Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-04

HOMH6Q p~lllueOpltAS dAu hIAOo -
world. Iheard a gentleman assert the
other day that the counties which mad
levied liberal taxes for common schools
invariably had good crops. think there
was perhaps something fsnciful in this, Tor
1 am sure i'll could prove it to be an lnyari-
able rule, and that the levy OF the tax
was the cause, thre would not be an oppo-
nent to a liberal tax levy IN your good
county. But 1 will tell you what is found
in the Jewish Tslmud, as 1 am informed.
On a certain occasion of drouth all the pious
men of Judea united in praying for rain,
but the dry season continued nOtWith-
standing their prayers. After a long season
Of this drouth, q very Insignificant looking
person asked the privilege TO offer up a
prayer, which being granted and the pray
er offered up, q bountiful rain Immediately
succeeded. WhereupOn the surprised con
creation asked the man whence anne the
virtue Of his prayer. To which he re-
spOnded 81 am a teacher O flittle children
This parable at least illustrates how highly
the ancient Jews estimated education. And
we ought not to be surprised at such a judg-
ment, when inspiration tells US that the
Saviour said, in rebuke TO his disciples,
"Suffer little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not, for Of such is the
kingdom of heaven" And, gentlemen,
they are not only the "kingdom of heaven"
but they are emphatioally the kingdom of
this earth also. They are the future rulers
and governors, as / have already said, of
our country. Property does not constitute
the State; taxes do not constitute the State;
neither land nor personally are the State,
but the mean of building it up. What
says the poet:
What constitutes a State?
Not high raised bsttlements or labOred mound,
Thick wall or, or mOated gate;
Not bays and broad armed ports,
where, laughing at the storm, rich naEies
Not starred and spangled courts,
Where loW-bOund baseness watts perfume to
pride.
No-men, high minded men,
With powers, as far above duh brutes endued
In forest, brake or den,
As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude.
den who their duties know,
But know their rights, and knowing, dare msin-
Prevent the long aimed blow,
And crush the tyTant, while they rend the chain
These constitute a State.
Now, gentlemen, if this proposition be
true, as none can doubt who have intelli-
gently observed the working of our free
government, let me ask in all candOr,
whether YOU do not think that which con-
stitutes a State, its men should not be edu-
Gated to know their duties as well as to
know their rights? Can you ever expect the
good ship Of state to navigate the danger
GUS waters Of human history and of mys-
FERROUS destiny unless her keel be true, her
spars trim, her masts sound, her sails even
IL spread, her ballast steady, her Tudder in
good condition, her compass exact, andhe e
pilot vigilant, steady and intelligent at the
wheel. All her parts must be in exact or.
der, and trim, sound and true. Her crew
must be qualified, too, and must be well
acquainted with the waters in which they
are navigating. You can't make such a
ship out Of any kind of green timber. You
can't fasten her planks with rusty or i'm
perfect bolts. You can't use sappy trees for
Eer masts. You must fashion, mold and
shape each part until you make a perfect
model, and then you may set out on your
voyage safely and with good prospects Of
making a u haven.
Why, gentlemen, not to drop the figure,
is it of no Importance that you should fash
ion the timber carefully out Of which you
construct a vessel 10 which is constantly
entrusted such priceless destinies? Here
YOU live in a celebrated stOCk-Talsing cOuD-
try, Justly celebrated for its bluegrass and
fine breeds of cattle. Each n Of you
know all the "pOints" ola fine horse; YOutake
care to make yourself acquainted with each
quality Of your colts, to train them most
sedulOusly, . break them with care, 10
learn them all the ehOrse sense" as it is
sometimes expressed, that they will alb
sorb. Your COtswold, SOuthdOwns and
Merinos come in for similar training. And
so Of your Durhams, Ayershires and Al
derneys. Even your pig styes are by no
means neglected. Your Berkshires and
Essex hogs are trained and raised with
great pains. This is all well. l commend
YOU highly for it, and am sure, if you man
age well, it will prove remunerative. II
has been said that 4 traveller from another
sphere once visited our earth and witnessed
all this p~ainsta6ing labor On the part Of
men to rear, improve and perfect the
different species Of the brute ere
alton, and the great neglect eX-
hibited in rearing, educating and perfecting
the young Of their " species. On his re-
turn to his own sphere, on making a report
of his explorations, he remarked that 'If
this strange creature man would but bestoW
one-half the time, care and attention in
rearing, Cultivating and perfecting the
young Of his own species-his own progeny
that be does in rearing the inferior brutes
called sheep, hogs and cattle, mankind
would, in a short space, attain 10 the per-
fiction and elevation for which they were
designed by the great Creator" Don't you
think, gentlemen, il is worth your while to
look somewhat TO this matter and give some
time in examining the "Points," as We say
Of a horse, Of our own young? They have
faculties capable EOf almost indefinite eX-
pansion. They have some aspirations
which it is well to cultivate and some 70
repress. They have minds that may be
1 trained in almost the highest perfection.
You may make Of them useful, good citi-
zens, if not philosophers, or you may neg
lect them, until they will blindly wander
into the darkest paths Of folly and vice.
will say a few words, with reference 70
! the cost Of your public schools, and then
leave the matter Of properly supporting
them in your hands. According TO the
| report of my worthy predecessor, Col.
! Fleming, which is made up from the sta
| tistiCs Of counties and cities, the average
attendance in our public schools last year
was l6I.O39, at a cost of S977,37G.4l, or
| about So per scholar for 3.Sj months, or
less than $3.50 per scholar per month. Thi:
includes city schools, where the schools are
much more highly graded. Exclusive Of
| city schools, the cost per pupil per month
is stated at SL.45. The whole cost Of adj
ministering the fund, including the State
Bureau was a per cent. Now, gentlemen
it seems to me that this is cheap enough
for the education Of your children feal
too cheap. If you would be more liberal
and expend a little more, your school:
would be greatly more efficient and show
more satisfactory results. If you would
give 8 per month to each pupil, you cOulC
command schools equal to any. l mean
of course. in elementary instruction. In
the city Of Memphis, where all the highel
branches are taught both sexes, the cos
last year per pupil per month was only
about $3.50, and that in a city where living
is very high. Now, what do you suppose
is the average expense per month for eacf
pupil in private schools in cities? Why
rom s. to SO per month, in accordance
with the branc-es taught. You thus SCI