lie on the hither or yon side of it
We are informed by the compulsory
people, that such law is in force
and works well in Germany. Very
well But in Germany the crown
is regarded as the source of all pOlit-
ical power-to be doled out or with
held as the will of the crowned head
may direct. Here, this false theory
is reversed in fact, and the individn-
al elector is the unit of power, as is
also the mass of the people its prop
er expression. Our organic laws are
the measures of authority. What
powers are not therein expressly
granted, or implied to execute those
granted, are held in reserve by the
people, and inhibited to the law ma
king power. A majority cannot do
just as it will, as many, very many
among us believe. 1t cannot right
fully trammel the rights of con
science. Itcannot prescribe as to the
occupations, the domestic and person
al habits, or the. locomotory rights OF
citizens, other than that no one shall
exercise his personal freedom to tres
pass on the personal rights of anoth-
er. The very organization of our
social fabric makes parental authori-