Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-07-02
tfsr lie Spirit 81 s.islsss.on..ll
Free School System,

The Public School System has had to en-
counter at the very threshold the strong preju
dices of a large portion of our com N UNITY
The cry Is scan any good come out of Naza-
reth. Conceived. organized and put in op.
GRAFTON by party whose name and fame were
very offensive to the majority of this section.
the offspring has had to carry the opprobrium
of IT'S paternity. But whilst the most of the
doinss of this party, especially that of polt>
lcal kind. were so reprehensible in our sight.
yet some of its acts bear the stamp of wis
dom and were for the public good The pub
lie school system was one of those Not that
they originated it, but borrowed it soul and
body from sister State, where perhaps for
thirty years and more, it had been tested and
bore all the improvements of experience and
praceice Moreover, the system as thew in>
augufated 1t, passed the ordeal of a thorough
scrutiny by the Democratic Conservative Con
stitutonai Conventon-whose maturity wac
verwhelming-where, if it had not been
regarded as good and wise. it would have been
laid aside.N The fact of Its being continued
in the organic law by said Cow ention wi,hou,
change. conimends it to our sincere and hearty
acceptance and support; and whatever Of
feeling we may have had against it because of
its origin. etc., prejudicial To its success GER
tainiy there is no cause for it nuw, and il
uutenahle IDEAS
There are those too who regard il as n
Pebeiau affair, and their Patrician notions
repel the thought OF sending their sons and
daughters to "a school where they will sit
alongside and study in classes with tnose
who may not have had the adventitinus cir
| cunstances OF worldly fortune aud birth
Even IN The select. private school, this very
difficulty may have to be met, for | have vet
to Learn thar birth or iortune is made a con
d ton ct entrance thereto; if the tuition fee
be insured. The idea thus erte,tlineu is re-
pugnant to the spirit aud genius of our re
publican institutions, and me, t. with a fat Ce
nlal on every hand nor should 1t obtain where
capital and labor are so thoroughly identified
with. and dependent each other and men
are brought ipt" such intimate association.
t'H"n"r and shame from no condition rice
Act ~ell your part, there all the honor lies
lie system as worked in our large cities
with S" great success, for in. tauce Baltimore
recognizes 80 snch distinction in sOcietv-aIl
like burners are lgn0red-and we fird the
sons and daughters of the poor and rich, with
those oil the merchant and profession, il NAV
be of the milionair pursuing the same studies
IN the same classes; aud it works we'll. The
! friction of circumstances acts as an incentive
to study, and the pupil of the humber walk
and position IN lite outstrIps the one of more
favorable situation Just here, 10 such a
school, with such a regime, many OF the great
men, the master minds of the past aud press
ent IN our country, received their early train.
ing and there laid the foundation OF their fu
ture greatness and eminence As given on,
in your paper of last week in an article bear
ing upon this subject, as the institution is per
| manently established, that its full benefits
may be had and the whole community realize
them, let he solid men, the men Of intelli
gence and prosperity, ca>ting away all falsely
pred'cated views and feelings rally to its sup
port with hearty good will, and seek to make
it public blessing. JuS1Us.
Carles,own, juno 9th, 1872.