The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-08-24
Compulsory Feature In TIA,
Radical SchnnI Law.

LIST inst, will remember with what
cIearness and force he broughtto view
this odious and tyrannical feature il
the Radical school law, and declared il
against common right-a plain usur-
patton by Government of the natural
rights of parents in relation to theil
children, etc. @
It now appears that the views o.
Judge Hancock, our candidate fol
CopGTss, upon this point accord:
- i'll tbe decision of the Su-
surtOf Illinois, and rests upon
a solid principle, without which free
government and personal liberty can
not exist. Hf
In speaking of this subject, our able
contemporary, the Columbus (Miss
Democrat, says:
"The Supreme Court of Illinois re-
Gently dealt very wholesome blow al
one of the most favorite schemes of a
certain class of reformers. The de-
cision it rendered was upon the ques.
ton whether the Legislature possessed
the right to establish a reform school
and provide for the summary commit
ment to it of children who are desti.
tute of proper parental care, and grow
ing up in mendicacy, ignorance, idle
ness or vice. 1t denied the right, and
maintained that its existence would be
unconstitutional and snbversive of the
principles of republican institutions;
that parents were the legal and proper
guardians of children, and that theiI
right over the children was supe.
rior to the State A .Nrritor in the
American Law Register commehds
this decision in the strongest terms, and
says, there can De no question, it is a
every creditable advance in favor Of
liberty, among the children of white
parents, as well as those of a more
sombre hue. Ali classes of men, and
women too, under it, may keep their
own children at home and educate them
in their own way .a.I ....a .-
"The idea that it is the right and
duty of the State to enforce education
by taking children from their parents
is the legitimate result of the views
which gave rise to the common school
system. The latter have no more
ground to rest upon, either in reason,
or a constitutional government, than
the former And while the decision
OF the Illinois court may be 'credi-
table advance in favor of liberty a
complete overthrow of the whole plan
by which the State is converted into
an agent for educating the masses
would be a vindication of the princi>
pies of enlightened progress as we find
them developed in wise and benefi-
cent philosophy.
The class of reformers who are en-.
deaEoring to make of society a huge
machine, with the crank at the seat of
are simply adopting the
theories of another age.
Under their system every grade and
every class would be compelled TO look
to the central power for that which
they should find in theirown brain and
and as a consequence univer.
sal stagnancy and retrogression would
take the place Of progress and improve
ment. Their views have taken hold of
a large portion of the people of this
conntry-indeed the Black Republican
party in enforcing the common school
system at the South, have carried them
into full practice-and if something is
not done to counterfeit their baleful
effects, we may calculate with safety
upon dreary future"
The incompatability of thistyranni-'
cal and barbarous feature of the Radi-
,al school system, with true liberty, is
so obvious as hardly to have escaped the
attention of its authors but we pre-
'ume it was adopted foI that very reason.
It was framed as means of buying
votes 10 keep the party in power, for
t provided salaries for many thousands
If officials, to be paid by taxation of
he people who are to be subjugated
BY its operation to the will of these
Inscriptions tyrants. The more the
subject is considered, the more glazing
will its iniquities appear. Now, be-
ieVing that this compulsory part of the
aw is destructive of vested rights and
void, we hope our citizens may refuse
% acquiesce in its enforcement until
his question shall be determined by
he court of final resort in the country.
II our rights and liberties are not worth
his struggle, they are not worth hav-
ng. Hero is opened to the patriotic
md aspiring sons of the law a glorious
field for the display of their learning
md cloquence. In some sense, the
aWyers of a State are responsible
or the good and legal government of
he people. Their aid is now loudly
called for. In the glowing language
If Judge Bledsoe of Kentucky, more
han forty years ago:
Given one great and good lawyer
and statesman is blessing to his coun-
Try. His goings forth resemble a
from HeaVen-beautiful as
the morning to the SONS and daughters
IF affection, but to the oppressor ter.
'ible as an army with banners
Grand Mass Meeting of Ger
mans.
An enthusiastic rally of the German
Democracy of Victoria, was had at the
Schutzeen Hall, on last Wednesday
night. About one hundred and fifty
we're present, and when we take into
consideration says the Advocate, ''the
of the call, the result is
lattering in the extreme :"
"Mr. Charles Leuschner was called 10
n