Smyrna times., 1871-03-15

who will be untruthful and slanderous? For
the statements made, [ am responsible. III
the opinions of my fellow citizens numerouslv
expressed and attested, would Justify much
uarker picture OF our educational affairs as to
othe: points upon which we can get no direct
ana olhclal data, then what everybody believes
10 be true we must take for granted or. If
not, we must at least respect every man right
TO entertain his own opinion; and in this
country we must also respect his right to free
dom of speech
- ihe most earnest and prominent friends of
fubllc Education assert that its condition IS
much worse than represented by the Honor
a6Ie Commissioners Report. 1t contains an
able exposition OF our State school laws. re-
port upon Wilmington Public Schools, and
statistics of Wilmington.
STATEMENTS REPEATED.
He has stated that this language is "worsn
than valueless. Not if it leads to educational
reform, as intended. That it is unjust, and
dlSrespectful to the community of whom it pro-
iesSeS to speak. Being truthful it is lust.
The last paragraph quoted, shows that the
author entertained the spirit of kindness to the
friendly and kind people with whom his lot in
life has been cast. 1t was this
" Sul there are thousands of our citizens so
exalted IN moral worth and intelligence as TO
certainly know and realize that the Surest and
u
by ntdhlHg pHGttc and free Education 1tatrer-
sat We have noble people. We have
mines OF wealth in natural resources, in fruit
raising, IN agriculture, in manufactures and in
shlpbulldlng The city of Wilmington is up-
donbtedy worth more than thirty millions of
dollars, III real and personal property. So that
by contrast with all this meteria wealth, we
are edHcdti0ndlly, one of the poorest peoples
OF the United States. Public Education in the
State of De aware is in a lamentable and disas-
trOus condition"
Can he prove, or even imagine. the iuteofio,
of : libel?
lie makes this acknowledgment: 81 do not
mean to say that our system is perfect [ dc
| not mean to say that it is half as good as
would wish to see it." Then whv does h.
stand In the way of the large numbers O
earnest and patriotic people who are trying t
make 1t better? He adds: 9 | do mean to sa
that 1t possesses great many advantage whic
It IS not worth while for me to discuss now.
The people OF Delaware would like to knov
what those advantages are over other Stat
systems. They already know that it has lamen
table DEFICIENCIES Which, by their conventions
! the press and the rOstrum, they have mos
earnestly aud emphatcally, tried to have sup
piled.
Entertaining for our gentemanly and distin
gulshcd fellow citizens sentiments of friend
ship and respect, it has nevertheless been IN
duty to reply plainly. Let the honorabl
Senator take far and unpartizan view of
public necessity, which Is almost UNIVERSAL
acknowledged, and we will hope that he wi
become one Of the most earnest and activ
laborers in reforming our State system Of Put
+ lie Education. Let there be reared in ou
. State such a comprehensive superstructure {
! free schools as will be an honor to the gre;
moral and intellectual Development of our pei
pie and no di,credit to their immence resource
= iii manufactures, commerce and agriculture.