, 1875-02-24
COMPULSORY EDITOATION,

The audiences attracted by the Sunday
Lecture sociotyfs course aro thoroughly rep
rcaentative Of the people. They contain
mo1nbors OF every class. Thoir sentiments
gIvo trustworthy clow to popular feeling. It
III, then, significant fact that throughout
this winter tho hcarticst applause has been
given by these audiences to every argument
or cxhortation in bchalf OF compulsory cdu.
cation. Tho most "telling" sentences Of
the lecture of Alessrs. JuBsN and PARTON
woro those IN which they urged this reform
md tho applause which greeted DaApLAuon's
passionate appeal III it's bol,nlf last Sunday
was exceeded only by that which
answered his declaration against Sec
tarianism in State schools. The
feeling in favor Of compulsory education is
evidently strong, It is not local. Nine
Staten have alroaay adopted this wise meeE-
urc. Tho Empire State whoolcd into line on
the first day Of 1876. Pennsylvania is now
considering the subject, Tho Governor rec
commended compulsory education III Ills a,a-
nua lnossago, and quoted convincing facts
md Aguros in its buhalf. This portion Of
tho message wins referred to a special COM
,nit.oo, which Ia expected to report law.
Meanwhile, ono enthusiastic Legislator Inns
published tho statistics prepared by Mr.
DEXTER A. HAWKINS for tho Now Yor,t Coun-
Gil Of Political Reform, Tho striking figures
wcro widely circulated in Now York, and
had much to do with the passage Of the new
law. In Illinois, tho House Committee on
Education has reported bill which provides
that every child shall attond school for threo
months {including six consecutive woehs) in
each year. A bill Of this sort passed tho lust
House and WIS unfortunately lost by very
close vote In tho Senate. In the lattcr, press
of other business killed It. II there had
boon time to discuss It, 1t would probably
have become q law.
4 minority report has been submitted to
In opposed, 30 tho dispatches say, on "con-
stitutional grounds, nmongothers. The con-
stitutionnl argument Which is alwnya put
forth by tho adyocatoa OF popular ignorance,
is not tonable. It con be urged against tho
construction Of savers or tho maintenance Of
police forco with equal effect. The other
grounds doubtless consist Of the old cry
against the bugaboo centrallzation, md OF
the atock phrases about "intorfcronco with
parental rights" depression Of tho tudi.
yid,a1," aud similar barbarian nonsense. A
! parent hoa duties Us well as rights Ho has
| 10 more right to starye tho mind and
! soul OF tho child for wlloao existence
he Is responsible thnn ha has to starvo its
body. The child Is helpless in both cases.
| The State intertorea IN one, and yet We are
told 1t Is not to interfero in the prociaely par-
allel oasot Tho child itself hos no reason ia
/ complain. II might aa well claim tho right
to walk tho streets mass ot smallpox pus.
tulcs as to roam through them carrying tue
contagon OF ignorance and crime. II VIC
cau send the lad to Jail Jor law.breaaing, We
can surely send him to school to keep him
(tuns law-breaking. Tho men who bnndly
follow HERDERg SpESoEa's declaration tl,ai
the State has no right to compel
education, need to be reminded thai
9pENcEa says also, In tho samo book
that tho State has no right to deny
tho suffrage to women and children. All
government Is matter Of sxpodicncy,
6tatesmansbip consists IN the adaptation u
temporary means to shifting onda It would
be an absurtlity to apply the non.intertarenct
theory strictly. It would mako tho State ut
terly povcrless, Government would moi
oven play policeman. It could not lay q fool
OF sewer or q yard OF wates-maln. It could
not pave streets or dx hre-lmita. It oouli
do nothing. oom1Qasosy sauaAtl@ Ia tor til