The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-03
EDUCATIONAL REFORM.
TIE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR SYSTEM
OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Duties Of Property.-No. 2.

Admit, for arguments sake, what Is most
emphatically untrue in fact, thai a tax for
educational purposes is paid exclusively oy
property holders, and, nevertheless, sncn
tax can be proved to be equitable. The enjoy
ments springing from property are cue TO the
existence OF society and to the prevalence OF
certain social and economic prime pies that
favor the property holders; and he, therefore,,
owes q d, BIT of duty to that society which, in
its constitution, is the source of his iafuence
and his happiness. Upon this fact 3 founded
the right OF society, as such, to tax every
species of property, not only ior olitical, but
for social purposes. 1t Is incumbe Mt upon the
rich to endow charitable and religious and
educational institutions, as voluntary and
delightful use of the means that Providence,
through society and its workings and its laws,
has put at their disposal. They should second
every good work projected By those who study
the good of their fellow men, and who suggest
plans OF social improvement They should ever
be ready to act as the right hand of philanthro-
py TO bring all Of its yearnings to successful
consummaton. Like the heart of the body, they
should circulate the life-blood to refresh and
invigorate the other members, and place them
under the direction of the head. To them
must great institutions look; to then in their
individual, voluntary action, for support and
encouragement. Without their cooperation,
Civilization must retrograde. And it is an
honor to human nature that this claim OF So
ciely upon Its more prosperous members has,
in England and in America, but more particu-
larly at the North. been abundantly acknow-
lodged and most nobly met. The Cooper Insti-
tute. Cornell's University, Girard College, the
Peabody Institute, and hundreds OF other lesser
endowments, proclaim the unselishness and
the magnanimity of conscientious men. Every
church, too, that lifts Its spire to the skies
points the same great moral. and reads the
same pleasing lesson of duty acknowledged,
and duty in measure performed.
But the interest of education must not be
left to voluntary contributions alone. Society
is so constructed, socially and economically,
that Ito him that hath property, or reputa-
tion, or a thriving business shall be given;
and to him that hath not, shall be taken away
even what (tLe chances OF doing better he
seemeth to have" Deny 1t who may, this law
os.spiritual life, stated by our Saviour, per-
vades the universe In all OF Its parts. The
rich man, with equal brains and character,
will far outstrip the poor man In the race of
fortune. The successful physician or lawyer
will bear off the palm Of good business prac'
tice from the equally accomplished medical or
legal brother, whose merits are not yet known,
and who has not yet met with success. To
whom do people in distress go? To the good
doctor and to the good lawyer-not to the
man as yet untried, except through necessity.
The whole structure of society favors, not
those who have not, but those who already
have. Were this the place to do so, 1t could
.be shown how wise and admirable an arrange
ment this is, what spur to exeruon, now
conservative and at the same time truly pro-
gressive 1t IL, how exactly suited to mans
moral nature. But this Is not the direct OBJ
ject OF this paper. 1t is rather to press the
point that those who have, owe much to that
society which does 30 much for them, which,
by its constitution and the normal working OF
its lave, lifts them to wealth, power and inhu-
ence, as princes and rulers of the world. What
they have they get from, or at least By occa-
sion of, seciety. Society does not grudge 1t.
No sober man would take itaway. But they
should contribute OF it towards the education
and consequent happiness of that society to
which they owe 1t. They should often lend,
not expecting to receive again. They should
freely give to the deserving, yes, and to the
undeserving, too; to the good and the evil; to
thosust and the unjust. And no property
holder should demur to beneftlng himself by
educating the people, nor to benehting the
people by the payment of an educational tax;
even though it did not benefit himself and his
children, in thousand ways, some of which,
but only some, can be reduced to the rough
standard OF profit in dollars and cents, but
others OF which can only be adequately appre-
ciated by him who studies man in the light of
that searching question, us not the life more
than meat, and the body than raiment ~
FAIRFIELD.