Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-23

/ The Banner cares nothing for the tax
! payer so it can make something for il
new party organization by palaveT on
tsubject which nobody opposes. The
/ Banner says that the APPEAL sis now
seeking 10 advertise itself by flying in
the face of the almost universal senti'
ment Of the press Of the State in favor o-
! free schools and liberal and sufficient
school system.T Is the Banner seeking
to win a reputation az a prize slandercr!
Why, in the very article on which the
Bonner comments, we gave over a
column TO the advocacy Of a Glib
eral and sufficient school system. y
We took the position that Il school sys-
tenn was indispensable to the prosperity
Of the State and country, and that edu-
cation was as much a necessity as rail-
roads, churches and telegraphs. But We
committed the objectionable crime OF
abiding to the burdens Of the people
already loaded with taxes, and the pro-
priety Of imposing only such taxes fer
school purposes as the people could
meet without confiscatiOn of their
property. But what does the Banner
care for the Taxpayer, when party EXT
gencies require that they must be ridden
to secure the vote Of the non-tax-psyers?
All that the APPEAL has asked is that
the tax-psying people Of Tennessee be
consulted in assessing a tax for estab-
fishing a general school system. The
children must be educated. For this
purpose a school system should be adopt
ed commensurate with the ability of
the people to pay. We are Of those
who believe that property should be
taxed for educational purposes, for
If accident CT ezertiOn has given
US superf1ous wealth it should
be used to educate the masses. Educa-
ton, free, universal education, is the
great pillar on which our fabric rests;
and no man in a republican government
has any security for his property, bolt it
and bar it as he may, unless the people
are a wen-edueated people. Or if has
it is the security which armed
force gives to law, and which may at
any time be turned against the Liberties
IF the people. When all the people
make the laws, the security which
has that good and equal laws
viii be made, is in the intelligence Of
he people, in the Hberality that educa-
ion always infuses into the whole char /
lcter, in the guard that universally /
people ever have over all tur- /
,ulent and miscellaneous men. Hence /
property has an interest in uni
-erssI education, and as it is its
Iuty to educate all, so it is its in
crest. When the multitudinous mass
svels its mighty arm against the
walls Of property, it is too often the fault
( property itself. fit neglects society, (
cannot well expect friendship, even if
t has projections from society. If it
rows insolent it must expect insolenee
q return. But what hold has that
nsn upon society, whose property en-
bles him to engage in the most
.beral errands of benevolence-whose
fe is a life Of charity, who pat
Onizes the arts and the sciences, and
tho encourages and rewards genius
7herever it may be found. Napoleon
as much BY his liberality as by I
is arms, and the difference between | (
i'm and Cromwell is that Cromwell
as a vulgar hero, and Napoleon was a
lblime one. Fortunate, indeed, it is that ]
lere is this link of interest between the ;
ztremes of society, which, when
Of strained too roughly, preserves the L
eace Of all. The mass, as an inter j
t IS well as principle, seek only ,
,od government, and the best admins
alton Of that government; but if the q
ass be not well informed, every vulgar {
no matter of what party, ,
i'll push them to one extreme, and t
i've property to the other, so that in ]
e end the interests of both are sacri- Il
ed. Ia