The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-14
The Convention and the SchOO
system.

The Convention and the School
system.
From the Parkcrsburg journal.
The advocates Of the Convention do
not generally say that they wish to dc.
strOy the school system. But they do say
that they wish to abolish the township
system. That is principle object, for
which they wish II Convention. Every
convention editor, is emphatic on this
point,
Now, before the Democratic masses
applaud at this point, 1t may be well for
them to reflect little. The destruction
Of the township, and the restoration OF
the nntiQuatcd county court system, mean
the taking Of the direction of allAirs from
the people Of the different townships and
concentrating il into little court house
CliQuc-mCans, taking power and proml.
nCnCC from the masses, and putting them
into the hands Of county ariSt0cracy
whcrCbyn few families and their iavOrtcs
can dOminCCr over the many. DO the
rank and nlcOf the Democracy want to
be hCwcrs OF wood and drawers Of water
for the aristOCratsY
But we want to call especial attention
to the fact that all the objections to the
township system apply equally, and with
equal force to the school system. 1t Is nj
legged that the township system Is eXpen.
siyC, though ii Is II ialsehoOd that 1t is
more expensive than the county system.
The school system is also expensive. The
township system is new thing. Equally
so Is the school system. The township
system, Is II foreign importation from the
northern States. So salsO, Is the school
system. Every single objection thus far
made to the township system applies
with equal il moi greater force TO the
Oolsystcm. II, therefore, the Democracy
want and get Convention to destroy the
township system, for reasons equally mp.
plCablc to the school system, does II not
follow TINT they will be likely to destroy
both together, II they get chance, and
dare.
But, again, the school system Is organ.
cally aud fundamentally connected with
the township system. very genius de-
ponds upon local participation in Its ai.
iairs-on having township and district
officers, and township levies, uniformity,
nc. Hence when the township system
goes by the board, the school system
necessArially goes with it. The township
system cannot be destroyed without the
destruction of the school system.
1t is well for the friends Of free schools
not to allow themselves to he hOOl.wlnk.
ed and deceived on this point. There
may be something like the old Virginia
pauper system administered by county
officials. But there is not, and there can.
not be, free school system anywhere
without township officers and local sup.
crvision. TO dispense with M indispcn.
siblc feature Of the free school system
everywhere, that which makes itsO en-.
phatiCally the poor mans friend, would
he the play Of Hamlet with the part Of
Hamlet left out. And these local officers
and supervisors must be the servants Of
the people for whom they act, and elect.
cd by them,-nOt the appOintcCs and
agents of central aristoCraCy.
In view Of these facts, Is II not pretty
clear that a Convention means the des
trnCtlOn Of our free school system? not
perhaps In name. for II Is doubtful It they
will dare destroy the name. They will
devise something that they will call a
school system, but 1t will lie sham and
1elusi0n. And Is not this what they
mean when conventions, and editors and
orators declare there need to he "im.
portant." and some of them are inCauiOus
enough to say Fundamental changes in
the school system. When the Convention
meets, and school system is destroyed,
and this fundamental .lY different thing
Is substituted in It's place, will they not
tells us, 1--WE never pledged ourselves to
the system that was. II was to SYSTEM
and they will add, eve told you plainly
that we were going to make fundamental
ChangCs-just what we have done" And
then the people will say, "Sold~ and go
to work In five years campaign
TO restore the school and township
system-unless, indeed the people render
Il unnecessary by voting down the Con.
vention.