Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-06-12

| sistent and relentless war has been
waged, ostensibly upon the school
board, but in truth aimed at the
system Of public education itself
Reinforcement" was the openIy-prO-
| claimed battle-cry; abolition" was the
secretly-Whispered countersign. Ia the
past, as in the present, our city has been
embarrassed with debt, Occasioned by
mal-admini5tration and reckless ex-
penditure OF public funds. To meet the
obligations thus imprudently Ito use no
harsher term) assumed, increased taxg-
ton was, OF course, necessary. These
additional burthens imposed upon q pso-
pie already Oppressed beyond tine point
where forbearance ceases to be a virtue
presented q fitting opportunity for the
enemies OF public education to inaugu-
rate active opposition against that which
they had so long secretly sought to uu-
dermiue. With the cunning that gives
the first snd, may add, only evidence
Of their intelligence, these indictments,
who could see no good in any,
thing not manipulated by them
selves, or directly conducive to their
own selfish ends, begun their crusade
against the public schools. Their patri-
otto souls were outraged at What they
were pleased to call "this New England
innOvatiOn;" they could not under
stand "Why the children Of one man
should be educated at the expense Of an
other" On the streets, through the
press, and otherwise, they labored to
make it appear that it was an exEen-
sive school system, that was eating out
the vitals of our people. And their Ia
Dor was not without its reward; it i'm.
posed upon many good citizens, and
finally eliminated in procuring from an
inexperienced and timid legislature
mistaking the clamOr Of an excited few
for the UOr pOpuJi, ever potent with the
political recruit-an enactment of IsRs
which, if they fail to destroy
the sioause OF public education,
will fall short of the object contemplated
by its Originators. refer mainly TO the
reduced limit of taxation for school pur-
poses, aud pronounce it contrary to
sound policy, and utterly at variance
with the enlightened spirit Of the age.
Ten dollars per annum for each
pupil in actual attendance is
the reform figure. Think OF it, you who
have children to educate. IF war is TO
be made on the schools because they
cost money, in the name Of common
oCAACC GAoEAf 1AOW dlC LAlCI 10 survive.
What is it that is worth having that
can be procured without money? Even
religion, which is said to be without
money and without price, appears some-
what to the contrary when Won under
take to build churches and supply crea-
ture comforts for the parsOn. Educa-
ton, then, the handmade of religion,
certainly deserves some sacrifice at your
hands carried perfection it is less costly
than the suppression of crime, and it
brings return materially and morally
not to be estimated in dollars and cents.
Time would not allow, even were it
necessary before such an audience, to
enumerate the arguments that can be,
and have been, adduced in support Of
this great truth; let it suffice that Wher-
ever public education has been properly
fostered and encouraged, it has proven
itself second only to religion in its be-
and healthful results. l would
not be understood as impugning the
motives of all those who have COM
planned of the burdens imposed upon
them by the schOOl-taX. Not a few of
our best citizens have honestly thought
that retrenchment could be attained in
the control OF our schools without serious
detriment TO the cause of education,
and have addressed earnest but digni-
fed appeals to those entrusted with this
charge invoking economy. By the
school board their voice has always been
their counsels appreciated
and most generally followed. My re-
marks are aimed only at those who are
hostile to the institution itself, and whose
enmity is but poorly disguised under the
mantle of retrenchment. Without re.
gard, however, to the conflicting mo-
lives Of those procuring and favOTiDg the
legislation Of which l have spoken, the
fact is before us that the income
for school purposes has been cut
off fifty per cent. To meet the
OF a reduced revenue,
your school board has remOdeled
the entire working Of our system re-
the city for the purpose Of |
the number OF schools, di-
our corps Of teachers, reducing
salaries, and by establishing halliday
schools, they have brought the esti-
mated expenditure within the supposed |
means at their disposal. Whether such
reduction will leave you a system of
public education adapted TO the wants Of
our people remains to be seen. Whether
such an emasculated institution,
when placed in contrast with the
thorough and efficient facilities for edu-
cation afforded by other great cities,
will invite immigration and meet the re-
4uirements of growing city, is yet to
be tested. If so, then all honor to those
whose efforts have brought about the
change. If, on the other hand,it should
fail to fill the measure Of popular expect
alton, if its inetficiency should cause it
to lose its hold upon the affection of its
patrons, and its insignificsnce eXcitet the
ridicule of more enlightened cOmmuni.
ties, then upon their heads rest the re-
5pOnsibility. The present members of
the schOOl-bOard can eXClaim to the
ghost Of departed leaving, "ThOu canst
not say l did it; never shake thy CORY
locks at me-" The judgment and expe-
renee of majority of this board, COM
posed as it is of men from all the varied
avOcntions and walks of life, is as / have
indicated; but they unite most heartily
10 an honest effort, and invoke your cor
1ial cooperation to give to this new or
der. of things fair and impartial
trial. The cause of public edu-
cation must, and will go forward. II
with this limited revenue it achieves
success so much the better; if not, it
will still go on, conquering and to con-
IuOr. 1t is right that it should be so,
and being right it will be so.
Upon the conclusion Of the address
he reading of essays was resumed.
Miss Sue Nays essay, "Blind Spin
lers," was one Of the best compositions
If the evening. The subject was grace
'ully treated, and the comparisons made |
If the most illustrative character. The
)ratiOn Of Master Rivers Blythe Meri- |
Uether was entitled 4" Man, His Own
Master" The subjectOwas discussed
n q comprehensive and liberal manner,
he moral agency of man, his intelli-
yence and relations to society being pre-
Iented in scholarly style by the speak.
sr, whose effort was very much appreci-
ited by the audience. Miss Kate Stin- |
lett's essay, "Dame Natures Secrets"
wat quite interesting, and therefore
1t was unique in charac-
.er, and replete with rhetorical beauty.
Miss Ellen EdmOndsOn's essay, Follow
Thou thy Star" partook of nigh lite
'ary excellence, the advice being well
Ounded and gracefully expressed. Miss
Fannie Phillips essay, entitled "What
al the World Say" was original,
Orcible, and just to the point. /
Its sarcasm was severe but appropriate,
It's irony well timed, and its general |
Jpirit in harmony with what was in
ended to be illustrated by the essay. |
The valedictory, "Whst NeXt?" by |
Miss Jeanette Long, who, rightly APP |
the subject, made her re-