New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-08

an expenditure intended to enhance
the productive forces of society and
increase the common ability to maintain
common obligations. 4 boy would be no
more degraded when society places a
primer in his hand, than when afterward
| 1t thrusts, with anxious alarm, musket
into the same hands and bids the bearer
60 forth to battle to the death for the
safety Of the very property which may
have complained OF having had to pur-
chase the primer.
As corol,ary to the principle that the
children Of the man who has no property
should go without public education, it is
added the control of the public schools ap-
pertain to those who pay the school taxes or
to their representatives. The various mu-
inequalities comprising the city of New Or
LEAFS were, a long time ago, governed by
the custom Of Paris, but in the United
States municipal authority, whether of
county, city or parish, is subject to the
paramount authority of the State Or to
the right of ellinen: domain of the United
States It would not be we'll to 60 back
to the times when cities were made indie
pendent OF the government to which they
belonged. It is the mission of the re-
public to confuse and refute many
usages and institutions of old Eu-
rope. For that reason our ancestors
emigrated. We have seen the indepen-
dent autonomy Of this city advocated in
many respects. It should govern the
schools and direct the police, and enact
after the Oldest style of gifts to royal
courtiers advocated. We have at hand
published project to give almost every at
tribute Of municipal authority to in
div;duals. We are to have an Earl of
the Markets, a Duke Of the Wharves,
Marquis Of the Waterworks. It is now
proposed that those who pay the school
tax, or those who represent the municipal
taxpayers shall have the exclusive right |
to regulate the amount and application Of
the fund.
There are some difficulties in the way
OF this proposal. The constitution Of |
Louisiana orders the establishment of at |
least one free public school in every par
ish, and provides for its support by taxa
ton or otherwise All children between |
SIX and twenty.oIe shall be admitted to
these schools in common without distinc-
ton Of race. It forbids the establishment
Of any separate schools for the education
Of any race exclusively, and it forbids any
corporation-New Orleans, for
to make any rules or regula-
tons contrary to the spirit or intentions
Of these requirements.
We have noted this struggle to secure
,he control Of the public schools to the
Of those who pay the
axes. It is going on in Canada, where
military power has been required to COM
Del one sect Of Christians to send their
children to the same school with others.
The same principle Of separate schools,
he Bible no school book, and the right OF
he taxpayer to organize the public
chools, has been asserted in the United
'tates. Neither principle is. however,
within the scope of the American system.
is alike public duty and public policy
0 educate everybody. The schoolhouse
} no place to propagate politics or relig-
JUS opinions. |
We should oppose the reduction Of the !
,hool fund below the sum sufficient to
iucate well every child in the State. No
ne can say whose child should be de-
rived Of education, and very few, except
lie very hidebound holder of tenement
r rent, would be willing to see the many
Dor women who now receive a pittance
ON the school fund for their useful serv~
g RENTED to original and unmitigated !
,verty. The arrogance and ignorance OF
ealth can not show itself in a more hate !
! form than IN denying to the children :,
the poor the blessing Of little edu-
ton
It IS fortunate tha. IN this republic
ither kings nor priests can deprive the u !,
ople Of this right, Or, indeed, OF any u
her which they deem indispensable to d
cir freedom, happiness and intelligence. Il
e deal with the taxpayer here as France Ii
ais with her soldiers. We make him =
y for the defense of his property by L
ucating you'll, to industry and above q
me. France arrests the poor young u
N and makes him stand guard over the 'e
uses and stores Of the taxpayer. We o.
nix ours the best system, and defy any o.
? to change il against the will of the al
n and women who have children to be o.
.cated.
OTHER CASE OF AGGRESSION AND
pIJNTSUNrET |