Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-22


The Banner cares nothing for the tax
! payer SO it can make something for lie
new party organization by palaver on
subject which nobody opposes. The
Banner says that the APPEAL lis now
seeking to advertise itself by flying in
the face of the almost universal senti-
ment Of the press of the State in favor Of
free schools and a liberal and sufficient
school system" Is the Banner seeking
to win a reputation as a prize slanderer!
Why, in the very article on which the
Bamer comments, we gave over a
column to the advocacy Of a lib
eraI and sufficient school system. p
We took the position that a school sys-
TEN 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
sIluding 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
geneies require that they must be ridden
to secure the vote Of the nOn-tax-payers?
All that the APPEAL has asked is that
the tax-paying 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 or exertion has given
us superflous 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 il
and bar it as be may, unless the people
are a well-educated people. Or he has
security, it is the security which armed
force gives to law, and which may at
any time be turned against the liberties
of the people. When all the people
make the laws, the security which
property has that good and equal laws
viii be made, is in the intelligence Of
the people, in the hberality that educa-
ton always infuses into the whole char
acter, in the guard that a universally
educated people ever have over all tur-
bulent and mischievous men. Hence
property has an interest in uni |
versal education, and as it is its |
duty to educate all, so it is its in
terest. When the multitudinous mass |
levels its mighty arm against the |
walls of property, it is too often the fault |
Of property itself. fit neglects society, /
it cannot well expect friendship, even il
it has projections from society. If II |
grows insolent it must expect insolence |
in return. But what a hold has that 1
man upon society, whose property en-
ables him to engage in the mosi |
liberal errands of benevolence-whose
life is a life Of charity, who pat
ronizes the arts and the sciences, and
who encourages and rewards genius
it may be found, Napoleon
achieved as much by bis liberality as by
his arms, and the difference between
MIN and Cromwell is that Cromwell
was a vulgar hero, and Napoleon was &
sublime one. Fortunate, indeed, it is that
here is this link Of interest between the
extremes Of society, which, when
lot strained too roughly, preserves the
oeace of all. The mass, as an inter
st as well as a principle, seek only s
,oOd government, and the best admins
ration of that government; but if the
mass be not well informed, every vulgar
no matter Of what party,
will push them to one extreme, and
rive property to the other, so that in
he end the interests of both are sacri-
iced.