Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-12-22
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
By w. b. =. muburn.

JOyment uf personal liberty, the sue
cesslul development Of our free instu-
tions, and the very existence of Pro
testantism, depend upon the education
of the people, Is demonstrated by the
united efforts OF the Romish Church
to paralyze, to destroy our system Of
public instruction. That this Church
has made this attempt does not admit
of discussion. For years it has been
stealthily laying plans to accomplish
what it now boldly attempts. Should
it succeed, all that is dear to American
freemen will be lost this glorious edi-
flee of Representative Government,
the rich legacy bequeathed to us by
our Revolutionary sires, the sublime
monument of their achievements and
wisdom, will fail, and fall 10 rise no
more. The same instruments OF tor
ture, that were used by the Inquisition
of Toulouse, will be in demand and the
same scenes Of cruelty and british bar
barity that stain the past history of
that Church will be re-enacted in
America.
The tyrant is ever opposed to free
thought, free speech, and free press
hence, the Romish Church is "A tyrant,
The tyrant Berkeley, Governor of the
Colony of Virginia, said: 81 thank
God there are no free schools nor print
ing presses here, and l hope we shall
not have them these hundred years.
God keep us from both"
How kindred the spirit of this hea-
flemish sentiment, uttered by cruel
tx,r hnnIVnI 10 ha|
following. from the Catholic Tele-
graph of the present day at will be
glorious day for Catholics in this
country, when under the laws of JUS
tice and morality our school system
shall be shivered to pieces. Until
then modern paganism will triumph"
why does this Church oppose public
schools? Because, the light of truth
aud air Of freedom proves fatal to it.
In order that il may live here, it is
now attacking the very citadel of free
| uom. 1t Is attempting to destroy the
| very foundation upon which the SUI
perstructure of our Government rests !;
and it is nightly at work. IL we
| yield T. its demands, the eX-
pul-ion Of the Bible from public
/ schools, Oh - division of the school
! fund, we submit to the adversary,
and suffer the destruction Of our sys-
/ tenn of schools. and the1iuul overthrow
of thvGOverumcut. Shouldn't we resist
| its willy attacks? Should we not resent
| its unreasonable and invldiOus de-
| mands? The power with which We
should oppose these eucroachments
should only be oqualed by our love for
freedom and for truth. The poten-
tious clouds ere gathering IN the pO!it-
zeal sky; we should prepare for the
storm. The next great battle ia he
half Of freedom and free government
will be fought by the friends OF free
thought, free speech, free press and
free schools with the forces of thu
Pope. Should il come to a contest oil
arms, il will be the blDUdiest in tht
annals Of time. The only way TO ar
rest it is 10 maintain healthy and
I, vigorous system Of public schools
, This will render the foe powcrless
and make stable the foundation of oul
Government. Universal education i,
"a defense, not only against papal pow
err, but also against every other specie.
OF tyranny. Without II we are Liable
10 become the dupes of the demagOgue
10 be used as instruments
for his own personal ag'
grandisemeut. The great reason why
public schools are unpopular and inef
ficient in Tennessee is that the masses
are ignorant of their results. The PEG
pie have been led and instructed 10y
political demagOgues, who know how
to feel the public pulse, (Which is th'
public purse). These political SOlont
cry taxes, taxes, taxes my dear fell
, low-countrymen,y ouare overburdeneC
! | . !, To Won Gnnnnrt a ~
, TEN of public schools, embracing TIT
University, the High School and tn,
Common Tor Primary School at most
you can only have a Common School
and that only three months in tn
year, Thus we have been duped ev
5 er since the State had an existence
: The truth is, our ignorance has cost u
millions of dollars, and has been sucl
weight that many States, younger b!
2 score of years, have far surpassed on
e. beloved Tennessee.
2 Not only are political and religion
liberty directly dependent upon educa
3 ton, but it is coming to be seen NOR
- and more that capital and all materia
] possessions reach their greatest valu
: only in the most highly civilized com
2 munities; hence, it may be safely pre-
4 dictated that money invested by tn
D State in free schools gives "a larger div
e idend than any other investment pos
o sible. Why are the cultivated na
. tons Of Europe more wealthy tha
e the rude nations of Africa? VIII
r are the United States infinitely NOR
. wealthy now, than when the red ma
=. of the forest reigned supreme? Win.
does Massachusetts, with her barre
soil, and cold, bleak hills, yield pc
aunum an average per capita, NOR
n than twice as large as Tennessee wit
,. her fertile fields, her inexhaustibl
q resources and salubrious climate
e The difference in education makes tn
= difference in the results.
i The Historian Irving says: Tn
= discoveries of the Portuguese were tn
1 wonder and admiration Of the fifleent
: century, and Portugal, from being on
|. of the least among nations, suddenl
e rose to be one of the most impOrtan
v All this was affected. not by arms, br
by art; not by the stratagem OF a cab
net, but by the wisdom of colleg
y. May it not also be said, that it was II
j. schools of Prussia that crowned h'
q arms with victory aud placed the chal
| Lot Of tho apnnnprOr thp head Z