The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-01-11

1t is admitted on all sides that
the benefits Of education, while spe-
cial in regard to individuals, are Il (
so general in their application to
the community at large; are not
confined TO these who impart and
those who receive instruction, but
extend TO the entire community, +
and affect every interest both pri-
vateand public. In other words it
is a common concern, involving not
only the safety and happiness
of individuals and Of society at {
large, but also the security of every I
species of property, and likewise
the stability and performance of
the government. From these &C
knowledgcd premises, it follows
as an inevitable consequence that it I
is the duty, as it should be the
pleasure, Of the properly constituted
authorities, to maintain and extent
at public expense the educational
facilities OF the country. 1t viii not
be denied that knowledge, head and
heart culture, is the sovereign rene
DIV for all the ills that aniict us as a
people and a government. The
right 90 punish vice and crime. the
Legitimate fruit Of ignorance, in
wolves equally the right to educate
and thereby suppress the one and
prevent the commission of the 9th
er. He who sends forth his son
uneducated into the world to battle
with lite stubborn realities, defrauds
the community of a lawful citizen
aud bcqueathes to it Il nuisance.
The children of the poor man are
his Jewels, his hope, his pride, his
all. For them he lives, endures
toll. and submits to hardship and
sacrifice. Let him see a reasonable
prospect for their culture and adj
vancement, and he becomes quiet,
contented and happy.
Since then every man, woman and
child, and every dollars worth Of
property-personal, real, or what
not-in our county and in the
bounds of our State,are interested in
this all-important subject, it is one
Of the first duties we owe ourselves
our country, our children, and com
ing posterity, TO provide at whatever
cost for the general diffusion Of
| knowledge, for the cultivation and
enlightenment Of the masses Of our
people. Property owes for its pro
lection and preservation this bles-
sing in full measure to the man of
scamty means. It is by his perse-
yering industry, brawny arms, and
stalwart powers, that our forests
/ are felled, our farms cultivated, our
roads opened and kept in order, our
bridges built, our manufactures
raised and kept in operation, our
railroads constructed, our cities
reared, and every means and appIi-
ance Of art and science pressed into
practical service for the benefit OF
our race. 1t is but n small return
for these incalculaLle benefits foI
property to extend the pgis Of its
protection over his children, and
guarantee them the advantages OF
an education, with lair chance in
, the race Of life. This can be &C
complished in no other way so di-
: rectly and surely as by a tax upon
} property and polls. To assess and
levy this tax, as the law now stands
is the prerogatiye Of the County
, Court The members ofthat Court
: arc authorized by the law, if they
prefer, to submit this question Of tax.
alton for the maintenance Of schools
+ to the people, to be determined by
? them at the ballot box. Tt is Tx
j opinion of gentlemen belonging e
, the Association we have the honor
to represent, that if our people one,
p fairly and sQuarcly test this ques
= ton, they will mover. voluntarily re
$ ccde from their position. The ia,
will be found to diminish Che eXpen
G scs, while it improves the quality O
+ the education obtained by you
# children. Greater teaching abilit,
L will be enlisted by the greater Ger
c lainty Of reward, while large mum
c bers Of young persons and children
J. now wandering about and engage,
= in idleness and vice, a burden t,
y the community, viii be at school O
q otherwise uscfully and 10 lorabl
q employed. And the time is not "a
j. distant when our entire people wi
r. shower blessings upon you as tn
n author of this educational reform
Y and send up their united verdict G
IS well done, good and faithful ser
y wants"
e The Teachers Association OF on
g. county believe that by increasin
the poll tax for county purposes t
it the extent authorized by law, an
IS setting apart the same eXclUsivcI
IS for school purposes and levying q
additional tax of two mills on tn
a dollar, a system Of common schoo'
n may be organized and sustained b
IF the public, which VIII secure tn
IS benefits OF good scholastic trainia
e, to every child in the county for
p period of not less than three month
L in each year, an honor alike to yo
g and our people, and an incalculabl
l. blessing TO our ehildren who sha
come after us.
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