The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-09-09
Speech of the Hon. a. B. Monahan, on
the School Library Question, de-
iVered in the House of
Representatives,
- 1860,

I am opposed, Mr.. Speaker, to the
amendment of the gentleman from Ham
| ilton, even more than l am opposed tc
| the suspension of the tax For that, there
/ might be show of reason in thenecessity
of the case; in the heavy taxes and the
hard times; in the blight of frosts, the
unfruitful season. I can appreciate al
/ this, Mr.. Speaker. In this, l say, There
May be an excuse for suspending the tax
but none for its repeal I am for re
trenchment and no man is more earnest
ly so than am; but I would retrench
in the right direction I would cut of
expenses that were really useless, or that
we could well do without; but, Mr..
Speaker, we cannot do without knowl-
edge. We can afford as citizens of the
State, to leave our State House unfinish-
ed; we can afford as individuals, to eat
coarse fare, and wear coarse raiment: but
we cannot afford as a State to leave our
sons to grow up in ignorance; we can
not spare the supply of light and knowl-
edge. We can starVe our bodies but our
minds are too precious to starve
The gentleman from Miami presents
an argument which is blow at the whole
school system. He would almost leave
US to think that education was at war
with labor. Surely he would not pass
such a sentiment as this upon the House
Perhaps the gentleman forgets of how
much more value the man is than the
dollar. He comes from the rich valley
of the Miami where they raise tall corn,
fat cattle and heavy hogs. I came from
the huckleberry knobs of the Hooking
where the earth does not yield SO boun-
tifully; where we must force the soil by
industry and then cannot raise the corn
and cattle and hogs that they can on the
Miami. But this we can do. We can
raise men; and we want to build school
houses and have schools for them to
learn in and books to furnish them
knowledge when they have learned to
read. We want our rugged boys and
bright-eyed girls who live in the cabins
alongside of our sterile hills, to grow up
with well stored minds, enlightened by
knowledge and shining with intelligence,
as their hearts are warm and true We
would raise men who are men, and we
want the schools to train them. Then
we will compare products with you. You
may bring your tall corn and fat cattle;
but we will call from our Huckleberry
knobs our stately sons and sprightly
daughters, with clear heads and warm
hearts; true to their country and their
race; enlightened, free and independent
their duties and seeing their
destinies in the elevation of mankind.
No, Mr.. Speaker, education does not
interfere with useful and profitable labor
nay, school learning does not We
lose no dollar that goes toits support 1
have heard no excuse for the repeal of
this library clause 1t works well where
it has been properly tried, as members
on this floor testify. The poor man can
not afford to do without it. 1t offers fa-
cilities that are too valuable for him to
spare. The general diffusion of knowl-
edge among all classes is what we want,
those who cannot buy books
I fear that this fit of retrenchment will
lead members too far; that in their haste
to save money, they may do the cause of
education Gan injury that they would
gladly repair when it is too late.
l hope, Mr.. Speaker, the amendment
will not prevail. 1 hope this library, and
whatever else is essential to the educa-
ton of the whole people may be carefully
to Us, that when we have occa-
sion to show the world our wealth, we
shall point to our we'll educated sons and
daughters as the Roman mother did
'these are my Jewels"