Smyrna times., 1871-03-15
BY PROF. JOHN C. uARKNEss.


IN the u. s. Senate.
BY PROF. JOHN C. HARNESS.
The graveSt and greatest responsibility of a
Commonwealth is the education of her children.
More comprehensive and vital than all cues.
tions of Reconstruction, Suffrage and Finance
Is this question of Public Education This is
the only foundation upon which rests all our
progress, mental, moral, mechanical, agrlcul-
tural, commercial aud governmental. He who
tribes with this wcghty subject strikes the
POISONOUS tangs of his spleen in;o the founda-
ton OF nations prosperity. On this momen-
t9us question am charged by a Senator OF
the United States with having made untrue
anu llbell)uS statements in advocating re-
form and progress for OurState system cf Pub
lie Education. Ordinarily. | should be satis6.
ed with repeating those statements since being
true they cannot be libellouS, and nearly every
citizen would know them to be correct. But
the question, by general discussion. assume.
grandeur proportions and involves a seriou.
contemplation of the condition and necessity
OF the rising and future generations. | shall
therefore endeavOr to make an honorable de
fence OF my position that there is great neces
sty of reform
Without repeating even one of the state
mentS distinctly enunciated and clearly reterat
ed, he has made this charge of libel Blu
why. contrary to the universal form of areu
ment, does he omit to repeat what he denomi
mates untrue and lbellous % Because he
knows that the mere repetition of any one o
all the statements made would produce tn,
swift and keen conviction Of its own truthful
ness IN the cOnScences Of our fellow citizen
IN defiance of all that subtety of circuitou
logic which he is capable of using. Our read
! rp familiar h bo -,
ton OF which has caused this learned gentle
such agitation and trembling in his officia
seat lie we'll knows if the attention of tn
busy, industrious and intelligent citizens of th
State Is arrested by these, they will clamor fC
retorm-and reform has for him it's terror
Tor 1t means more power in the hands of til
people. But have our readers asked then
selves the question
WHY DOES HEAGITATE? ?
First, Because he apparently has not recol
nzed the lamentablG inefficency of our Stal
system of public education. Secondly, bccau.
he himself, Is not prepared to engage in Il
work of reform. Thirdly, the proposed n
tional Education Law would render it nece
sary for our State Legislature to give our pc
pie an efficient system.
OUR EXCELLENT PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS.
Our solely and National endowed college. o,
efficient public school corporation of Wilmin
3 ton and the William Penn schools of New Ca
tie comprise the subject matter of our Sen
tor attempt tOSOphi>ticate his colleagues il
the impression that these constitute a system
, public education for the children Of the ,chl
State These owe their present existence
the two endowment funds, provided by d
General Government and the Founder of Il
! State to the enterprise and intelligence of o
citizens; and to the teehlene,s and inefficien
of the State system. The do not belong
the discussion Of our question.
THE oBJECTIoNAL PART OF TIE CoMMIssIo
ERS REPORT
/ Was copied from circular issued in Ma
t 1870, for the purpose Of calling the attent
i OF the people to the necessity of a better sy
tenn OF Public Instruction, and thereby int
n eSting them to subscribe to the building fu
OF an institution, chartered by public act
the education and training of teachers, as
essential element in any successful systel
J.. This circular was neither intended for a
a port upon education in this State, nor for C
culation outside of the State, Had we ieten
! ed such report we should have Included Il
private institutions and all that there were
educational facilities, rather than merely me
. toned few of the essential things that We
a not. Still at that time Delaware College W
: eral years. Now that, since in September la
:. it has been reopened, | cannot speak too hig
! ly of its learned and able Faculty and for
n future prosperity. That the Commission
70 was pleased to incorporate a small part of tt
;. circular and some slight information tax
v from our catalogues, which we have habtua
e sent to his office, in his report upon Delawa
q | did not know until a copy of the same "
e received. That he did so is no criminal
h fence of mine, nor am | responsible for the 5
> DEFICIENCIES thereby exposed, having labor
- most assduously and faithfully in helping
y establish better condition. The statement
a however, are true and our Senator does r
a repeat one of them and say it is false | co
- from the report:
4 1--WE have now in operation none of [
n most important OF the public agencies univ
n sally employed for developing the moral a
i intellectual powers and resources of a peOp
~ no State superintendent, no county teache
9 institute, no approximation for the educati
Ia and training of teachers, no schOal law AT
4 quate for keeping open school in every
a. trlct each year, with some school district Il
% occasionally, aud others that frequently,
40 without school for the entire year. and o
i er interests of public education of the sa
tenor, save that the description may be
too moderately drawn"
The description was too moderately draw
T, Senator Wilson, who from his frequent Wis
le and friendly interest in this State, and from
'l greater interest in education, is well iniorm
OF thought I" the school system Of DcLdiodrG 400
OF Mnn represented" And it might have ht
oil added that the State of Delaware has taL
~ no cognizance of the two respectable and W,
as attended conventions of her citizens, held
III 1867 and 1868, who recommended to her l.
O. islature for enactment, the draft of good 9
r. thorough school law, made no regular q
~ adequate report of the condition of her pub
tn schools to her people for the past five conse
sc tive years and longer, and has written G
ld cially to the United States Commissioner
C. Education that " the State of Delaware is
o. able to supply reports asked for.
70 Now, since the honorable Senator has
In cused me of making untrue and libellol
statements and has not proved that a SIN
one of said statements is untrue, does not
ne burden of proving rest clearly upon himst
nf nd If ha fails m nrova his oharpa of falsahO