Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-20


"Vigilance" one OF the school board, or
personally interested In Its operation? II
not let him take down his visor, and
show his face. 1t is very well under
stood that these illusions 10 religious
circles'' and 'sectarian hostility" are
meant for Roman Catholics. / am not
Roman Catholic. We are as far as
sunGer as the poles, but while claiming
for myself absolute freedom of opinion,
I accord to them and 10 every other de-
nomination the same freedom, and a
respectful consideration for opinions
honestly entertained, however erroneous
/ may believe them 10 be. Many of the
Roman Catholics are among our best
citizens, and some OF them large tax
payers, and whatever their views as a
body upon the common school sys-
tenn, I do not believe there LIZ any
conspiracy among them to overthrow
it. l met to-day Jealous Roman
Catholics large taX-payer-who eX-
pressed himself az more than willing
TO support the common school system as
prescribed under the State law, but as
utterly opposed to this iDlperiuDa IN i'm
lpeTtO this school board corporation
within a corporatiou-placed by their
charter, as a master over the people. l
know many people, born Professionals,
and Protestants at heart, who are equal
ly opposed to it; and believe a majori-
4 ty Of the intelligent Protestant popula-
ton OF Memphis are so opposed; but
have not seen or heard of one who was
opposed to the common school system
rof the State, or who was unwilling to be
taxed 10 support common schools con-
Quoted under that system. We go fur
] = fuh nhap
in each grand division OF the State, at
pubic expense, where a certain number
OF pupils, taken by selection from the
common schools, should be carried
through a collegiate course, and trained
as teachers, 80 that we could, in few
years, supply all our schools with
teachers from among our own people.
The apOlogists and defenders Of the
city school board incubus are mistaken
If they hope to bolster it up by an appeal
to religious pTejudices or exciting alarm
| among the friends of education by
charging conspiracy to subvert all COM
mon schools. Such suggestions will not
deceive the tax payers of this city, who,
crushed to the earth with their burdens,
are very much ia earnest, and resolved
to bear them no longer. The time has
come for calm, earnest, truthful discus
sion Of our difficulties and troubles, and
men should be ashamed to make such
appeals under cover Of a mask. AS to
( the writer Justice in this mornings
| APPEAL, who opposed educating the ne
/ gro, | am very much disposed to think
he is writing IN the interest of the school
/ board, and takes that method of array
ing that class Of our population in sup
port Of our city school system. Certain
/ it Is be does not represent the sentiment
of any considerable portion Of the COM
munity, who, while decidedly opposed
I TO the city school board system. are
earnestly in favor Of the State school
system, and in favor Of having ev-
cry child taught ''the three RS"
! The advocates Of the school board incu-
/ bus plume themselves upon its economy
kof management. As an item take this:
/ A superintendent at three thousand dol
| lars, and six principals to assist him at
/ eight thousand one hundred dollars,
making eleven thousand one hundred
dollars. In this l do not include the
4 two principals who are also teachers,
and labor daily as such. Now VENTURE
/ to say that a thoroughly competent SUI
! perintendent can be employed at two
( thousand dollars, who would do the en-
nine thousand one hundred dollars would
be saved, and without disturbing the op-
eratiOniOf the schools.
[ ~ a MINOR AIERIW ETHER.
- e ~ N-- The Difference.
EDITORS APPEAL-The opponents of
the common school system seem deter
mined to have it appear that-our whole
burden of taxation is due to the common
school tax. AS taxpayer in Memphis
for the past nine years, / have watched
the proceedings OF its city council with
a great deal Of interest; and I have
found this difference between the results
Of the distribution of the taxes for gem
eral purposes and that for city schools:
The taxes for general purposes have gone
to pay city officials, many of whom
would have served the city best by
jumping into the river, for at least one
fourth OF the offices are created for
trifiing individuals, who have failed in
everything else, and turn out as ward
politicians as a last resort. The landing
is very little better than it was eight
years sgO, and its paving, the only way
IN which it has been improved, has not
been paid for. The NieOlson pavement
has not been paid for, while thousands
Of dollars that should have been paid on
it have been squandered in use
less litigation. We have nothing
substantial to show for the taxes for
railroads, and the city's stock in them
has been almost wholly lost. The total
tax collected for school purposes has done
incalculable good; none of il has gone
TO the members of the board of educa-
ton, body composed of as good mate
rial as the city council, or any other
Ill l..
and men, well educated, accomplished
and intelligent, are occupying positions
in society and business that they were
trained Tor in our city schools. The
buildings erected by the schOOl-board
are among the best in the city, and will
last for years. In conclusion, l must
say that the only tax that has brought
any substantial and lasting results is the
school tax, which has been expended for
the benefit of the children, who have
been taught by intelligent and worthy
ladies and gentlemen who received for
hard work the money that would other
wise have gone into the pockets Of some
of the city's chronic Office-seekeIs.
Let Us Have Light ~Fsr
EDITORS APPEAL-Memph is is a
world 10 miniature, and therefore made
NJ OF all sorts. Il seems it is not want
ing in plenty of the Old-fogy obstructive
sort of people, who, in the face of all the
overwhelming statistics to the contrary,
will persist in pretending to believe that
education is an evil. So in all ages and
countries have men endeavored with
their puny efforts to stop the advance of
progress. The first refOrmers of the
church, Columbus, the steam engine,
4 oil
their time met with the most bitter and
determined opposition, and yet where
do they stand tO-day2 Any system
based on fundamental truths must
flourish as green tree when its detrac-
tons are forgotten. 1t is but few years
since an English member Of parliament
arose in the house of commons on a
question of the elementary education of
the masses, and sOlemnly warned his
colleagues that little learning was
dangerous thing, and that they would |
put weapon in the hands Of the pe0- |
pie that would be used against them |
selves. The extent Of that mans OBJ !
strucdveness, and the value set upon |
his arguments, are seen there to-day /
when the education Of the masses is |
made compulsory, and adults as well as |
children can receive an education of |
the highest order free. So may it be
in every case, and that we mayK
be enabled to render our heart
felt thanks to the noble men that /
fight our battles against superstition, /
ignorance and credulity. Such men
instinctively turn to the light, and there
fore naturally choose the winning side
in spite of the formidable odds often ar
rayed against them. But what will thew
say Of US, If having the light we turn
from it and try to extinguish it? Let us
rather all unite in this really great cause,
and produce the best results possible,