The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-01-14
EnHn1TUON

originality of thought, so much has
been said, both in print and from the
stump, and even from the sacred
desk, upon the several aspects OF the
question as it touches the dearest in
terests of the State, the Church and
the individual Citizen. ....r
But more mag be said. We intend
to give practical proof Of this pro-
position-more ought to be sail-as
we hope to convince our readers.
Surely enough has not been said in
regard to the educational facilities of
the country, and especially to bring
the subject home to the public around
us, Of Tennessee, 50 long as the scho-
Iastic system is not made to supply
the needs of every county in the
State and every neighborhOod in
every county. Surely enough shall
not have been said upon this trans
confidently important subject until the
whole State is aroused more than it
has ever been before, or is now-un-
til the whole Church is aroused upon
the subject--until. finally, every good
citizen is awakened to the demands
of the day and hour in regard to the
facilities of education for the chill
cren Of our people-those who are so
soon to take our places in the State,
and Church and social circle, and to
be charged with the transmission OF
the blessings we enjoy-(and with all
detriments fairly weighed against
them, they are greater than the bles-
sings of any other people, perhaps)
to future generations. With these
| preliminary remarks, we come now
to the first general division of the
subject
TIE DUTY Ole TIE STATE.
Is it incumbent upon the Legisla-
ture of the State to provide a fund
for educational purposes? If SO, can
there be q question in the mind of
any man, that ttat duty is not fully
met, so long as the amount raised for
this specific object is inadequate to
the purpose for which it is provided?
Another question suggests itself in
this connection, which is this-If it is
the duty Of the State to provide a
fund for the purposes of sustaining
a public school system, is it not a
questionable policy, nay, is it not Of
the nature of dereliction Of duty, to
leave the question to the several
counties, as to how much they will
raise and apply within their own
particular limits to this object? The
Constitution authorizes a uniform
system of public schools, and, to say
nothing of the palpable departure
from the letter of the law, we think
experience will show, that while
some few counties are the gamers
by such an irregular system Of things,
as that to which we now refer, the
larger number of counties in the
State will greatly suffer by it, be-
cause they will fail to make that
provision for the education of their
children, which they ought to do,
and ,couId do, of course, if COMPEL
ed to pay tax for that purpose, ac-
cording to their ability.
But how, it may be asked, is the
Legislature to command the money
to inaugurate such system Of pub
lie schools, as the times demand
Gue as the money, they will be ready
to say, and we will give you as per
feet a system of graded schools fol-
every county in the State as you car
desire, good people of Tennessee
: But are you willing to be taxed fol-
it-are you willing to be hesrily ta1
ed for the sake of establishing anC
, maintaining such a plan Of popular
education as shall be the pride o
every citizen? No, are are not aoiiljn.
to be tared for 1t, the majority Of The
! people may say in answer to the
question of their legislators whicl
we have supposed them to ask. AnC
,chy not willing? Because they ar'
not aroused to the Importance of til,
subject, and the great need of {
+ thorough provision by the State 70
the education of its youth-a system
i. that shall be equal to thai of TIL
most favored State in this Union
/. for we should not aim at less thar
this.
In former days the State expend
- ed thousands for the building of turn
pixies and other interna! improve
ments. Later still, and she poure
s out her credit. and money too, like
i flood in aid of railroads. The pee
r. pie approved it, They saw the nee
= of it; they felt that Tennessee wa
. in danger of being left behind in til
race for commercial and agriculture
It greatness. and they bent their back
5. to the burden and bore it like mer
4 But now we are called to anothC
great effort. Our children point L
= to other States where provi
y ion is made for the education, ;
* public expense, OF the youth of bot
is sexes. that far excels what Tenne
- see has done. or is doing. Sham,
that our good old State should a
low herself to be distaEced in tn