Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-06-21
MEMPHIS TENN: MONDAY EVENING JUNE 21, 1875.

we THINK II IS not; but a common pur-
pose, of interest, of advantage, of utility
and necessity to all the State and all the
people alike; and one by no means per
tanning so peculiarly and exclusively to
the necessities Of municipal corpora
tioBs, as a right or privilege which pub
lie policy allows, as TO except it from the
general rule that taxation shall be equal
and uniform throughout the State. 1t
has been submitted to, we think, not so
much because it was lawful, as because
no person has found it so oppressive
and important to his own pecuniary in
terest as to warrant his coming for
ward individually and taking on himself
alone the burden of resistance. It is in
this way aud from this cause that a very
large share of expressions on the peo-
pie are perpetrated. And thus it is
seen how indispensable to reform is as
sociation and cooperation.
WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT.
The only and right principle on which
the property of one person may be law
fully taken for the benefit and education
of another is one which is universally
applicable that education is a means
of promoting intelligence and virtue and
preventing crime. This is as true of
one place as another, nd justifes uni
form tax, payable by all alike-a tax to
all the extent necessary to the accomp-
lishment of the object and not one cent
more. And that extends to the so-called
primary brancher and not further to
classical instruction. Learned ana scien-
ti6c men, the exceptions to their race,
may be raised up to usefulness, with the
help O. millions, to the advantage and
glory of the country. But intelligent
voters and good and useful citizess, it is
the object of tle law and of wise states
manship to rear in the bosom of the Re-
public, may be made without all the
learning necessary to the great, withou
large knowledge of astronomy, algebra,
painting. drawing, French, usic, en-
broidery or wax works, which are so anx-
iously sought by the would-be elite lead
ers Of ton for the benefit of their dar-
lings, at the public expense. The masses
of the people want none Of this effemina-
ting varnish and gloss so eagerly sought
by those who have multitude of aristo-
cratic yearnings. What they want is
ability to read and write their language
with understanding, accuracy and Auen-
cy, to know the geography and history
Of their country, and to be able by per
sOlal application to converse intelli-
gently and to keep their own accounts.
This is enough to make an intelligent,
patriotic, useful and law and liberty low
ing American citizen. And more than
this, nine out of ten-nay, ninety-nine
out of the hundred-of our people will
not take, for want of time, inclination,
opportunity or Capacity. And it results
that the money thus provided for the
many, at the expense of absolute oppres-
sion of all citizens who must directly or
indirectly support the government, and
to the retardation Of the public prosperi-
ty, goes to the benefit Of the few-the
would-be silk stockings, who herd so
readily in the interest of the official
classes and undertake so often and so
persistently to create a prejudice against
this particular reform They pretend to
great regard for the rights of the people,
when they care for nothing but to wiring
from all the public, money which they
should pay themselves, to fit their own
bantlngs for the drawingrooms and to
shine among the rich and enjoy luxu-
rious life without practical benefit to
society at large. Indeed, in the great
majority of instances this process even
tuates in the injury of the children for
the practical business of life, and often
in the utter destruction Of their capacity
to become useful citizens, or to any CON
siderable extent successful in augment
ing either the wealth or worth of them
selves or others. All this is to be for the
benefit of the now new-Aedged and
school-smitten dead-beats-not for the
benefit of our poor classes of people,
very few of whom ever 90 into the So
called high schools at all They want
none of it What they want is to pros
per with the whole public, to have the
policy of the government so favor the
reduction of expenditure to rich and
poor alike, that those who have most
property may be able to thrive enough
to be willing to give them work and to
buy their corn and meat and goods and
wares and at the same time have surplus
enough to pay cheerfully what is neces-
sary to prepare their children to the best
advantage for the rough and real bust
ness they are to follow And to the peo-
pie generally there is contemptuous
attempt to mislead them whenever
stump speakers or the press attempt to
win their votes for taxation in favor of
this expensive and wasteful fancy and
wax works system of instruction.
ABOLITION OF THE COURTS.
The abolition of one Circuit and one
Chancery Court was a measure of econ
om, which, before its enactment into
law, met strenuous opposition'on the part
Of considerable portion of the Mem
phis bar But the expectations of its
friends, that one court would be suffi-
cient for our purposes, may fairly be said
to have been realized already, as we have
had little more done since the law passed
than the fair labor of single Circuit
and single Chancery Court. A rot in
considerable saving it now quite mani
fest will be effected, and members of the
bar will find their convenience consulted
as well as their business expedited by
having fewer courts to attend. Com
plants are growing less frequent, and,
so far as we are apprised, the measure
now has the appreciation of the great
majority of the community, and we think
we may safely say that also Of the ma
inrity nfattnrnnrs ,rhn hnun nmnlnument