The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-08-14
The New School Law-HOw Unjust
Radicals Are.

Democrats cannot expect justice from
these people. They had by their extrava-
gance, while in power, spent the money of
the State, and left the Democrats with an
empty treasury to find means to fill it up.
They had stabbed the credit of the State by
their extravaganza and corruption in their
party and now they cry out against Demo-
Gratis, because they have not raised millions,
good part of which is to pay debts con-
tracted by these very Radicals. They granted
many millions to two railroad corporations,
making public debt which it will take
generations to pay, if even the part not
compromised should be enforced, and 1T is
currently believed that these grants were
purchased by bribery; and yet now they
are crying out ''RepudiatiOn, Reputation,
because the people of Texas demand that
the international Railroad Company shall
compromise with them upon just basis.
But the meanest, yes, the smallest and
very meanest action these Radicals have
committed, is their course upon the new
public school law. They have raised hue
and cry against the Democrats about it, and
have charged that the latter have struck
down our public schools, and yet these give
only denunciation in place of argument.
One Of their objections to the new law Is
made in the charge, that it only provides
that the schools shall be taught four months
in the year, and this is paraded, dished up,
hurled out, and disseminated to produce
prejudice against the new law. And yet
they have never had the candor or honesty
to state to the people that this same prOvis-
ion was. contained in their school law, and
now we will prove it.
Section rs of the Radical school law of
August is, 1870, provides:
Free public schools shall be taught at
least four months in each year, and they
may be taught for a greater period, if the
school fund is sufficient or il the citizens of
the district by subscription or advancement
win supply the deficiency"
The new school law of 1873, provides:
'.Sec. 90. The public free schools shall be
taught for at least four consecutive months
in each scholastic year. And section twenty
two provides: That the free schools may
continue for a longer period than four
mooths, II the Smount Of the school fund is
sufficient, or If the citizens of the district
or sub-district by payment Of teachers or
subscription viii supply the deficiency
These extracts show clearly that there is
no difference in the old and new law upon
this point, and that these Radical slanderers
and hbellers have been trying to throw dust
into the peoples ewes 70 excite prejudice.
And some Democrats, too, misled, as we
would charitably believe, have made this
same charge against the new school law.
How could the schools be taught without
funds to meet their expcnsesl And how
could the people expect the State to have
them taught more than four months per
year without the necessary fundsl And
who but the people would be to blame, If
they would not supply the defciencyl The
new school law is 4 far better one than the
old, because more simple and less expensive,
and the temptation to wrong the State out
Of the school fund Is carefully guarded
against.
It little becomes q Democrat or any citi-
rem 70 try 10 write down this law, but from
Radicals nothing better is expected. Il may
have defects, bur these viii soon be appa-
rent. and il is the duty Of every friend Of
public schools 70 give It countcnance and
help 20 show the defects and have them
amended or supplied.
Now let the public see II these men who
\ have siandered and hbolled both the new
law and tho Legislators who passed il, viii
have soul enough 10 make amends for the
evil they hare done aasfoa Ttit1nal.i