Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-12-10
Gs.thsr,' Column.


VDRafhEr9 VDOlMtl1t.
W. E. PARKER. Edite
OTTAWA, ILL.,, Nov. ~, 1875.
w. E. PARKER-Dear Sri desire to
be Informed what right the authorities
have to tax me, to take my property by
force, to get money to educate, scientific
ally, my neighbOrs' childrens l am will
ling TO be taxed, and / think of right
should be, to enable everybody's children
to learn to read and write; since the State
requires everybody TO know the law" it
is simple justice for the State to afford ev.
erybody the means of obtaining that
knowledge. But the duty of the State
ends there. All beyond that point is un-
doubtedly simple robbery; and til ,se who
are unable ar unwilling to educate their
children at their own expense after the
State has afforded them, gratuitously, a
knowledge of the three RS, as it used to
be called, ''readin', ritin and 'ritbmetic, do
not avail themselves of the present oppor-
tunities, the graduates from our so-called
high schools numbering less than one per
cent. of the enrolment in the grammar
schools, while the expenses per capita is
prOporti0nately greater. await your an
swer to the above query, IN the Teachers
Column. Yours truly, Fl.
As 'the State requires everybody to
know the law" H. admits that it is right
and just that everybody should be taxed
to afford means of obtaining that knowl-
edge; this is saying he is willing to be
taxed because it is the will of the major
ity. Then, if the State, the people, put
the limit little higher, thus requiring
more means, why object to being taxed to
afford the necessary means to reach the
limit? Or, putting it more literally, II.
admits that it is necessary, or at least,
good for subjects of law, to know the law
under which they live; and, also, for the
welfare of the State that the people know
the law; hence he is willing to be taxed
for the good, the happiness of the people.
Will H. affirm or deny the following pro-
positions?
LIST. The end of government is the hap
pi"sss Of the people.
COrollary-Government should supply
the means for the prosperity and happi.
ness of the subjects.
I'd. The permanency Of a republican
form Of g'oernment depends upon the an
tel!igencr and oirtue of the people.
Sd. Happiness, tAepl asurable, consists
in tho legitimate, uno6structed and sner-
critic action Of all our faculties.
4th. knowledge and discipline are the
objects Of an educa ION; discip inc 6eing
Of the greater Importance.
Corollary-In estimating the value of
any branch of study it is to be adjudged
useful or otherwise, mainly, by the dici-
pline it furnishes.
A full discussion of this question would
lead over the ground intended to be cover
ed by these propositions more. l
shall not attempt to ans wer this question,
ut any length, until H. admits or denies
the propositions. l write this with the
expectation that it will be answered; so
much was indicated in part of the letter.
If mistake, H. will excuse me.
] anticipate the propositions; The State
has no right to levy and collect tax for
the purpose of educating. scientifically,
the people
Wayland puts the case thus: To an IN
tellectual being, in cultivated state of
society, a certain amount OF knowledge
may be considered necessary of life. If
he do not possess 1t, he is shut out from Il
vast source Of enjoyment; is liable to be.
come the dupc of the designing. and to
sink down into mere animal existence
By learning how to read, he is enabled to
acquire the whole knowledge which is
contained within language. By writing
he can act where lie cannot be personally
present, and can. also, benefit others by
the communication of his own thoughts
By the knowledge of accounts, he is en-.
abled to be just in his dealings with others,
and to be assured that others arc just in
their dealings with him.
So much as this may be considered nee.
essary, the rest is not So The duty OF
thus educating child, belongs, in the
first instantce, to the parent. But since,
so much knowledge as this is indispen-
sible to to the child's happiness, if the
parent be unable to furnish it, the child
becomes, in so far, an object Of cAurity.
And as it is for the benefit of the whole
society, that every individual shall be thus
far instructed, it is properly, also, sub
jcct of social regulation. And, hence,
provision should be made, at public ex
pense, for the education of those who are
unable 10 procure it.
In SO far, then, as education is necessary
10 enable US to accomplish the purposes
Of our existence, and to perform our
duties to society, the obligation to make
provision for the universal enjoyment of
it, comes within the law of benevolence.
ITO an intelligent being, in cultivated
state of society, certain amount of
knowledge may be considered necessity
of life." This sentence puts very low
estimate upon the human intellect, making
the intellect valuable only as it subscrvcs
mans selfish propensities, enabling him
to cope with the animal propcnsities Of
his kind; for state the sentence which the
given sentence evidently contains and we
have, to an intelligent being, in an uncul-
,ivAted state of society, this certain amount
Of knowledge may be considered not a
necessary of life We ask whys Accord
ing to the sentence given US the answer
must be, he has as much intellectual
power rs his fellows, and is ia no danger
of being overreached by them. IF he
does not possess it, he is shut out from a