The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-02-11
For the Milan Exchange
ARaEr nlH00IK

| or bne bNcuhuec
ABaUT sCH0OIS-
We are again before you, Mr. Edi-
tor, TO beg space in your paper, as
you have been once so kind as to let
US have room, for line or two. We
wil try and be briet, however, and
not initiate the old saying, =" A Dor
rowed horse rides free" Weare young,
and unfortunately for us have not a
superabundance Of time to spare,
especially in doing nothing. We are
Young, indeed. in the cause which we
espouse. We call upon the people,
our neighbors, our friends, far and
near, for aid and not pass US lightly by
In the name of our bleeding country,
in the name of her people, in the
name of generations yet to come, and
in the name Of all We hold sacred,
assist us in bringing about reform,
especially in our moral community.
| The whole country seems to be
shrouded in torpor land stupefaction,
while the irresistible car Of time
moves en-, stirring nothing, as a pha-
Ianx among the tombs. Life is short.
1--WE must educate, we must educate,
or we must perish by our own pros
perity." Never, perhaps, have the
necessities for thorough system Of
education been go apparent, and we
think a system can he established by
which the most startling results can
be attained, if all who can read or
write will become co workers in ar
ousing those Who may be resigned to
lethargy. The people, We think, would
be willing to assume and maintain an
Independent system Of education. We
are for reform and progress. We
an to build asad place on a solid
foundation a system that will do credit
to its architects for generations yet
unborn, and whose names may lie
adored among the great bensfactors OF
the human race.
We want system by which our
children may be educated, something
Tor which they will thank and respect
our gray hairs, even when our pulse
has almost ceased to beat, and our
feet are lettering on the verge of an
lev grave. We want system by
which our country, rs natl Ia, may
I've the model Of all the surrounding
republics and monarchics, and before
whose shrine they My be compelled
To kneel and pay homage, which would
be so justly due. Our views are
simply these, and if any person docs
not approve them, We should ike to
hear from him through the good
EXCHANGE, and We will try something
else. We propose, in our own neigh
borhood. to meet and form ourselves
into a deliberative body, with all the
necessary officers, and it shall be fee
to.anv man or woman in the district,
who may wish to become members or
spectators. We will draft constitu-
ton and bylaws by which every indi-
vidual, who is member, shall bc
governed. We would claim power to
tax every perfon who is member,
but no one who is not. To illustrate,
cav We place tax on every child OF
every family between the ages Of six
and tsenty-one years, to be collected
off the head Of such family, and a
certain tax on all men who are mem
b.rs of this society, between the ages
of twenty-one and sixty years, say
g for each child and 81 on men, this
would enable us to have at least eight
months sch,cl out Of every twelve.
Though tLeIs are numerous objec-
lions to this move, We viii try and
dispel them. 1st.-One will say in
the first place, We are taxed now
50 high that We can scarcely live, and
| if you place any more Oh Us We would
I've sold out completely" Another
says, 1--WE ale already paying tax
to educate our children. and it is of
very little ben, fit, if any" Another,
q cannot scl.d my children eight
months in twelve. must keep them
at home to help me work and help
support the family" Here is the man
who Is taxed so high. Let US see;
Whisky, per annum, $1,000; tobacco,
per annum, $1,000; land $1,000 pei
| 100 acres, $500; poll tax s1.50-
total, $1,000. Now this is heavy, the
land and poll especially, the other be
ing necessary, Of course.
Now, if this man, allow him his
tobacco, would pay annually into tho
district treasury $1,000, the amount
paid for whisky, it would pay for five
of his children at 81 each, and would
he ever miss it Say fifty men ply
this each, it would pay-any respecta
lie teacher well to teach for them
eight months.
Here is the second man who says
We get very little benefit Of th'
taxes already aid" ! agree viii
yon No. 2, tut have you never in
quired into the cause. There is rot
enough simply to teach long enough
at one time; il is cut up too much in'
piece meals, and does your children
no good scarcely. Aid these schools
are taught at such season OF tl.'
wear. when the children cannot hal
learn, but this will help out our sys
TEN. No. 3 you say that you canno
send so long as eight months. Well
send all half tie time, or one or tw'
all OF the time and keep the rest a
home to help you work, and l assur
you every thing will move easily i
YOU will make. according to the ole
maxim, Industry fortunes RICH
hand and economy her left"
Your children may 60 to schoo
eight months, and if large enough t.
do even half mans work, woul'
make $50. 90 on Saturdays, and woul'
; this not be better than their being oil
the banks of rivers fishing or sporting
, in the neighborhood.
Says 4th, 81 might as well pa,
teacher at once for my children.
Yes, You might Mr. A, if you coul
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