Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-11-23
Tbe Basis Of civil order.

The Basis of Civil Order
The friends of Public Schools are apt to
look upon the propriety of their mainten-
ance by general taxation as a point con-
coded. With the great mass of thinking
and progressive men Of the country it is
30, and with them argument is 10 longer
necessary. 1t is true, however, that there
are many influential men, especially in
the West and Soutb-friends of educa-
ton they count themselves, TOTO whom
a Public School system Is exceedingly dis
tasteful. To such men all the common
arguments upon which the State assuInes
to maintain free schools at public expense
are fallacious, and the money obtained
FROM taxpayers for the purpose ouly le-
galized robbery.
If there is an error committed by the
friends of Public Schools, it is in the fail
ure to recognize such opponents. and to
meet them In square argument. Ultima
tely they must be met. Whatever they
nave to say must be listened to respect
fully, aud it must be shown on which side
is the sound logic.
Just now this is the position many are
taking.
Private property is not to be taken for
public use without sufficient compensation,
Is a well-established legal maxim.
But what is a public use? IF it is as
sumed that all things that contribute to
the public good are entitled to the sup
port of the State, you take away every
safeguard from private property. The
churches that elevate the moral standard
of the citizen the drama, the art gallery,
which contribute to his aesthetic culture,
or his amusement only, as well as the
school in which only his intellectual
powers are developed. would all stand up
on the same level, and might claim the
same privilege of maintenance from the
public treasury.
Why give to one what you deny to the
rest? BY this discrimination do you ad-
NIT your whole argument a fallacy, and
your entire fabric a fraud?
What are the friends of Public School
education to saw to this?
Many say education, taking the word in
its common acceptation. promotes morali-
ty. And it does, both directly and in
directly moreover, there can be no ques-
ton as to the effect of rigid school discip-
line in this direction. Nevertheless, if
we look closely into the real purpose of
the State, it is apparent that its ultimate
concern is this-civil order-which it must
maintain, or lose in its standing as a State,
and be lost in anarchy and revolution.
For this we have police, courts of law,
legislatures, prisons. and all the parapher-
MALTA collect taxes upon property for this
and if the State does not do this one thing,
the collection of taxes is unjust and extor-
ton.
Now on what does civil order mainly
rest?
Is it on religion? Nothing can be
farther from the truth. The most fervent
piety, if not controlled by intelligence, is
bigotry, the scource of half the crime and
disorder the world has ever seen.
1t is on private morality? Where has
there been a strictly moral community
since the days of the blue laws? And
yet civil order has been preserved. ever
where men in their private lives commit
every sin named IN the decalogue-
Is it on intelligence? The history of
our times and of all Christendom gives
the answer. Whatever may be the link
that connects them together, certain it is
that popular intelligence and civil order
have always gone hand in hand. And
this is especially true in a popular govern
ment like ours.
" ithout attempting at this time to show
the cause of this connection. easily dis
cernible by the thinking mind, We simply
assert what history ~abundantly veriies-
let who viii gainsay it-that the main
element of civil order in a community is
popular Intelligence.
And how shall popular intelligence be
secured? BY leaving the work of educa-
ton to the church? You thus secure the
one-sided education that makes bigots of
the religious, and endangers civil liberty.
BY leaving it to private enterprise?
This will educate the children of the rich
only, and perpetuate and. ignorant class,
the source of all sorts of disorder.
Will charity do the work? Alas, how
feeble and futile have been all efforts in
this direction to cover the ground.
What remains? Give us all that reli-
gion, private enterprise, and philanthropy
can do, the great bulk of the work is still
to be done, and none can do it but the
State. She only can foster a broad, I'M
sectarian, popular intelligence boon SO
precious that the pittance it costs should
come ungrudgingly from every citizen,
and an element of security so positive that
the State that fails to promote it by wise
and strenuous legislation is her own WORT
enemy.
- MOTHERS WHO HAVE DAUGHTERS |