Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-02-09
Liberty Endangered.


ed about liberty. 1t says that to
adopt any measure making it COM
pulsory on the people to educato chill
dren, would be a violation Of the first
sentence Of the Declaration Of Indepen-
dsnce. How queer that in all the years
when 100000 Of the people were held
in abject slavery, the Democrat never
saw it rs violation of this first sentence
"All men are created equal, and endowed
with certain inalienable rights, among
which are life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness" The Democrat says ::
'Liberty means exemption from compul-
sion or restraint Of the will" This, we
admit, is correct definition of the word
according to Webster, but it is recent
that the Democratic dictionary has so
defined it. We are glad, however, to see
that that party is learning even though
it required the corporal punishment OF
war to sharpen their wits.
"The great object Of Republican
form of government is to guarantee to
every man the right Of doing as he
pleases. When q man violates those
laws which nre necessary for the
safety of society, Of course he
should be punished" says the Demo-
crat, and we concur. But, Tho is to
Judge as to what laws "are necessary for
the safety of society p The Democratic
party says it is not necessary for ''the
safety of society" that the ku klux-
Klans should be punished for their UNI
provoked outrages; that the repeaters OF
New York need not be interfc red
with to secure the Safety of society >
that the safety of society does not re-
quire the enforcement Of the Nv Corr
sttutional Amendment; that the pun
ishment of treason and disunionism is
not compatible with the safety of socie-
ty." and that ignorance, and, consequent
inmorality and vice among the people,
do not interfere with the safety of socie-
ty." TO each, and oil Of which positions
the Republican party stands antagon-
istic.
The Democratic party opposes the
proposition of securing by legislative
enactment the education Of the people,
because their strength lies in the igno-
rance Of the masses Wherever is found
the most ignorance, there is the Demo-
cratic stronghold. intellectual culture
j, an insurmountable obstacle in the way
Of Democratic Advancement Ignorance
is the corner stone of that party, and to
undermine that stone is to demolish the
entire structure. We do not wonder
that they fly to arms at every proposi>
ton to improve tho national intellect
Our government is grounded on the
people, and depends for its prosperity
and pcrpetuity on their intelligence and
morality. The right of every American
child to q common school education, is
second only to his right of suffrage, and
it is as much our duty to insure the one
as the other Touching the liberties OF
the people being interfered with, we will
quote from the Illinois Superintendent
Of Public Instruction:
"Fhe theory is that a State may OF
right do whatever is essential, or which
IL believes to be essential to its own pres
servation, welfare and perpetuity that
the safety and continuance of a Repub-
lean government requires the education
Of the whole body Of the reople and
lence that a State may rightfully do
whatever may be found really necessary
to secure that end This is the rock ups
on which the whole American doctrine
OF free public education by State law.
rests down, firmly and immovablv. And
upon the self same foundation. 10 virtue
u the same high moral and political
necessity, aud Of strctest logical Sc.
4nence, abldes the right of providing for
compulsory attendance"