Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-01-21
GRAND SCHOOL MEETING.
The Battle HALF Won.

eSnoOiS was q complete SUCCESS lHeic nCio
some three hundred of the very best men of the
city present, and the sentiments expressed were
of the most encouraging kind, and will insure
success beyond question il the same SPIRIT Is
TO-DAY dcnronstrots5 at the polls IN the wAr OF
WORK
On motion Of Rev. Dr. Humes, Mr.. j. A.
Rayl was called to the chair. In taking his
seat Mr. Rayl made the follcwingi brief, peril
nent and forcible remarks:
The objects Of the meeting were we'll known.
We as people had tried one system of schools
and they had failed. He hoped there would be
no opposition to the new plan which had been
suggested, and upon which We were to vote to-
morrow he thought it was entitled TO a trial
He hoped nothing would be done or said i'm
prudently to injure the cause, but that We
might all organize and provide such resources
as would carry this project. and give to the city
the benefits which it was believed would follow
the Inauguration of such system.
Rev. Thomas W. Humes, d. D., then made q
few pertinent remarks upon the question. He
thought there was 10 ground FOR any opposi-
ton, and hoped there would be none; but 1t
behooved all to see to it tomorrow that us little
opposition as possible was manifested. If we
| went into our neighbours house and saw his
children suffering for food, we would certainly
give them something to relieve their hunger.
| Why not give them mental food as readily
1t was just as much our duty to give the latter
a. the former.
| The children are the property OF the city.
Happy is the city that has its CULVER full of ar
rows-its houses full of children-forit has OPP
| portunities for doing good. might be able to
have my own street lamp at my door, but my
| neighbor across the way might not have his. 1t
| was the duty OF the public to furnish lights at
| such places, lest the pasaer stumble. So we
ought to give educational light to poor as we'll
as rich Prussia, for the past twenty years, has
| been quietly educating her children. During
the same time, France has been spending the
time for her children in frivolity. France re-
fused TO appropriate 500 coo for schools, and at
the same time appropriated $4,000 600 for an
opera house. The result Of the two policies is
now TO be seen on the battle-felds Of France.
Prnssian educated minds are wiping out the
Frenehmen who spent their time in frivolity.
There are now in Knoxville hundreds of boys
spending their time day,and night on the streets.
We must educate them or it viii cost az many
dollars to care for them in prisons.
Col. Baxter, called upon, said: The Orators
and PhilanthrOphists" spoke last night and he
supposed the Demagoguee were 10 speak to-
nishtso he gave way to them.
Rev. Mr.. Lloyd, being called upon, said:
have no speech 20 make tonight, but rs my
name was called, / como forward simply to say
that in favcr of system Of city free
schools l am in favor of the movement, heart,
hodv md enul " homo n-c,,osi
ten may carry tomorrow.
Alfred Caldwell, Esq, made all eloquent
speech. He said have not been able TO speak
at the other meetings appointed and felt it, there
fore, my duty TO come out this evening and say
that | am heartily in favor of city schools and
hope that the vote tomorrow will be as near
unanimous as pas.ible. He could not conceive |
how any man could oppose the tax. Those who |
did 80 never realized the disastrous results to
fcllcw its defeat Its adoption would encourage
immigration and the very best class of immi |
grants. In five years after schools were opened |
every lot would be built upon and we would |
have all the evidence of q thrifty, educated |
community.
He believed IL was the duty Of every citizen /
to contribute, in proportion TO his ability, to- |
wards the education OF the children. He |
thought the tax Of one mill small and hoped it |
was but the initiatory tax in favor Of good |
common school system. His remarks were very
forcible, we'll received and must do good
JRo. L. Moses, Esq, being called upon, said
1 came tonight to listen and not to say any |
thing. But if can say word to aid this great
est moccn'sx: cUer inauguratcd in this city, /
would be recreant 10 my duty if | failed to do |
T. i I.
made SO, for it ia supported and urged by good |
men Of every party. There was day when /
this proposition would not have received much
encouragement in Knoxville But the day has
come when it is necessary 10 educate the men
who, by the practice OF our Government, arc
allowed TO make our laws and be our rslers
The latter come from every class, and if we
want good government we must have them edu-
Gated. While in the North, some years ago,
my tax did not amount TO but six dollars. had
but little property there, but the average cost
of education there was very small. It is aston
ishing that any man of small means should OPP
pose this tax. for it is TO his particular interest
that we should have schools. He is interested
in it more than any one else. He gets the bcne-
fit and It is for him. The most foolish thing
Knox vile could do would be TO vote down this
tax Of one mill tomorrow. Knoxville must
grow, unless we DO some foolish thing-such as
voting down this tax-to retard it. The vote
and action of men Tomorrow viii be closely
watched, and predict that the men who vote
against this tax lciY &c marked for all time to
come. Their future will be fixed. Ifpcliticians
and opposing it they viii fall upon the stone Of
free school education and be broken to pieces.
His remarks were forcible and very we'll re-
ceivcd.
Captain Ii. 6. Chamberlain was next called
for and made some practical remarks, which
were exceedingly foreible and timely. He said
I am here to say that I am heartily in favor of
this tax. and hope it will certainly carry. I
have IN my business much to DO with laboring