Mississippi Democrat. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1875-1???, 1875-08-25
TAe seheei Quss 'ton, NO. q.

II
summad mp one of it, greatest lessons
~ these wonls, Taxes Tor educa-
Fiion are like the vapor whi'h, drawn
gradually from the earth, decends in
fertilixfng showers"
There il perhaps mo- town In our
State more dependent for it, pros
perity upon It's sehools than Halle
hurst. We are as yet deficient in
mills, manufactures aud home indus
tries generally. Even Of these the
introduction depends largely upon
the existence ola good school sys.
TEN. Ofihe people who have here
toforc constituted our population not
less than ninety per cent, have been
attracted hIther by the prospect ct
educational facilities. In they and
those who now remain here Tor that
purpose should withdraw, the town
would speedily become q sal speeta-
Gle Of empty HOUSES, waste garden
patches, and deserted homcsteads.
II IL well known that we have in
our midst a small number oi bigOted
men who are opposed to our, and to
any, free school system. Fortunate.
~ they are very few. They consist
of three classes.
The first il by nature perversc
and opposed to all progress. There
are Que or two such In almost every
community. Ours are consistent
thorough going specimens of their
class. 80 far ~ we know them they
are entitled To the credit Ut sincerity.
They love darkness better than light
aud may as we'll be let alone. We
have never seen one OF this class eDn.
WINGED ct his error.
Another class Is OF property hold.
ers To whom no public expenditure
seems worthy unless its chief benefits
are immediate aud personal To them
selves. The patriotic ideas of work.
ing for tho public good aud OF rejoic-
ing ia the public prosperity are un.
known TO them. They have not
/ learned as members at the body poll.
tlc that their own chief good lies In
its prosperity. Their ideas OF rehg.
| ION does not rise above the getting OF
good, and does not include a. It's
great necessity the doing OF n. Am
| my brothers keeper! IL their eoa-
slant sentiment. Wien and how will
IL pay ne il the test of every public
measure. This class als0 IL beyond
the reach of argument, except those
ordinary and material considerations
which We 10 not now propose TO re-
count.
The third class somewhat numcr-
Gus, aud in their own estimation
powerful. would make this like all
other public bcnciactions sub-ervicnt
Ia their private or party ends. The
only question concerning any policy
in regarl 90 the public schools ~
with them. how will il effect our par
~, AMI how will Il effect our interest
aud that Of our friends. This party
is stronger ia numbers than the other
two. but il j. really weaker than
either from the absence OF any CON
viction upon which it, action Is has-
ell, and because IL ~ essentially cap
tiOus and enyious. Ii il also weaker
than either from the rcpugnancc aud
condemnation OF the public who en-
tertains for its spirit and claims a
hearty aversion. la the estimation
of this party NO greater grounds OF
offence can exist than sgcccss, IL only
the success does not minister To their
preiudiccs and does not rebound TO
the tnrthcrancs OF their schemes. Ia
fact the usefulness of all public and
benevolent enterprises IN tested by
the simple question will II help our
cause ="
The arguments of all the parties
are the same that have been used
for times immemorial, agliinst free
schools. They have been so often
reputed and are now so hi,le able tn
impose upon the minds OF voters
that they arr kept most In the back.
grounds. And new class OF appeals
founded on prcjudices and on Inven-
tions has taken their place. IL isnot
proposed to deal nj present with any
of their objections, but IN few mum
bers to discuss some Of the advant.
ages of our municipal school system
and some Of the dangers to which II
IL liable.
We are certain that when the case
Is laid fully before our townfolk, as
II shall be, every enemy OF the sys-
tenn whether open or covert viii ind
that the people have but little use for
him, No amount of professions, 60
pecially such rs are made on the eve
Of elections, viii satisfy. by their
deeds shall We know them. Tho
eyes ofthe people have followed and
will follow oil their actions with the
closest scrutiny. All such as cannot
make clear their record may as well
''step down and out" The income on
few rude tenenents, the immunity
ofa few bits Of unimproved land, are
not considerations that can control
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