Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-07
such forced contribution Not one

OOSss SVsSSW ~VNSS AOVVsVe0A AVN VOV
can reasonably say no.
Has the State any right to take
our money, to build school houses, Fay
teachers and educate other peoples
children, unless it act*aHy pursue. lie
rork to its ultimate accomplishment
1t proposes to each property owner,
for the purpose Of hotter protecting
him in his person .od s.tats-ior the
prevention Of crime aud Of pauperhu.
and for the Advancement Of ito own
best Interests. through the diffusion Of
uuiversal education, that it will collect
Of bin. pro rata tag.
Now what power reside. IN tho State,
BY which it can justly compel it, citi.
seus to support . soh DOL for The educa-
ton cfchildrsu unless At tho sams time,
it provides that children may b CON-
|psilsd to submit shsmsslvss to the in.
ssraetiou thus provided And yet v.
are supporting schools al over tho land,
10 which there i not AZ aggregate At
tendance Of oue-hat the children, to
educate whom th1 compulsory fund has
bsss raised.
We readily yield al other thing, to
considerations Of public good. In
eases Of psssileues 10 hold psrsoss in
quarantine, and ~ seiss and destroy
property, regardless Of al personal
siChas e istsesats. WHEN psblis inn
provsnsnts are nsedsd, tas right ofem-
iusat dou.ia sups.ssdes every other,
| and ovssshadows al individual oppo-
sition, and all private interest.
I. such cases 10 one questions the
power Of the State, to exercise oompul-
cory control. Universal education il
~ much public necessity - s . rail-
road or = canal, and may, undoubtedly,
b secured by oompulsioo, upon the
same principle that justides the en-
pleyment Of force, for tho promotion
Of any other interest. Wen ~ 3D.
nit this, or acknowledge tho logical in.
consistency Of . school fund. sstab-
lished and replspished BY forced con-
tributious.
The government takes the young
man from the family circle regardless
Of the feelings and the Interests Of the
parent, and puts him Into tho camp,
aud upon the battlefield, under color
Of the o.szshadowing claim Of public
ssesssity. An application of the same
priseip'e, win justify tere;b'y pl.eiag
children III school, however strong may
be the oppo.itioa Of parents. "All
just governments dsrivs their power
from tho consent Of the governed"
This undoubtedly implies, on the part
Of the people, that degree Of gen.
eral information and culture which
enable them to give an tatell;;ge*t
consent A government existing
through = blind submission Of
ito subjects, il nothing but despotism;
hence, every just 20 vernment must pro-
vide tho means of education fer al it,
citizens. The truth Of this proposition
admitted it cannot be disputed
the right to compel attendance follows
inevitably ~ oorcllary, and must be
exercised If we would make the Amer
icau system Of education, just aud com.
plete. OF course, We do not argue that
children should be kept constantly in
school, nor that they should be there a
seriously incouven;ent seasons, but we
do insist that the terms should be held
At such time, and for such periods u
will best promote the public good, and
that while 10 session, al children Of
IN ,ge within the limits prescribed,
shall be made to attend regularly, un-
leo they be exempt by reason Of phys
ieal ineapacity.