Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-03-26
Constitutional Conycntion-Our
Public Schools = Remarks OF
Mr.. Mccormick.


Constitutional Conycntion-Our
Public schools Remarks OF
Mr.. Mccormick. +
The discussion of the Educstionat
part of the Constitution commenced
on Thursday. There was q marked
want of harmony in the committee,
the majority agreeing only on one
point. The agreement was. that wo
men, over twenty-one yesrs OF sge.
shall be eligible to any office under
our school laws A portion Of the
committee desire compulsory educa-
ton, while Mr. Carbery. who seems
to represent the Catholic sentiment,
proposes TO insert the present article
upon that subject, with the most i'm.
portant part left ont. He would
leave ont these words, to-wit: "Bnt
no religious, OIL ether sect Or sects,
shall ever have any exclusive right
to, or control of, any part of the
school funds of this State" The
adoption Of this proposition would
leave the Constitution so crippled
that the different religious sects
might divide the school funds among
s~ectsrian schools. This would never
answer. 1t would destroy the entire
system Of common schools. There
are others who would confine educa-
ton by the State to the common and
necessary branches, striking out and
aholishing what are known as high
schools.
These several propositions have
their friends. and they will lead. we
Judge, to lengthy discussion On
Friday. Mr.. MCCORMICK gave hir
views upon these questions, and we
copy the following report of his re
marks. The, will meet with a hearty
response from every true friend of
our common school system:
Relieving that the article on education in our
preSent Constitution, under which our public
school system has grown mp: to be a good one II
would doubtless be wise in this convention, not
TO remove the ancient land MARKS
We may a. well consider the Tact, anu arrive
at the conclusion at once. that We are. 70 say the
least. handling a very delicate subject, anu one
that comes very near to the people. ! believe the
great majority Of our citizens are utterly oP-
uosed tn any change in our public school system.
and. while they will not care 10 study all the
articles in the Constitution We frame the peoIie
will very soon understand what affects their
personal Interests. and he prepared to vote ar-
cor.Iinglv in its ratification or rejection. Put
your f6nt on the poor mans privilege. and You
nut it too. on the nations welfare and pFoSperi.
~. AMI the nations honor. II l. 10 the hOnor OF
the State that, under our present system. she
seeks to nnpreSs none. hut grants equal privilege
10 All without distinction oil race. color. or sect.
and those v hO do not accept that prilege do 81
from choice. and not com nl>iOn. ! do not deny
that there may be abuses Of poHe or under our
system. but these are the exceptions rather than
the rule. They are not the fault of the system
itself, nut rather the result of local influences
that may possibly exist | do not apprehend
that schools of medicine, law, and theology are
to he built mp under our present school law, al
though gentlemen argue to that effect on this
floor. II may he that some small institutions.
local in their character. are unable to cope with
some OF our high schools. under our present
system. giving rise TO q feeling of Jealousy on
the part of those institutions, yet this Is no ar.
gument that our efficient public schools must
he narrowed in their field of usefulness, or brok-
en- down in their efficiency. ] am aware OF the
feelings that a large proportion OF the consti-
tuency which I have the honor to represent
here entertain in regard to any attempt to iet-
ter. or in any wise impair our present school
system. and believing il to he a fair criterion by
which to Judge other localities. | would warn
gentlemen that we tread on dangerous ground
when we attempt TO limit the sphere OF useful
ness OF our excellent public schools. These
schools have a noble mission to he wrought out
in behalf of the high interests OF the State.
1t has been well said by one. that true ednca-
ton Surely is that which assumes that every
hoy and every man has need to conquer ms
selfish nature. to rise out of il 10 acquire the
Whatever teaching most assures him that he
can do that: whatever most explains Ia him
the help that he has for doing it. must be the
hest for the citizen and the man."
The State recognizes the importance of such
training for her citizens. and has wisely adopt
ed her present system OF schools Tor her safety,
Ns well as for her elevation.
read an extract from a paper entitled the
shepherd OF the Valley, a Roman Catholic or
gan published at St. Louis. that may Indicate. to
some extent at least, the force AMI direction OF
some arguments offered on this floor: and with
which rs q lover of my country, while ! Admit
fullv the value of religions training, ! am not in
the least degree in sympathy.
The extract is as follows:
"In the future, when We shall have gained the
ascendency in this country, As we surely shall,
then will it he true. even as our enemies now
predict alout us, that there will be no more re-
iigiOus liberty-as there ought not 10 be-"
If this prophecy he fulfilled We have only to
say, with the fall Of religious liberty in our
country, God help our civil liberty and political
freedom. The Intelligence and morality OF
the majority evidently constitute the life
of the free State. while it has been well
said that "a ballot in the hand of an ig-
norant, british man. is Il bullet aimed st
the heart Of political liberty" 1t is also true
that it is n potent weapon of the ~demagogue.
We candidly confess that We are not in sympa-
thy with the idea advanced on this floor in dis
eussiOn yesterday, that we educate too much, or
that the citizen may be too well informed to I'LL
his station in life, for his own gSoi. and fer the
welfare Of the State. Not too much light. but
more light. is the watchwOTd of advancement.
thrift and enterprise; and sad will he the day
when the State arrests progression in light and
knowledge. While / believe il il proper TO let
well enough alone, in regard to the article on
education iu our present Constitution. ] wOnld
not he understood asiOppOsIng the third section
OF the report of the committee, allowing women
over twenty -one wears of age being eligible to
any Office under the school laws oil this State.