The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1871-10-07


Public Instruction, with purpose of defeat
ing hisre-election, is neither gen,lenanly, dig
niied or truthful when compared with his
record az q public officer. None Of tie
charges asserted that be has exhibited parti-
sanship or sectarianism in the discharge OF
his ofhcial duties can be sustained, at least
| there has been no proof given to show any
foundation for them. lie has been charged
with appointing large number Of teachers
| from the South and few Republicans. This
cannot be true for the reason that his Office
person knows that School Trustees are the
authorized officers to appoint teachers through
out the State. The charge which his oppo-
| cents have tried 20 make appear worse than
uniformity through tie whole State. The
Board of Education, Of which, Mr.. Fitzgerald
is but one member, after due consideration
made the change believing it for the bestinter-
the County Superintendents and teachers of
California without regard to political opinions
recommended the change to be made. The
, teachers now say the change was needed and
! that the new books are much better adapted
for our schools than the old series. Is there
! any justice in abusing Mr.. Fitzgerald for act
ing in harmony with the recommendation of
those who perform the practical part pertain
ing to popular education. The whole of this
| opposition is made in partisan spirit. Mr..
Fitzgerald ia a Southern man and Demo-
crat and therein is his sin in the eyes Of his
radical maligners. He had given such sa-
tisfaction to the people in the discharge of
his duties, that at the time his nomination
was made at Sacramento, it was universally
believed he would have but little opposition
as the position was not locked on as a polti-
cal office. A short time before convention
the following letter, extensively signed by
Presidents of Colleges, Professors, Superin
tendents and teachers of various political
views, one of whom was Mr. H. n Bolander,
now his opponent en- the Republican ticket.
was voluntarily presented to him. 1t shows
the estimation in which he was held until
the venom of radcaism sought to surround
him with the flthipess Of their political cal.
dron.
Hon. o. P. FITZGERALD
DEAR SIR:
At an incidental
meeting Of few educational men, discus
hoJ -
you this letter. In tho meeting referred to
both political parties were represented, and
"a the conclusions which were unanimously
arrived at, were such as could not fail both
to interest and crafty you, twas thought
proper to afford you tho pleasure of learning
what they were. and the advantage thar
might accrue to you from the publication of
them, if you permit MS to publish this letter,
with your reply. Many IF the signatures
hereunto appended, were Obtained for the ex-
press purpose of inducing you 20 allow us to
publish this correspondence, as tie meeting
above alluded 10 was scarcely large enough
! To present sufficient array of names to inn
| press the public with the fact that the opin-
ions and sentiments herein expressed are
widely entertained by teachers. school officers,
and all who watch the course of public events
| 1t was claimed Ivy your political friends,
and acknowledged by your political oppo
nents-
| That YOU have since your accession to the
Office of State Superintendent, manifested that
spirit of impart;ality which the Legislature of
| 1868 contemplated when, for the express pur.
pose of keeping political discussion and mar
tisan feelings ont of the Department. of Flu
cation, they enacted that the State Superin-
tendent should he elected with the Judges of
the Supreme Court, long enough after the
general election to allow of the subsistence Of
its usual rancorous excitements
That you have followed up the many and
great Improvements and reforms of your pre-
decessor rs zealous,y as though YOU yourself
had originated every one of them:
That your general policy and official action
have indicated the possession of true moral
courage, and the results have SUBSCRIBED econ
omv. harmony, and efficiency:
That your aims for the further improve
ment of our educational system entirely salts
fy the desires of the most jealous friends of
education
That there never vas time in the educa-
tional history of our State when good feeling
and consequent cordial cooperation between
teachers and school officers were so generally
prevalent:
STABILITY of continuing 'his most proper con-
ditiou of oar Educational Department. and in
hoping that not only will your merits be re-
cagnized by your own party and acknewledg-
ed by denomination, but that, it you he-
come n candidate for reelection. you may re-
ceive the cordial support of all who know OF
yonr deserts. without distinction of party.
We cheerfull7 testify to the truth Of the
facts see forth in the above letter to the lion.
.. P. Fitzgerald. and cordially endorse the
sentiments contained therein with regard tc
him and the Educational Department of this
State.
What has Mr.. Fitzgerald done since this
letter was addressed him to call forth somnch
abuse. What propriety is there in the
many paragraphs sneering at his religious
ard political views or abusing him for hav-
ing been born and reared in the South. If
he has not fulfilled his official duties faithful
" and impartially and in the interest of the
people let his opponents chow wherein he has